INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Indianapolis was thrust into the national spotlight during the first presidential debate Monday.
Republican candidate, Donald Trump mentioned Carrier, the company that pulled hundreds of jobs from central Indiana and moved their production of some products to Mexico.
“All you have to do is take a look at Carrier air conditioning in Indianapolis, they fired 1,400 people, they’re going to Mexico. So many, hundreds and hundreds of companies are doing this, we cannot let it happen,” he said Monday night.
“Donald Trump’s been bringing it up ever since he’s become a candidate and the Carrier situation occurred. I just wish that he would get his facts straight,” said Chuck Jones, Local USW 1999 President.
Jones is responsible for hundreds of steel workers that were laid off from Carrier. He wasn’t impressed with Trump’s statements.
“Donald Trump’s got stock in UTC which owns Carrier, Donald Trump’s got a lot of businesses overseas so I don’t put a hell of a lot of faith in what he says,” said Jones.
The local USW chapter had endorsed Bernie Sanders for President, but when he dropped out, local union leadership wasn’t so quick to support his opponent, the democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton.
“Hillary Clinton was for NAFTA, this whole Carrier move is NAFTA related,” said Jones.
At a rally Tuesday in Ohio, Former President, Bill Clinton spoke on the issue, “Any president who wants to trade with other countries has got to take this into account,” he said.
Some of those closest to the Carrier layoffs in Indy are unimpressed with the presidential candidates who are trying so hard to win their votes.
“I didn’t really enjoy either one of them. I don’t think most people are real excited about the presidential election itself,” said Jones.
The national United Steelworkers Union has endorsed Hillary Clinton for president. The local Indianapolis chapter though has not and will not endorse either candidate.
