Boeing union files ethics complaint against Sen. Graham

  • Staff report
  • Posted: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 12:01 a.m.
    UPDATED: Friday, March 23, 2012 4:01 p.m.
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South Carolina U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.
/South Carolina U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

The union that represents Boeing Co. workers in Washington state has filed an ethics complaint against U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham over his response to a federal labor lawsuit brought against the aircraft maker.

Graham said he “will not be intimidated” by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.

The union has asked the U.S. Senate’s Select Committee on Ethics to investigate its concerns about remarks the South Carolina Republican has made. It said those public statements were “threats” intended to pressure the National Labor Relations Board to drop its case.

The federal agency sued Boeing in April, saying the company built its newly opened 787 assembly plant at a nonunion site in North Charleston as an illegal form of payback against the machinists union for past strikes. The NLRB is seeking to move the South Carolina production line and jobs to the Seattle area.

Boeing has denied the allegations.

The lawsuit has triggered a political backlash, with many Republicans blasting it. Graham has been among the fiercest critics.

In seeking the ethics inquiry, the union cited a statement his office released April 20: “As Senator, I will do everything in my power, including introducing legislation cutting off funding for this wild goose case, to stop the NLRB’s frivolous complaint.”

Christopher Corson, the machinist union’s top lawyer, likened that to a local politician using “his office to put pressure on police chief or judge to drop a law enforcement matter.”

Graham responded to the complaint in a statement today.

“It’s clear what this union complaint is about — it’s an effort to intimidate people like me who are speaking out against them,” said. “I will not be intimidated. And it’s not going to stop me from fighting for the people of South Carolina. The NLRB is an out-of-control bureaucracy trying to destroy thousands of jobs in our state.”

Corson requested the ethics inquiry on May 20. A copy of his request to the committee was released today by Graham’s office.