Forget unions, Nikki Haley would rather 'intimidate' South Carolina's workers

Did any of you happen to catch our governor's opinion on the NLRB/Boeing situation in the Wall Street Journal?

Here, I'll share it with you.

In October 2009, Boeing, long one of the best corporations in America, made an announcement that changed the economic outlook of South Carolina forever: The company's second line of 787 Dreamliners would be produced in North Charleston.  

In November 2008, this happened:

Striking members of the Machinists (IAM) will begin returning to work as early as today after members ratified a new four-year contract with the Boeing Co. by an almost 3-1 margin. The new agreement covers 27,000 IAM members at Boeing facilities in Washington, Oregon, Kansas and California, and ends a strike that began on Sept. 6. Let's see what they struck for...

Union officials had gone over the contract offer with a fine-tooth comb. A document on the medical-plan deficiencies listed details such as no increase in coverage for prescription lenses, and a reduction in dental coverage from three annual cleanings to two. Machinists particularly upset with the contract offer included relatively new hires, who are low on the company wage ladder. The proposed contract would give them smaller percentage increases than more senior workers. Scott Shampine, an electrician on the 737 line in Renton hired 18 months ago, said he has gross pay with overtime of about $36,000.

Boeing has since poured billions of dollars into a new, state-of-the art facility in South Carolina's picturesque Low Country along the Atlantic coast. It has created thousands of good jobs and joined the long tradition of distinguished and employee-friendly corporations that have found a home, and a partner, in the Palmetto State.

These jobs created are nonunion. They are in fact just what Boeing bought - jobs that can be removed at the drop of a dime if cheaper labor becomes available. Plus, the tax incentives given to Boeing have to be paid on the backs of others. Us. South Carolinians will make up the difference in what Boeing does not pay and if not, you'll see further depletion of governmental services in this state. Why? Because there will be no way to fund them.

This a win-win for South Carolina, for Boeing, and for the global clients who will see Dreamliners rolling off the North Charleston line at the rate of 10 a month, starting with the first one next year. But, as is often the case, a win for people and businesses is a loss for the labor unions, which rely on coercion, bullying and undue political influence to stay afloat. 

A win-win, you say. Boeing not paying taxes comparable to others is a win for who exactly? Plus, Haley praises a tax escape artist - something she may know a lot about. For Haley to paint unions as the cause for all this state's problems shows how blind she is. Coercion? Bullying?

The people in this state have been coerced and bullied by Republicans to vote against themselves continuously. If people need to be reminded of bullying and coercion, Nikki Haley should not be the one doing it. Let's read more...

South Carolina is a right-to-work state, and we're proud that within our borders workers cannot be required to join a labor union as a condition of employment. We don't need unions playing middlemen between our companies and our employees. We don't want them forcefully inserted into our promising business climate. And we will not stand for them intimidating South Carolinians. 

Nikki Haley talks about our state as a prison. Like someone is intruding. It's that "state's rights" thing again. Don't be alarmed. It's all in her handed-down playbook. Haley's state has a right to work less. Yeah, we don't need unions trying to keep jobs from being reduced to just service-oriented, tourist supported with no health care benefits or job security. Forcefully inserted? Promising business climate? Nikki, you've been dealing with high unemployment in a state with single-digit union membership. You think maybe the tax break giveaways and the direct disregard of maintaining proper funding for services couldn't have anything to do with your dilemmas? You can't even sell the state's ports to the White House for dredge funds to get them operational enough to bring in jobs and sustain the ones we have. Oh... Wait a minute.

ArcelorMittal - Georgetown didn't donate to you. It doesn't sponsor anything for you. No political kickbacks. But I know a company who has.

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Some of South Carolina's largest manufacturers and energy companies gave more than $250,000 for Gov. Nikki Haley's inaugural events, with Boeing Inc., Duke Energy, Progress Energy and SCANA Corp. among those donating $25,000 each. ... Boeing won big economic development incentives in 2009 as the company decided to expand manufacturing operations in South Carolina. Haley has said she'll make keeping the facility union-free a priority - a position that has resulted in a lawsuit from the International Association of Machinists.

Haley isn't worried about Obama's "silence" as she writes. She knows it's called an investigation. But when you have a company spend millions in your state and thousands on you, then you chirp like the biggest bird around.

And Obama doesn't owe you anything, Nikki. You and your Republican Party owe us in this state 100 times more than ever.

Oh, and how about stop bullying the workers of this state by push and producing all kinds of legislation to limit any voice or choice before it actually becomes a whisper. Then we'll see how "anti-union" people are here when given the facts.