President Obama is in Davenport, Iowa today to discuss jobs and see firsthand the economic impact the Alcoa manufacturing plant is having on the region. The manufacturing facility is a supplier for Boeing that makes high-tech alloys and wings.
Isn’t it ironic that the President is visiting a supplier of Boeing in the right-to-work state of Iowa while his National Labor Relations Board sues Boeing for building a manufacturing plant in the right-to-work state of South Carolina? President Obama, who appointed the NLRB acting general counsel responsible for filing the complaint against Boeing, is suffering from a credibility problem when it comes to talking about jobs and the economy. If NLRB Acting General Counsel Lafe Solomon has his way, South Carolina will lose jobs in already terrible economy, which will also impact its suppliers like Alcoa in Iowa.
Alcoa employs 2,000 workers and generated $800 million in revenue last year. They are an engine for economic growth in the state.
During his remarks in Iowa, the President said that he wants key manufacturing products such as wind and turbines to bear the proud stamp “Made in America.” However, he continues to deliver “payback” to Big Labor for past political support by appointing labor radicals to agencies focused on implementing their agenda via regulations and rulemaking. This sort of action will prevent key manufacturing products from bearing this slogan.
President Obama is yet to denounce his labor board’s attack on right-to-work laws and their job-killing policies. Workers are waiting to hear if he supports the unprecedented action the NLRB is taking against Boeing. And his visit to Davenport today provides him with an excellent opportunity to let the American people know where he stands.
John Bryson, who was nominated by the President to sever as Secretary of Commerce said during his confirmation hearing that the NLRB was not using the “right judgment” and “never thought for example of putting those jobs outside the U.S.” Mr. Bryson was a member of Boeing board when they made the decision to locate a manufacturing plant in South Carolina.
During his weekly address last week, President Obama spoke of strengthening America by investing at home. Should the NLRB have its way, the next time a major American company looks to open a new manufacturing facility they may turn to China or India, not Iowa or South Carolina.
Mr. President, you can’t have it both ways. It’s time for you to let the American people know if you support the unprecedented action being taken by your NLRB. If you continue to stand on the sidelines while your labor board threatens employees and employers, then it will be easy to conclude that you stand with Big Labor’s radical agenda instead of job creators.