LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE!
In news that will no doubt spark some reflexive “smack talk” from S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is mounting a bid to unionize Boeing’s Lowcountry, South Carolina facility.
Wait … what?
Didn’t the unions – along with U.S. President Barack Obama’s National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) – try to shut this plant down last year?
Yes … and no. As we reported at the time the whole NLRB threat wound up being nothing but a ploy by the union to keep production of Boeing’s 737 MAX jet out of South Carolina, a “right to work” state, and in the Pacific Northwest – where Boeing’s unionized plants are located. And despite Haley’s protestations to the contrary, the union plan worked – Boeing cut a new deal that guaranteed its 737 MAX line would stay in Everett, Washington.
“This was a shakedown of a company that’s deeply indebted to the federal government – and at the end of the day, the company caved in a manner that is likely to adversely impact our state,” we wrote of the deal.
Anyway … none of that is to say that we think the IAM (or any other union) should be permitted to expand its presence in this state. Unions are a cancer, and the only reason they remain such a powerful force in this country is that the public sector has sustained them in the face of their overwhelming rejection by the free market.
One of South Carolina’s few competitive advantages is the fact that it is a “right to work” state – and given the severe competitive disadvantages we face on innumerable other fronts, we can’t afford to see that position compromised.
This website will never pander to Boeing the way Haley and other politicians do. And we continue to believe South Carolina taxpayers got a raw deal when their elected leaders shelled out $900 million in incentives to bring this plant to our state. Also, we will continue to oppose “Boeing’s Bank,” a federal export loan program that makes it easier for foreign competitors to undercut their U.S. counterparts when they purchase Boeing planes.
Still the fact that unions are virtually non-existent in South Carolina is a good thing – and permitting them to expand their presence would only further weaken our already dubious competitive position.
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34 comments
“Union Targets Boeing’s SC Facility”
FITS and Sanford should be Giddy…they’ve got an advocate now….
“Also, we will continue to oppose “Boeing’s Bank,” a federal export loan program that makes it easier for foreign competitors to undercut their U.S. counterparts when they purchase Boeing planes.”
Please explain how the fed program makes it easier for foreign competitors to undercut their US counterparts.
Next please tell us all the US and foreign airplane manufacturers who have the capability to produce long haul passenger aircraft, include who owns them.
I’m neither pro or anti union.
What I against, is gov’t interference either way.
Let unions either live or die on their own.
If people want to get together and negotiate with their employer on the basis of a threatened walk out they should be able to do it.
Conversly, if the employer is able to replace them all he should be allowed to.
It’s just that simple. Let it occur on a voluntary basis, it’s yet another thing which gov’t should keep its nose out of.
Haley practically goaded the IAM into coming here…
The correct “free market” position is a completely “hands off” policy for both the unions and company’s they target.
edit: “I am against”
?..you are spot on. It is not government’s function to take the side of labor or management. Or as blogger billy likes to say, pick winners and losers.
You are waisting your breath on that line. SC companies have been paying state legislators to fight the unions for over a century.
But to give credit were credit is due, the average SC citizen can thank those devoted anti union mercenaries for their current economic standing in the nation.
Eh, I don’t blame the lack of unions for our current economic situation. Unions are important to stop employer abuses, which is exactly why companies that are abusive to their employees (ex: Walmart) are willing to go to every length imaginable to stop unionization. It is a safeguard, one whose presence resulted in drastically improved working conditions, hours, protections, and benefits across the board. Even so, unions definitely have their downsides, too.
Either way, what is killing us is SC’s lack of relevance in today’s economy. Our loss of the textile industry and inability to replace it is a prime example of that. That’s a tough problem to fix, and although there are steps we could be taking, unions wouldn’t really contribute much to that.
You are definitely spot on. This is a free country after all.
Because I’m on my male period today I just want to note how funny it is that some quasi-socialists jump on this thread to commend me on my “free market” views when it suits their communal desires.
Truly, your hypocrisy knows no bounds.
? It has nothing to do with hypocrisy. Even a self proclaimed know it all as you think of yourself can be right once in a while.
Sic Willie,
I am sure I must have missed your story on the first SC built plane being delivered to Air India. You didn’t fail to cover the engine problems with the early Washington built planes, so you must have covered a success, right?
FITSNews Disclaimer: “Unfair. Imbalanced.”
Unions better HATE while they can…because After Nov. 6, somebody gone be BUTT-Hurt…
And all those Give-ways of gov’t money to the Union Thugs gone Dry up Right Quick….
Enjoy…Hahahahahahaha…
You forgot about the $900 million South Carolina taxpayers GAVE to Boeing!
LIVE BETTER!
WORK UNION!
YOU BETCHA!
YOU BETCHA!
LMAO…why’d you stop w/ that other cliche you have been running???…Hahahahaha…
I use it cause you told me you don’t like it. REMEMBER?
Now, how about the $900 million?
YOU BETCHA!
YOU BETCHA!
P.S., I got that from your femme fatale, SARAH”half-governor” PALIN.
YOU BETCHA!
YOU BETCHA!
What other cliche?
YOU BETCHA!
YOU BETCHA!
If you don’t care for unions, do not join one.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_assembly
“The correct “free market” position is a completely “hands off” policy for both the unions and company’s they target.”
Precisely.
Word.
I think this is great. I hope they are successful and provide incentive to other unions to ‘bust’ the SC plantation mentality that workers are simply a disposable raw material. Next we need the SEIU here to organize the hospitality workers all along the coast. About damn time, in fact, about eighty years late!
Unions are not a cancer. But yes, many of them have overstepped.
Regardless of who is elected Nov 6, unions will continue to be around. If the god of conservatism Ronald Reagan couldn’t do it, what makes you believe Mitt can?
Unions aren’t here and average wages are, as your buddy Sanford used to point out, 80 percent of what they are in the rest of the Southeast and/or national average.
And while you like to believe it was a shakedown with the federal government’s help, that’s crap.
The proof was in the tapes and the documents uncovered during the investigation.
While the NLRB had no right to tell Boeing to shutter its S.C. operation, it was made clear that part of their decision-making process in going out of state was retaliatory because of as strke,
People overestimate the effect of periodic puppet rotation in the White House.
It’s a distraction from the real rulership of the US.
Blogland reported the IAM meeting last week, so did the Charleston and Columbia Business Journals. Can’t believe a guy with a full-time job scooped you that bad.
God forbid we should protect workers’ rights and wages and pensions and all the other good stuff . . .
The Republicans keep this state in the gutter – it is all about the rich fat cats . . .
I vote for LABOR!!
Unions once stood for workers and their “rights.”
Nowadays, Unions stand for Union management and political agendas.
The workers are just a means to an end.
Right to work does not mean workers are unable to Unionize. It simply means that Unions can not gain control over the labor pool through forced or coerced membership. Which in turn would allow for de facto control over business(es).
Thank you!!!!!
I agree that Government should generally keep hands off in the push and pull between labor and management. However, I do not not agree unions are bad or corrupt, and I do not agree right to work laws are keeping hands off or designed to curb forced or coerced membership.
Right to work laws are designed to prevent unions from seeking exclusive contracts with employers. Contracts employers have no obligation to enter into. Right to work laws are anti-union laws and designed to benefit employers not employees. That is why employers fight so hard to have them in place. The idea they are for the benefit of employees is really laughable.
Employees should be allowed to band together and enter into a contract with an employer, and should be able to negotiate the terms of that contract including exclusivity.
What if the legislature passed a law, saying that a supplier of widgets could not enter into a contract with a customer to be his exclusive widget supplier. Would everyone approve of such a law.
So how is Jakie and the FBI connected to this one?
BigT: In another cerebral dimension, your reasoning remains relatively sound, but your judgment and ability to test reality are seriously impaired because the only thing you can keep in your head over an hour is a cold.
Nuttin to this. Just manage factored so Nikki can run against unions and for local jobs.
She is a liar and everything she touches is false
State employes are union end in SC…or at least the Governor’s office.
She has not worked a full weeks work since inauguration. She takes the state plane to grad coffee and chase that young man that works for Romney.
He’ll, next thing you know she will have a workers compensation claim! Oops, probably just gave her another idea!
WHAT?
Wait until you are working mandatory 5 weeks with no time off, 12 hour days, get one weekend off and back to 5 weeks on. After several months of working that schedule, you can talk about the “cancer” (union) that fought to keep that schedule from being MANDATORY. Boeing doesn’t care about you…..you are a tool to be used until you are worn out and then they will chuck you out like all the other worn out tools. Good luck South Carolina…..you’ll figure it out one day.