BIRMINGHAM, Ala. • Boeing used Alabama for leverage when it was shopping for potential plant sites during labor negotiations, Gov. Robert Bentley said Wednesday, but the experience will help the state in the long run.

Bentley, speaking with reporters after outlining his legislative plans during a speech to civic clubs, said he believed the aircraft manufacturer really was interested in Huntsville as a new home for jetliner production when it was shopping for possible sites outside of Washington state to build its 777X aircraft.

But Bentley said he also believed the company used the state "to some extent" during the process, which came during contract discussions with the machinist union.

"I asked them that," Bentley said. "When I met with them the first time, I said, 'Are you using us to get a positive vote out of the union? Are you truly serious?'" Bentley said.

"We were the first state they met with, and they told me they were truly serious about moving," Bentley said. "They actually had a site visit planned for this week, and they would have been here if it had not been a 51 percent vote."

Boeing spokesman Doug Alder said the company was "appreciative of every state that took part in the process, but we are not identifying any of those locations."