Nov. 14--Vought Aircraft Industries Inc. has signed a three-year contract with its union employees in North Charleston, but a statement it issued Thursday elevated tensions between the company and the labor group that represents those workers.

The Dallas-based maker of fuselage sections for the Boeing 787 jet expressed surprise that the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers held an emergency meeting last Friday to ratify a labor agreement that contained "substantially" the same terms that the company offered when talks began a year ago.

The IAM countered that Vought did not negotiate fairly during their bargaining sessions. The union also said it was forced to recommend that its local members approve a less-than-ideal contract to protect jobs ahead of a wave of temporary layoffs at the plant.

The labor deal has stirred up emotions and suspicions on the factory floor at Vought, which Thursday ceased most manufacturing at the Charleston International Airport plant for at least two months because of strike-related delays at Boeing Co.

IAM spokesman Robert Wood said Thursday that the contract was ratified by about 92 percent of the eligible voting members who attended an emergency meeting Nov. 7.

Citing union policy, he declined to disclose how many Vought workers cast ballots. He also would not confirm claims from several employees that the number was as low as 13, with one voting against the contract.

Some IAM members felt left out of the process. On Wednesday, as the union was preparing to meet in North Charleston, The Post and Courier observed at least two Vought workers complaining openly to an official at the door that they were never told about the contract vote ahead of time.

Wood said advance notice went out, including an announcement on the shop floor.

In a written statement, Vought said Thursday that it was "surprised" to learn about the emergency vote, noting that "additional bargaining sessions" had been scheduled and that "final proposals" had not been exchanged between the company and the union.

Wood accused Vought of "not being truthful when it comes to the negotiating schedule."

"They had a 'run-out-the-clock' strategy," he said.

More than 120 workers at the Vought plant voted to join the IAM last year. That gave the union until last Friday to negotiate a contract. Otherwise, the members could have voted the next day to decertify the 2007 election.