News In Brief

McDonnell Douglas is struck in 3 states

Aerospace workers walked off the job at McDonnell Douglas plants in three states Monday - the latest sign of toughening labor bargaining after a year of moderation and union concessions in many industries.

According to the United Automobile Workers, representing 6,300 workers, the strike is indirectly against the Pentagon which the union says is ''pressuring McDonnell Douglas and other aerospace firms to hold back on wage increases and cut fringe benefits.'' The UAW turned down a McDonnell Douglas offer as ''an insult'' and renewed demands for general wage increases and the retention of cost-of-living adjustments that the company would like to scrap or reduce.