Obama’s take on the Boeing-Labor Board dispute

Published 10:10 am Wednesday, June 29, 2011

President Barack Obama has been silent on the National Labor Relations Board complaint against the Boeing Co. – until today.

Obama told reporters it would defy common sense for Boeing Co. to have to shut down a new aircraft plant or lay off workers as a result of a labor dispute with the government, reports the Associated Press.

The labor board says Boeing retaliated against its Machinists for strikes in Washington when it picked South Carolina for a new 787 line. An administrative law judge is hearing the case in Seattle. The labor board’s general counsel has suggested Boeing set up a second 787 line in Everett to make amends for putting a line in North Charleston.

Politicians in South Carolina have been calling on Obama to give his take on the labor complaint.

Obama went on to say that he hopes the case can be settled quickly, reports The Hill.

From The Hill’s report:

“We can’t afford to have labor and management fighting all the time at a time when we’re competing against China and Germany and other countries who want to sell goods all around the world.

“The airplane industry is an area where we still have a huge advantage…I want to make sure that we keep it,” he added.

Boeing just opened its new 787 plant in South Carolina, where workers will begin assembling their first 787 next month.