After a collective bargaining agreement at Boeing's Seattle plant raised wages and increased job security, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) yesterday dropped its action against the company for opening a $750 million Dreamliner plant in South Carolina, a right-to-work state that limits union power.
The Boeing union—the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers—had originally requested the NLRB action in April. In then charging Boeing with retaliation for opening the South Carolina plant, the NLRB cited alleged comments made by Boeing officials about the "militancy" of union workers in Seattle. As Boeing and the union negotiated a new collective bargaining agreement, however, the International Association was the very one to request the NLRB to drop its case against the company.
Meanwhile, the NLRB action has become a cause celebre among Republicans in Congress. One GOP U.S. Senator, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, though pleased by the NLRB's dropping of the case, said he will continue to place a hold on all nominees to the NLRB, meaning that come Jan. 1, the board will have just two members and will be legally unable to take any action. (The NLRB, due to the expiration of appointments, at that time will have just two or five members and cannot act without a majority of members present.)
One thing that won't change, however, is the NLRB-mandated poster that must be displayed by virtually all U.S. businesses come Jan. 31, 2012. Don't wait. Get your NLRA Employee Rights Poster today from Personnel Concepts.