Gov. Nikki Haley has won a federal appeal in a lawsuit over anti-union remarks.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Gov. Nikki Haley has won a federal appeal in a lawsuit over anti-union remarks.
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday said it agreed with a South Carolina judge's dismissal of a case by the machinists union.
The union and the state AFL-CIO teamed up to sue Haley and Catherine Templeton, who was then the director of South Carolina's labor department. The unions wanted Haley ordered to remain neutral in union matters, but a judge ruled in August that federal labor laws don't prohibit "the expression of political animosity toward unions."
The lawsuit stemmed from several remarks, including those Haley made when she nominated Templeton. Haley said her background would be helpful in state fights against unions, particularly at the $750 million Boeing plant in North Charleston.
“The efforts of union bosses to silence our free speech and stop us from standing up for our workers and businesses have failed – and we’re going to continue to make it very clear: unions are not needed, not wanted and not welcome in South Carolina," said Haley after the court confirmed the dismissal of the case.
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