Boeing Company vs. National Labor Relations Board Essay (Article)

Introduction

Boeing, in a bid to expand its business operations, decided to set up a 2-billion-plane assembly plant in South Carolina, a non-union state. It plans to assemble 787 Dreamliners, each costing about $185 million. It has even hired over 1000 employees to commence with the construction. This displeases the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), who has filed a case against Boeing. The South Carolina governor denounces these claims, arguing that it is against the state’s ‘right –to-work’.

Body

The South Carolina’s governor, Nikki Haley (a republican) is against the NLRB and claims that President Obama’s silence is unjustified and should intervene to solve the issue. NLRB intends to protect workers’ rights and claims that Boeing is an anti-unionist company. In June 30^th 2011, the court issued a ruling against Boeing’s arguments, claiming that they needed more evidence.

In my opinion, I support Boeing Company over NLRB, since setting up its plant in South Carolina will create employment opportunities in the state. The company has by now hired thousands of employees to start up the construction. NLRB’s win will render these employees jobless and this may create more conflicts within the state. Moreover, residents of South Carolina also have a right of equal employment prospects.

The new plant will increase productivity of the company and consequently increase their annual revenue. The government will reap high taxes from the firm, thereby promoting development of the state. This therefore makes NLRB’s claims uncalled for and they should help open new companies instead of closing the already existing ones. Additionally, Boeing will benefit from reduced employees’ strikes recently experienced. This will enhance the smooth running of its operations, thus boost its annual production.

Summary

Boeing’s plan to expand its operation by setting up a plant in South Carolina is a welcome, since it will create employment opportunities in the state. Moreover, NLRB is politically motivated to oppose this development, since non-union workers also need a chance of employment. The new plant will benefit the residents, the government, and the firm itself; therefore, NLRB should support this noble undertaking.