The Hill News

Republican candidates applauded the decision of the National Labor Relations Board to drop its lawsuit against Boeing Friday, with front-runner Newt Gingrich calling the move "a victory for South Carolina and all right-to-work states." But the GOP leaders continued to deride the inital decision by the NLRB to sue Boeing as wrong for the economy in statements Friday.

The NLRB had challenged Boeing's decision to open a non-union plant in South Carolina, arguing that the airplane manufacturer had made the decision to gain leverage in negotiations with the Machinists union. The union approved a 4-year contract with Boeing earlier this week; Boeing promised to build its new 737 jetliner in Washington state in exchange for the union agreeing as part of the deal to withdraw its complaint of unfair labor practices.

The dispute had gained a high profile as Republicans â€" especially presidential candidates eager to impress in South Carolina â€" railed against the NLRB case as government intervention on the private sector.

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