YOUR ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED! On Thursday, September 15, the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to consider a bill to limit the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB, or the Board) authority under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to veto a private employer’s decision on where to locate its employees. Please urge your representative to vote yes on H.R. 2587, the Protecting Jobs from Government Interference Act.
Background
The Boeing Company decided in 2009 to expand its 787 Dreamliner aircraft production capacity outside of Washington State by investing in a new assembly plant in South Carolina. Boeing’s workforce in Washington is heavily unionized, whereas South Carolina is a Right-to-Work state. Boeing created about 1,000 jobs at the new South Carolina facility, none of which were at the expense of jobs in Washington.
On April 20, NLRB Acting General Counsel Lafe Solomon filed an unfair labor practice complaint against Boeing. It alleged that the company discriminated against union employees in Washington State by hiring employees at the new South Carolina plant. The NLRB called Boeing’s action a “transfer” of some Dreamliner work to South Carolina.
In short, the NLRB’s action seeks to second-guess the legitimate business decision by the company to establish a production facility outside of the State of Washington. The case is likely bound for federal court.
Legislation
In light of the NLRB action against Boeing, SHRM is supporting H.R. 2587, the Protecting Jobs from Government Interference Act. It would simply amend the National Labor Relations Act to prevent the NLRB from ordering an employer to:
- restore any operations,
- rescind any relocation or transfer, or
- make an investment at a particular plant, facility, or location.
Action Needed
SHRM needs your help to share the HR perspective with the House of Representatives on this important employment issue.
To write your U.S. Representative using SHRM’s HRVoice program, follow these steps:
- Log onto the SHRM Advocacy Action Center by clicking HERE
- Please select the featured federal alert highlighted to the left by clicking the "Take action here" tab at the bottom of the alert
- Be sure to include your complete home mailing address.
Should you have any questions regarding H.R. 2587, please contact David Lusk, SHRM’s Senior Associate, Member Advocacy, at (703) 535-6158 or eat0@eau0eav0eaw0.
If you encounter any problems with this site, please contact David Lusk, SHRM’s Senior Associate, Member Advocacy, at (703) 535-6158 or eat0@eau0eav0eaw0.
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is the world's largest association devoted to human resource management. Representing more than 250,000 members in over 140 countries, the Society serves the needs of HR professionals and advances the interests of the HR profession. Founded in 1948, SHRM has more than 575 affiliated chapters within the United States and subsidiary offices in China and India. Visit SHRM Online at www.shrm.org.