South Carolina mayor sounds off on Machinists union
Apr 3, 2015, 6:47 AM | Updated: 7:01 am
North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey reportedly spoke out against the International Association of Machinists Thursday over efforts to unionize the Boeing 787 assembly plant in his city. (AP)
(AP)
North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey reportedly spoke out against the International Association of Machinists Thursday over efforts to unionize the Boeing 787 assembly plant in his city.
Almost 3,200 Boeing workers will vote April 22 on whether they want union representation.
Summey said the upcoming union vote is not about jobs in South Carolina, but rather about protecting jobs in Washington state, according to CBS News.
“If they were coming here just to make sure our employees are treated fairly and getting the proper pay they should have, that’s one thing,” Sumney said. “But to come in to try to keep from growing Boeing here in South Carolina because of the union is wrong.”
Union spokesman Frank Larkin replied that the union has never pitted one state’s workforce against another, according to The Post and Courier. However, it has been very critical of South Carolina’s workforce.
KIRO Radio’s Chris Sullivan contributed to this report.
