House Passes GOP Bill Limiting NLRB Tied to Boeing Case

WASHINGTON — The House has passed a bill that would undermine the government's case accusing Boeing Co. of retaliating against union workers.

The measure approved on a 238-186 vote would limit the National Labor Relations Board's enforcement power. It would prohibit the agency from ordering any employer to shut down plants or relocate work, even if a company violates labor laws.

House Republicans say the board shouldn't have power to dictate where a private business can locate. The NLRB alleges that Boeing punished union workers in Washington state for past strikes by opening a new plant in right-to-work South Carolina. Boeing denies the allegations.

Unions say the bill would gut worker protection laws.

But the bill isn't expected to get a vote in the Democratic-controlled Senate, which it must pass to become law.