WASHINGTON – A federal judge on Thursday denied Boeing Co.’s request to toss out a government lawsuit that claims the company illegally retaliated against unionized workers by moving some work from Washington to South Carolina.
The ruling by Administrative Law Judge Clifford Anderson is an early victory for the National Labor Relations Board, which has been widely criticized by Republicans and business groups for bringing the case.
The NLRB alleges that Boeing violated labor laws by opening a new production line for its 787 airplane in South Carolina. The agency claims Boeing opened the new plant to punish Washington workers for past strikes and wants the company to return the work to Washington.
Boeing denies the charges.
A hearing on the case began June 14 in Seattle.
