Boeing St. Louis machinists reject contract, propose shorter deal with higher bonuses during strike involving 3,200 workers building military aircraft.

There has been speculation that the strike could also affect progress on the sixth-generation F-47 fighter, also under development by Boeing.

The vote could end the strike at the company’s St. Louis-area plants, now in its twelfth week. However, union-represented workers will be voting on a proposal that IAM District 837’s bargaining committee said it does not endorse.

Boeing and IAM 837 members are continuing mediation talks for the second consecutive day with the help of a federal mediator, as the strike reaches its 79th day with no agreement yet in sight.