LANSING, MI—Michigan’s state House has passed bills giving both public and private employees so-called right-to-work protections.

With the election over and the economy picking up steam, manufacturers are poised to reinvest in their assembly plants.

In June 2011, we defended The Boeing Co. against a complaint filed against it by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

HUNTSVILLE, AL—Raytheon has opened a new, 70,000-square-foot missile assembly plant here, where it plans to employ 300 people by 2014.

MONTREAL—Bombardier is bracing for what could be a lengthy strike at its Quebec railcar assembly plant after workers rejected what the company characterized as a generous offer that raises wages and pension benefits and contained a commitment to invest in new technology.

WASHINGTON, DC—Lockheed Martin’s missile and fire control assembly plant in Grand Prairie, TX, is one of four organizations to win this year’s Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award from the Commerce Department.

SEATTLE—GMN Aerospace has opened a new assembly plant here to make parts and subassemblies for Boeing.

RENTON, WA—Boeing will build a third assembly line for its 737 MAX jet family alongside one of the two existing lines at its assembly plant here. The company will hire hundreds of works within the next five years.

CLYDE, NY—Parker Aerospace and GE Aviation are building an assembly plant here to make fuel nozzles for commercial aircraft engines. The joint venture will employ approximately 300 people.

PRINCE GEORGE, VA—Rolls-Royce plans to build a second assembly plant here, creating 140 new jobs. The $136 million facility will produce turbine blades and nozzle guide vanes for jet engines.