(Reuters) - Boeing's largest union on Tuesday urged the planemaker's new CEO Kelly Ortberg to get more involved in resolving a strike by around 33,000 U.S. West Coast workers, after their healthcare benefits were cut.

"It's time for the new CEO to truly engage at the proposal-based level and to take the reins from his subordinates who are fumbling critical decisions like this one," said Brian Bryant, president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers which represents the striking workers.

"There is no reason the health benefits question could not have been punted on to allow more time for negotiations at the table," Bryant added in a statement.

(Reporting By Allison Lampert in Montreal and David Shepardson in Washington, Editing by Chris Reese)