In labor news, 27,000 workers at Boeing voted Saturday to end a fifty-three-day strike after securing a new four-year contract and a 15 percent pay raise over the life of the contract. The strike forced Boeing to close plants in Washington state, Oregon and Kansas. It is estimated that Boeing lost $100 million a day during the strike. Under the new contract, workers will receive pension improvements and lump sum payments. Their share of medical costs will remain unchanged.