Earlier this week President-elect Donald Trump was called-out by United Steelworkers 1999 President Chuck Jones for inflating the number of jobs that will actually be saved at the Carrier air conditioner plant in Indiana. The president-elect had initially stated that as many as 1,400 jobs that were going to Mexico had been preserved.
However, it now appears that much of the government-backed investment being made in the plant in order to keep it competitive will involve new equipment that can automate production processes. This means the actual number of jobs saved will be much less – with reported variations from as low as 400 to as high as 800 saved jobs.
After Jones made his comments, Trump turned to Twitter.
If United Steelworkers 1999 was any good, they would have kept those jobs in Indiana. Spend more time working-less time talking. Reduce dues
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 8, 2016
Chuck Jones, who is President of United Steelworkers 1999, has done a terrible job representing workers. No wonder companies flee country!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 8, 2016
Yesterday, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka offered these thoughts. “Instead of attacking those who have been working hard to save jobs, the president-elect needs to engage with local union leaders at Carrier and at his hotel in Las Vegas. Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas is breaking the law by not bargaining with its newly unionized employees.
“Mr. Trump will soon occupy the White House. His words and actions need to befit that office.”
The union support for USW 1999 and Jones has been spotlighted via the hashtag #ImwithChuck. About 20 other unions, including the Teamsters, have also voiced their support of Jones.
