Boeing maintenance strike over in Australia

Prime Minister John Howard says he is delighted that Boeing aircraft maintenance workers have returned to work, ending one of the country's longest industrial disputes.

Forty workers from the Williamtown air force base near Newcastle walked off the job on June 1 last year over the aviation giant's refusal to negotiate a collective agreement with their union.

But 264 days later, the remaining 25 workers on strike are returning to work, with talks to resume between Boeing and the union.