Smells like victory, sort of. It looks like the Mechanics union got a four year extension in the process. Also, I’m sure it will only help Obama in 2012 not to have his labor board suing Boeing over creating jobs in South Carolina:
NY TIMES – A top official with the National Labor Relations Board announced on Friday that the agency was dropping its politically charged case against Boeing, in which the agency had accused the company of violating federal labor law by opening a new aircraft production plant in South Carolina.
The N.L.R.B.’s acting general counsel, Lafe Solomon, said the labor board had decided to end the case after the machinists’ union — which originally asked for the case to be brought — urged the board on Thursday to withdraw it.
On Wednesday night, the union announced that 74 percent of its 31,000 Boeing workers in Washington State had voted to ratify a four-year contract extension that includes substantial raises, unusual job security provisions and a commitment by Boeing to expand aircraft production in the Puget Sound area.
Mr. Solomon, who has faced heavy criticism for bringing the case, said he was delighted that it was settled, noting that 90 percent of the cases the labor brings are settled.
“This is the outcome we always preferred, and that is typical for our agency,” Mr. Solomon said in a telephone conference call with reporters.
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