The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, an independent agency, stepped in this week after talks failed between Lockheed Martin and its machinists' union in Fort Worth, Texas.

About 3,600 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers have been striking, largely over pensions and health care costs.

The Defense Department is pressuring its contractors to hold down those costs.

During the 2-month strike, the company has hired temporary workers to keep up production on F-16 and F-35 fighter jets.

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