Machinist union members at Textron Aviation overwhelmingly rejected the company’s offer of a new four-year contract Sept. 21 and voted to strike. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers represent about 5,000 hourly workers at Textron Aviation in Wichita.

Members of the Machinists union will go on strike Monday after turning down the company's contract offer on Saturday.

Union members at Textron Aviation held the rally at Naftzger Park in downtown Wichita near the hotel where company and union officials are conducting the negotiations. After the rally, the group marched down the sidewalk to the hotel blowing whistles and fog horns.

Textron Aviation is the parent company of two of the largest general aviation aircraft producers in the world, Cessna and Beechcraft. The company is a business segment of the larger conglomerate Textron.

The Machinists union negotiating committee is asking union members to vote in favor of Textron Aviation’s “best and final” contract offer, but some union members say they would rather strike.

"We believe this is one of the best contracts in decades, which is why the Local Lodge 774 negotiating committee is recommending ratification," IAM District 70 president Lisa Whitley said.