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By Jesse Russell

The union representing striking technicians at Boeing's Cape Canaveral facility are charging the company with overlooking critical safety regulations in order to meet NASA launch deadlines. Members of the International Association of Mechanics have been on strike over contract negotiations since November 2. The company has since hired replacement workers to do work that the union says takes years to train for. Bob Wood is a spokesperson for the union:

[Wood]: The use of inexperienced replacement workers compromises the safety down there. And this isn't a time to learn on the job.

The union has made its concerns known to NASA and Wood says the space agency is looking into it and has promised a written response.

Of primary concern is the New Horizon spacecraft which is set to launch in January carrying 24 pounds of plutonium fuel.

[Wood2]: New Horizons is an out of the norm space craft. It's not the usual thing that's done out there. Any malfunction could put the craft and maybe the populace at risk.