Issa: NLRB withdrawal a 'victory,' but investigation will continue

By Keith Laing - 12/09/11 02:49 PM ET

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) promised to continue investigating the National Labor Relations Board's complaint against Boeing, even as he hailed the panel's decision to drop the case Friday.

Issa, who is chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, had issued subpoenas to the labor relations board for documents related to its case against Boeing, which he argued was political. The NLRB has argued for most of the year that Boeing built a new plant in South Carolina, a right-to-work state, in retaliation for strikes by unionized workers at its existing facilities in Washington state.

But the panel said Friday that it was dropping the complaint because of a deal the company reached this month with the International Association of Machinists to build a different type of airplane, the 737 Max.

Issa said Friday that decision was "a victory for American manufacturers, workers and the cause of job creation."

But just as quickly, he promised to continue looking into the matter.

“NLRB’s decision to end its action against Boeing does not end the Oversight Committee’s investigation into the agency," he said in a statement. "NLRB’s record of rogue action and lack of transparency with the public and Congress in this case — and in others — has raised serious questions that remain unanswered."

Issa said his inquiry was important because "businesses must be free to conduct operations wherever in this country they can be most competitive.

The labor board's decision to withdraw the case was "also a victory for the people of South Carolina and Boeing workers whose livelihoods have been in limbo throughout the course of this action," he said.

Issa's committee had quarreled with NLRB lawyer Lafe Solomon about documents it requested related to the complaint that the panel said it could not release because the case was under judicial review.

Issa said Friday that he expected full compliance from the NLRB now that the case against Boeing has ended.

"NLRB has long asserted that it could not fully cooperate with this Committee because of this action," he said. "Now that that is no longer the case, it is incumbent on NLRB to expeditiously hand over all documents and materials required as part of the committee’s investigation.

"While this case appears resolved, our larger goal remains unaccomplished,” he continued.