The NLRB Vs. The United States

(Mike Chamberlain/The Cranky Hermit) – South Carolina lawmakers are vigorously protesting the NLRB’s disgraceful decision to prevent Boeing from producing 787’s in Charleston, SC.

Negotiations between Boeing and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers over a second production facility for the planes in Washington broke down, so Boeing decided to move the second production line to South Carolina. After the plant in South Carolina was nearly complete, the National Labor Relations Board filed a complaint to force Boeing to locate the second line in Washington.

An NLRB document that claimed to use the words of the Boeing CEO against Boeing drew a harsh response from Boeing’s attorney. Boeing’s counsel alleged, with evidence, that the NLRB distorted, misquoted and took the CEO’s words out of context.

Elected officials in South Carolina are, as expected, not taking the NLRB’s actions lightly.

If the NLRB prevails this would have far-reaching effects, not only for right-to-work states like Nevada, but for every state. This could effectively prevent any company with a closed-shop from moving to a right-to-work state. So instead of moving to other states, these companies will move overseas.

While populists complain about companies taking jobs overseas, few of them actually want to do anything about the high taxes, ridiculous union rules, insane litigation and outrageous government intrusions that cause businesses to relocate. Often they advocate steps that make conditions even worse and more likely for companies to leave.

This asinine decision by the NLRB represents a blow not just to Boeing, not just to South Carolina, but to the American economy.