If Washington state wants to create jobs and encourage Boeing to stick around then passing right-to-work laws makes perfect sense. State Senator Michael Baumgartner plans to introduce legislation that could do just that.
As Boeing continues to expand its operations in South Carolina and fears the company is looking for an exit out of Puget Sound grow, the debate over making Washington a right-to-work state is gaining steam.
South Carolina is a right-to-work state. In it’s simplest form, that means employees do not have to join the union in a job where there is a union presence. Unions can operate, but they can’t require employees to join them.
Washington is not a right-to-work state and some are concerned that as Boeing looks to improve its bottom line and reduce its labor costs it will continue to look to set up shop outside of Washington.
“Our economy can’t afford that,” says state Senator Michael Baumgartner. “We have to be on a level playing field. This is one of the key issues that can make our state more competitive. Otherwise, we’re going to see jobs continue to leave the state, and equally important, we’re not going to see jobs come to the state.”
