House Republicans on Capitol Hill passed legislation last week known as the “Protecting Jobs from Government Interference Act” that prohibits the National Labor Relations Board from deciding where an employer can create new jobs or transfer employment. It’s a blanket law and would apply to any and all circumstances. Why the need for such a law? Take Boeing, for example, which recently attempted to move a $750 million plant and its 1,000 jobs to South Carolina. The NLRB tried to stand in the way and accused Boeing of doing this to get back at unionized workers in Washington state; South Carolina is a non-union, right-to-work state. U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, says he’s backing the legislation to make sure the NLRB doesn’t become too powerful or involved in the decisions a company makes on behalf of its employees. He added that it could also serve as a catalyst for new economic opportunities. “The American economy has untapped potential,” Cassidy says. “This legislation is another step towards getting our economy back on track.” Meanwhile, House Democrats have raised concerns about the legislation, chiefly that it dilutes workers’ rights. —Jeremy Alford
Today’s poll question: Do you think Louisiana’s status as a right-to-work state benefits employers or employees more?
