North Charleston mayor criticizes Boeing union effort

  • Associated Press
  • Friday, April 3, 2015 9:55am
  • Business

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — The mayor of North Charleston is criticizing efforts to unionize the Boeing 787 assembly plant in his city.

Local media outlets report Mayor Keith Summey held a news conference Thursday and said the Machinists union ridiculed the quality of South Carolina workers when Boeing decided to build a plant in South Carolina.

Summey says the union simply wants to protect its membership in the Northwest.

He was joined in speaking against unionization by his son Elliot, the chairman of the Charleston County Council.

Union spokesman Frank Larkin says the union has never pitted one state’s workforce against another. Larkin said Summey’s statements show Boeing is too powerful and workers need an independent voice.

Almost 3,200 Boeing workers vote April 22 on whether they want union representation.

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