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Union president Jones challenges Trump on Carrier claim

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence waved as they visited to Carrier factory, in Indianapolis, Ind. on Dec. 1. Trump slammed a union leader who criticized his deal to discourage air conditioner manufacturer Carrier Corp. from closing an Indiana factory and moving its jobs to Mexico.

WASHINGTON » The union president slammed by Donald Trump on Twitter challenged the president-elect today to back up his claim that a deal to discourage Carrier Corp. from closing an Indiana factory would save 1,100 American jobs.

“He overreacted, President-elect Trump did,” United Steelworkers Local 1999 President Chuck Jones told CNN. “He should have come out and tried to justify his numbers.”

Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence — governor of Indiana — visited Carrier’s Indianapolis factory Dec. 1 to celebrate the deal. Trump suggested then that the number of jobs saved could top 1,100.

Jones said following Trump’s announcement that the number of jobs saved is more like 800. “Are we pleased with some of the jobs being saved?” Jones told The Associated Press. “Yeah, without a doubt. But Trump is saying no more jobs are going to be leaving this country, and I think we could use a little more honesty.”

Late Wednesday, Trump tweeted: “Chuck Jones, who is President of United Steelworkers 1999, has done a terrible job representing workers.”

That local union branch represents workers at Carrier’s Indianapolis plant.

Indiana officials said Dec. 1 the deal involved “preserving 1,069 high-wage jobs” as Carrier kept furnace manufacturing at the plant and received $7 million in tax incentives over 10 years. The AP reported the figure covered about 800 union and supervisor jobs that were set for outsourcing to Mexico — and included some 250 headquarters and engineering staff positions which the company had always said would remain in Indianapolis.

In a second tweet Wednesday night, Trump suggested to Jones: “Spend more time working — less time talking” and the union should “Reduce dues.”

About 30 minutes after Trump tweeted about Jones, the union leader started getting harassing phone calls, he told MSNBC.

He said one caller asked: “What kind of car do you drive?” Another said: “We’re coming for you.”

He told the cable news outlet he wasn’t sure how the callers found his number.

“Nothing that says they’re going to kill me, but, you know, you better keep your eye on your kids,” Jones told MSNBC. “I’ve been doing this job for 30 years, and I’ve heard everything from people who want to burn my house down or shoot me … I can deal with people that make stupid statements and move on.”

29 responses to “Union president Jones challenges Trump on Carrier claim”

  1. nodaddynotthebelt says:

    Let’s see, of the supposed 1,100 jobs saved 250 were not going to cut to begin with. Sounds like par for course when it comes to Trump when it comes to “honesty”.

    • jusris says:

      Do you also hold Obama accountable for his promises on Obamacare? #MAGA

      • MillionMonkeys says:

        Obama didn’t lie about Obamacare. He tried his best to start it, and there are always going to be glitches at the beginning of any big project. That’s why Trump will not repeal it (he lied to you).

        And Obama didn’t verbally attack people who reported that premiums would go up. He took it like a man.

        • jusris says:

          I’m not disagreeing with you or nodaddynotthebelt. I am amused with the way BOTH sides justify missteps from BOTH Trump and Obama/ Clinton if you want to throw her in there…And BOTH sides are quick to condemn the other for the same mistakes their Dude or Dudette has done…Seems our desire to be RIGHT blinds US somewhat…#MAGA

          “We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.” Maya Angelou

        • meat says:

          Really monkey? “Tried his best”? Odummy and the Democraps KNEW premiums would go up AND that you wouldn’t be able to keep your Doctor or plan. They were told this by insurance carriers and Doctors yet they(the Democraps only) passed it. So he did lie. What goes around comes around monkey.

        • keaukaha says:

          Jusris now that the Chump is PE do you think he has shown the temperament to be the POTUS. Forget about Obama and his past record because that will be history. You seem to be a person that is fair in looking at the big picture. Honestly does the behavior and actions of PE Trump make you comfortable.

        • jusris says:

          IRT keaukaha: I think it is like death, uncertain and scary but inevitable so we must come to grip with it…I wasn’t trying to be anti-Trump with that one…My perspective is more on OUR reaction to this on BOTH sides…We cannot change anybody’s mind THEY must come to the conclusion themselves, it seems like BOTH sides are seeing how they are unalike in each other and not looking at how they are alike….#MAGA

          “We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.”

    • Denominator says:

      He hasn’t taken office yet and the number of jobs he’s saved is not enough?
      What does that mean?

    • klastri says:

      Trump is a pathological liar. He cannot tell the truth if there’s the slightest possibility of doing so may expose some wart on his wonderful greatness. He is a malignant narcissist and psychotic.

      Mr. Trump and Mr. Pence offered Carrier tax cuts and cash incentives, even through they are still moving jobs to Mexico. Doesn’t anyone see this? He is still rewarding Carrier to outsource jobs. He has always taken credit for things he didn’t do, and if he does something good, he exaggerates what he did. He cannot be truthful.

      Every person who voted for him should be ashamed of what they did.

      • MillionMonkeys says:

        Unfortunately, Donald won’t be known as “The Education President.” What would happen if the undereducated ever learned to read and think?

        • jusris says:

          What if the Undereducated outnumber the Educated and they have discovered the ability to vote and taken control of America and THIS is the NEW norm for America. What if this is how the dinosaurs died off? or How ALL the great civilizations before us began the SLOW decent into mediocrity? #MAGA

        • klastri says:

          jusris – If this is the new norm, a lot of those smart people are going to be living somewhere else with their money.

          Thankfully, a lot more people voted for Mrs. Clinton than voted for Mr. Trump, so there’s some hope.

        • jusris says:

          klastri: A third party? Could a third party help? Seems MANY Republicans don’t live that far RIGHT and MANY Democrats don’t live that far LEFT…Does a COMMON ground exist for these people, could the MIDDLE take back the country? #MAGA

        • MillionMonkeys says:

          jusris, I see that you’re an open-minded person and appreciate your being the voice of reason. Keep it up!

        • meat says:

          “What would happen if the undereducated ever learned to read and think?”, then that would be the end of the Democrat Party of course.

        • sarge22 says:

          A quick heads up on the Michigan recount: we are in hand to hand combat with the globalists & the war is being won by The Freedom fighters. At COBO Hall in Detroit tonight guess what happened: Hillary/Stein/Obama/Soros/DNC took a huge hit.

          Detroit was won on election night by Hillary by tens of thousands of votes BUT tonight Only 50 ballots were found in a Detroit precinct box sealed & certified as having 306. …. and that finding was the norm and NOT the exception when box after box was opened. The Mich. AG has been contacted by Senator Pat Colbeck to institute a criminal investigation. He outed the corruption earlier today on The Senate floor in Michigan. Earlier in the day this story surfaced:

          http://www.theblaze.com/news/2016/12/06/good-news-for-trump-michigan-recount-effort-hits-major-snag-in-detroit/

          I believe this is the same model instituted in a number of other cities around the country. The b@stards are on the ropes!

    • saywhatyouthink says:

      Splitting hairs aren’t you? Whether the number is 850 or 1100, the bottom line is he saved those worker’s jobs. And he hasn’t even taken office yet. What has Obama done to stop jobs from leaving to Mexico? Not a darn thing!

      • klastri says:

        The bottom line is that he lied about it, and we still don’t know the cost of those jobs. Indiana offered $7 million (taxpayer dollars) to retain that small number of jobs, and the tax savings promised to Carrier by Trump hasn’t been disclosed.

        That’s called Socialism. It’s putting workers at least partially on the public payroll.

        Can’t you see that?

      • jusris says:

        Technically we don’t know how many jobs Obama saved…there is still jobs here in America they haven’t all left in the past 8 years, so there is a CHANCE that he saved some of them…and there is a CHANCE he didn’t save any of them…How many jobs has Trump forced out of America already we don’t know…maybe NONE maybe SOME…Trump did a VERY GOOD job saving those jobs but lets not ALL act like it isn’t ANYTHING or that this is the GREATEST thing ever done in the history of the USA. #MAGA

        • MillionMonkeys says:

          Spending $7 million in tax incentives to “save” 450 jobs is NOT good at all. That might impress the undereducated. But people who can reason things out (or have access to a pocket calculator) know you cannot make the country great by spending $7 million to save every 450 jobs.

          MABA = Make America Bankrupt Again. Bankruptcy worked for Trump, the selfish heartless businessman (just look at his tax returns). It won’t work for the USA.

        • keaukaha says:

          We should be more worried that the P.E is lowering himself to get into a confrontation over 450- 1100 jobs. The Hilton Hawaiian Village hotel has more than 1700 employees. Even Kirk Caldwell or any other elected official didn’t get down and dirty over a difference of opinion. Frank Fasi and Ben Cayetano were fierce and competitive but never as nasty as the Chump in public. Even Billy Kenoi knows when he needs to shut up when he is wrong according to the majority of opinion. The Chump is making an as- of himself and anybody else who dares to share his company.

        • meat says:

          So monkey, you and kaka making all this noise now. Where were you clowns when Odummy unloaded his $800B Stimulus. How about the $500M he dropped on Solyndra? Now you guys chirping. True Democrap puppets.

        • keaukaha says:

          Meat no worry about us we not going be POTUS. Worry about the Chump who instead of focusing on manini kine things try make America great again. The buggah is a loser and you know it.

        • meat says:

          Eh kaka, judging by the lip service you clowns keep putting out, seems like you guys the one worried. You guys(Democraps) the “losers” and you know it. And who said anything about you scrubs being POTUS? You sound like you 11 years old. Your mommy better take your keyboard away now before you hurt yourself.

        • sarge22 says:

          The crickets have returned but where is Eli Manning’s buddy Ike from Ole Miss? MIA? RIP? The Trump train continues to Roll along with the Tide. Trump 2020

        • keaukaha says:

          Hey sarge and meathead more than two and a half million crickets drowning out you sorry as-ed Chumpsters. Only a matter of time before the idio-s charade is exposed for what it really is. One big pile of dog shxt.

        • meat says:

          Stop with the whining already. Trump wins 2 terms. Get over it crybaby.

    • allie says:

      true..trump is a total shibai artist and forced the stooge pence to give away the support for a handful of temporary jobs.

  2. Dai says:

    Not sure how long $7 mil will last but might want to do the math (supposed to be 10 yrs). What happens after the $7 mil is spent? Will the jobs still be here? Stay tuned. I’m feeling the jobs will terminate slowly and the whole thing will be moved to Mexico. Now if the POTUS is true to his word, then I’m looking for the import tax to be implemented. Then again, because the company HQ is still in the USA, they may qualify for a waiver and end up paying nothing.
    Stay tuned in for the end of this cartoon.

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