Boeing, Union Strike Deal That Could Kill Controversy, GOP Talking Point

WASHINGTON -- The Machinists union announced Wednesday that it had reached a tentative four-year labor agreement with the Boeing Company, a development that might end some controversy surrounding the National Labor Relations Board and take away a major Republican talking point on the economy and regulations.

According to the member-run Machinists News blog, union members will vote on a contract extension next week that would assure that Boeing builds its 737 MAX passenger jet in Washington State. Although details haven’t been released, the deal will probably clear the way for production of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner in the company's South Carolina plant, which had been put on hold when the labor board issued a controversial complaint against the company on behalf of unionized workers in Washington earlier this year.

The complaint filed in April alleged that Boeing broke labor law when it tried to establish the production line in South Carolina. The labor board's general counsel claimed that the move amounted to retaliation against Boeing's unionized workers in Washington for having gone on strike in the past.

The complaint also infuriated Republicans, particularly those in South Carolina who believed it might cost the state jobs. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and others pushed legislation that would have scuttled the complaint and even defunded the labor board. For months GOP members have used the Boeing issue to tar both the labor board and the Obama administration as pro-union job killers meddling in corporate decision-making.

Settling the South Carolina issue was apparently a major part of the negotiations between Boeing and the union. But whatever deal was tentatively struck between the parties Wednesday, it won't immediately resolve the complaint filed by the NLRB.

In a statement, the agency's general counsel, Lafe Solomon, said, "The tentative agreement announced today between Boeing and the Machinists Union is a very significant and hopeful development. The tentative agreement is subject to ratification by the employees, and, if ratified, we will be in discussions with the parties about the next steps in the process."

Despite the dire proclamations coming from Republicans, most observers of the labor board believed Boeing and the union would reach an agreement before the South Carolina production line was spiked, considering how high the economic and political stakes are.

Comments

[RGKahn]

11:54 AM on 12/02/2011

"Boeing, Union Strike Deal That Could Kill Controversy, GOP Talking Point"

The problem here is that Boeing could, at a later date declare bankruptcy, which would throw out any and all labor contracts with their union employees, which would open the doors for the company to move all or parts of its production line to a right to work state in the south. They could follow American Airlines guidelines in that respect. Boeing had a good rep at one time. But no longer. Too many crime and not enough time.

[Cory111]

08:58 AM on 12/02/2011

Once again Graham put’s his interests ahead of the middle class…

[Eville Mike]

08:17 AM on 12/02/2011

Lemme see if I've got this straight - both sides had to give something up, and that led to both sides getting quite a lot of what they wanted? Wow. So maybe this new-fangled and alien-sounding approach called 'compromise' isn't such a bad thing after all? Who knew?

[Vapula]

03:42 AM on 12/02/2011

Language is necessary for thought. But the Republicans show that the two don't need to coexist.

[Dadfirst]

01:21 AM on 12/02/2011

Tell me again (logically) why a company can't make a decision to do business in a state that is favorable to their position?

[Vapula]

03:43 AM on 12/02/2011

Are you asking for a sensible answer?

[Dadfirst]

08:49 AM on 12/03/2011

Yes

[grainysmith]

12:26 AM on 12/02/2011

A lot of people getting a little more money is better than one CEO getting a lot of it.

[Dadfirst]

01:22 AM on 12/02/2011

Depends who you ask.

[grainysmith]

11:37 AM on 12/02/2011

Are you a CEO?

[vinnieboiblue]

11:51 PM on 12/01/2011

Lindsey Graham's ears and cheeks must be turning furious Republican Red, with this pending deal.

[dknowles60]

11:52 AM on 12/02/2011

it is not over untill sc is makeing air planes

[conservo]

10:55 PM on 12/01/2011

The Obama administration's intrusion on a business attempting to open a new line in a state of their choosing (and creating thousands of jobs) is a MAJOR overreach of government and proof of the fact that Obama is standing in the way of job creation which negates any beleievablity of his claims of creating any jobs.

[vinnieboiblue]

11:52 PM on 12/01/2011

Your mad, because AGAIN the Unions won another battle. You hear that noise? That's the people stampeding their way back to Unions.

[Dadfirst]

01:22 AM on 12/02/2011

We shall see in 2012, my silly little friend.

[grainysmith]

12:23 AM on 12/02/2011

I would rather have many workers have more money than one CEO.

[Passenger57]

10:34 PM on 12/01/2011

Oh, don't worry, they have a whole LIST of BS they can foam at the mouth about at the ready...

[Articulator]

10:54 PM on 12/01/2011

No kidding, and there is no need for it to be factually based. Most right wing positions are based on mis-information.

[Passenger57]

07:22 AM on 12/03/2011

They probably have separate lists for varying levels of "truthiness" - thank you Mr. Colbert...!

[Rules Too]

09:56 PM on 12/01/2011

If you want lower living standards go non union. Just take a look at the south.

[wordshll]

09:11 AM on 12/02/2011

My wife joined a Union (a large and powerful one) she made less than the non Union folks, had to go on strike for two weeks( with out full pay) while the fat cats in the union ended up getting oodles of under the table money. They got virtually nothing! She now hates the Union. Yeah I know there are some good ones, but there are a lot of crooked self serving leaders in many of the Unions who get most of the benefits, not the workers.

If a Union is run properly both sides should benefit, not just the Union bosses.

[wonderYrednow]

06:24 PM on 12/09/2011

You 'R' LYING !

[ADVOCATE4ZPG]

08:39 PM on 12/01/2011

The SC Boeing "opening" was NEVER a MAJOR talking point! It could have been in litigation for years..... HuffPo's lame notion of sensationalism.....!

[El Justiciero]

09:17 AM on 12/02/2011

Really? I've heard it all over the news. I live in the Carolinas and it sure seemed like a talking point here.

[ADVOCATE4ZPG]

04:50 PM on 12/02/2011

MAJOR?

[Cypher6]

06:44 PM on 12/01/2011

Good. Every time the slack-jawed hack Lindsey Graham and his ilk are knocked down a peg or two, the citizens win.

[paulhunterjones]

06:13 PM on 12/01/2011

It is a good sign that Boeing and the machinists are going to reach a comprehensive agreement. The 4yr contact extension would add more jobs to the Washington State economy. At a time when labor unions are losing much of their clout the machinists are putting the swagger back into unionism.

The American airline industry is locked in fierce competition with Europe’s Airbus for production orders. Recently Boeing has lost some of its competitiveness due to labor problems. Labor peace is just what the airline manufacturer needs. To cement the deal the NLRB should withdraw is complaint against Boeing and the machinists should support this action.

[dknowles60]

11:54 AM on 12/02/2011

the machinists wont

[edwcorey]

04:49 PM on 12/01/2011

Here's an article that you should read, if you can (subscription required): http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/136402/george-packer/the-broken-contract
The intro is available free.

This one is free: http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/67046/robert-c-lieberman/why-the-rich-are-getting-richer

[chefacree]

03:28 PM on 12/01/2011

The republicans just hate it when people can come together and settle their issues. That is a skill the republicans are lacking today.

[Patriot Games]

03:49 PM on 12/01/2011

When you're used to fighting over biscuts it is hard to transition to subjects that matter.