It has been an issue since the very beginning. The play from Boeing was obviously to cut costs and since many states in the US have been plagued by the complete collapse of manufacturing jobs since at least the 70's they are willing to give Boeing tax cuts and incentives by the billions.

The only small problem is that they turned this plant into a sweatshop, not only the workers have no aviation culture but people in power seem to think they are bolting on just another Ford Pinto like the old days.