South Carolina’s governor wants President Barack Obama to weigh in on a labor complaint against the Boeing Co. and its facility in her state.
Gov. Nikki Haley and Republican lawmakers for her state met at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.
Boeing is being accused of illegally retaliating against its Machinists union in Washington by selecting South Carolina as the home to its second 787 line, according to a complaint issued last month by the National Labor Relations Board. Lafe Solomon, general counsel for the labor board, has suggested Boeing establish a second 787 line in Washington, even though Boeing plans to open a new facility in North Charleston next month.
Alan Wilson, South Carolina’s attorney general, said Obama’s silence on the matter “is his consent to the NLRB’s actions.”
Here are Haley’s comments from an AP report:
“We’ve got to make sure that we are responding to this in a strong way,” Haley said .
“We have to do it in a loud way and the president owes it the state of South Carolina and every state in the country on what he’s going to do in reference to what the NLRB has done against Boeing,” Haley said.
A hearing on Boeing’s complaint will be held in front of an administrative law judge on June 14 in Seattle.
Boeing denied “each and every” allegation against it and has said it will defend its 2009 pick of South Carolina.
Boeing’s Machinists claim the company is using its political clout, including its sway in South Carolina, to block the labor board complaint.
Monday, Solomon sent out a press release on the matter.
“We hope all interested parties respect the legal process, rather than trying to litigate this case in the media and public arena,” Solomon said in the statement.
Solomon’s words didn’t stop Boeing’s supporters in South Carolina from voicing their concerns Tuesday.
“The NLRB’s complaint against Boeing makes union states the economic development equivalent of a roach motel, you can check in, but you can’t check out,” Wilson said.
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