Wichita ? A contract between Raytheon Aircraft Co. and its machinists will take effect after union workers voted to reject the contract proposal but did not vote for a strike, a union spokesman said.

“They felt strongly enough to reject the contract but not strongly enough to go on strike,” said Bob Wood, a spokesman for the International Association of Machinists.

Members voted both on whether to accept or reject the contract and on whether to authorize a strike.

The contract failed to get the simple majority necessary for approval, Wood said.

A strike required a two-thirds vote, but that number was also not reached so the contract will take effect on Monday, he said.

Wood declined to provide vote totals or percentages but said it was “a very strong turnout, stronger than usual.”

The union had recommended approval of the proposal, which offered workers a 3 percent wage increase for each of the three years covered by the contract.

It also increases the pension and raises the company’s contribution to 401K retirement plans. No changes were made in earned time off, medical insurance premiums paid by workers will increase, and workers will have to change health insurance providers.

IAM represents 4,200 Raytheon workers in Wichita and about 200 in Salina, whose contract was set to expire Saturday.