Labor leaders reached a tentative agreement with Boeing that could resolve a strike in the aviation giant's defense business, the union announced Wednesday.

Some 3,200 workers in Missouri and Illinois are set to vote Friday on a preliminary agreement that includes wage increases, said a press release from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Union.

Boeing confirmed the development and expressed hope that striking workers would accept the deal.

"We've found a path forward on a 5-year contract offer that grows wages by 45% on average," said Boeing vice president Dan Gillian. "It remains the best deal we've ever offered to IAM 837 and we encourage our team to vote yes so we can get back to work building amazing products for our customers."

Workers walked off t

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