Remember Boeing's move to set up a second 787 Dreamliner fabrication line in non-union South Carolina? Previous posts here. And all Boeing's talk about the unions running them out of Everett, Washington? This from the NLRB:
NLRB Acting General Counsel Lafe Solomon today issued a complaint against the Boeing Company alleging that it violated federal labor law by deciding to transfer a second production line to a non-union facility in South Carolina for discriminatory reasons. . . .
To remedy the alleged unfair labor practices, the Acting General Counsel seeks an order that would require Boeing to maintain the second production line in Washington state.
A trial before an administrative law judge is set for June 14. There are some very astute practitioners who sense this is another "great leap" from a pro-union NLRB, but I'm not so sure. This does not seem so much of a stretch given that Boeing initially announced the production would be in Everett, then switched it to South Carolina blaming the unions propensity to strike. A prima facie violation is made based upon the employer's statements. It is now incumbent on the employer to establish its move was based on legitimate motivation as in Dubuque Packing. Whether the Boeing case is momentous will depend on that proof, and the Board's evaluation of it.
