SEATTLE, WA, May 9, 2008 (AP) - Boeing and the Machinists union officially opened talks today in Seattle on a contract covering 27,000 workers.

Pay, pensions and health care are the big issues in the negotiations.

Most are in Washington State, but the union also represents Boeing workers in Oregon, southern California and Wichita, Kansas.

The current contract expires September 3rd.

In a few months, Boeing will begin negotiating with SPEEA (the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace).

That contract covers 21,000 employees and expires December 3rd.