#ImWithChuck: Trump Under Fire for Attacking Carrier Union Head on Twitter, Who’s Now Getting Threatening Calls, Emails
‘We’re Coming for You’
Donald Trump‘s “saving” Carrier jobs last week was a sham, but it was great PR. A poll touted by Kellyanne Conway, his former campaign manager, said so, despite it being not only false but a bad course of action that, had President Obama done it, would have been branded “picking winners and losers” by the GOP, as they said when he saved the auto industry.
Back to that false part.
Trump got Mike Pence to give Carrier a $7 million tax break, and claimed he had saved 1100 jobs from going to Mexico.Â
“Now they’re keeping — actually the number’s over 1,100 people,†Trump told union members and reporters there to cover his victory tour, “which is so great.â€
Trump, as usual, exaggerated, counting hundreds of jobs that were never on the chopping block.
He also didn’t bother to even talk to the head of the union representing Carrier workers when he was in Indiana.
Chuck Jones confirms to MSNBC Trump never negotiated w/ union for workers to take a pay cut —just spoke with Carrier company. https://t.co/fxBgfCC1rf
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) December 8, 2016
Chuck Jones, president of the United Steelworkers 1999, talked with The Washington Post on Tuesday, explaining how his members are devastated, and said of the president-elect, “for whatever reason, lied his a– off.”
“Trump and Pence, they pulled a dog and pony show on the numbers,†Jones said.
During the campaign, Trump promised to save the Carrier jobs from going to Mexico.
“They’re going to call me and they are going to say ‘Mr. President, Carrier has decided to stay in Indiana,’†Trump said in April at a campaign rally. “One hundred percent — that’s what is going to happen.â€
It didn’t.
Not even 50 percent.
As it turns out, only 730 to 800 jobs are not going to Mexico. Trump didn’t save the 1100 jobs he said he did, and he didn’t save the 1700+ jobs he promised he would.
Jones Wednesday night explained on CNN that more than 1200 people in two Indiana factories will lose their jobs – those jobs will be going to Mexico.
Pres. of United Steelworkers Union on @Carrier deal: “What nobody’s mentioning is 550 people are losing their jobs” https://t.co/SxPg1jZHk9
— OutFrontCNN (@OutFrontCNN) December 8, 2016
Now here’s where it gets ugly.
On Twitter late Wednesday night, a mere 20 minutes after the CNN interview, Trump went after Chuck Jones, saying he’s done “a terrible job representing workers,” and blaming him for companies moving to Mexico and elsewhere.
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
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
Jones is now getting threatening calls, as he told MSNBC late Wednesday night (video at top), and threatening email, he told The Huffington Post.
The Washington Post reports, “Half an hour after Trump tweeted about Jones on Wednesday, the union leader’s phone began to ring and kept ringing, he said. One voice asked: What kind of car do you drive? Another said: We’re coming for you.”
“Nothing that says they’re gonna kill me, but, you know, you better keep your eye on your kids,†Jones said later on MSNBC. “We know what car you drive. Things along those lines.â€
Jones also defended himself on CNN Thursday morning:
The President-elect “overreacted,” Carrier union leader Chuck Jones says of the Trump tweets. https://t.co/m6XLeTG80A
— New Day (@NewDay) December 8, 2016
On Twitter, Jones is getting support, and even a hashtag:Â #ImWithChuck:
Let it not go unnoticed that Trump’s tweets attacking Chuck Jones of the Steelworkers Union are insanely inappropriate for a Prez-Elect.
— Touré (@Toure) December 8, 2016
You be you, Chuck Jones. You’ve got a nation of love behind you. A President should be a role model, not a bully. Not Trump.#ImWithChuck
— Laurie Crosswell 🌞 (@lauriecrosswell) December 8, 2016
#PEOTUS Trump has the gall to trash talk Chuck Jones, when he’s used Chinese steel for his buildings for years. #ImwithChuck
— Joe Perin (@djpthethird) December 8, 2016
Those attacked by #Trump since becoming Prez:
•Chuck Jones
•Boeing
•Press
•China
•Jill Stein
•J. Zeleny+CNN
•HRC
•Cuba
•NYT
•SNL
•Hamilton— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) December 8, 2016
I just feel sick at heart for Chuck Jones. How can we allow this vengeful, unhinged tyrant Trump to go on like this?
— Summer Brennan (@summerbrennan) December 8, 2016
Jones is now getting death threats. Is there no responsible Republican who will tell Trump that WE DON’T DO THIS?
— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) December 8, 2016
Trump punches down always. He’s a bully. This time it’s because Chuck Jones called @realDonaldTrump out for lying. https://t.co/5iummkrdiv
— Ringuette (@Ringuette) December 8, 2016
With a wink and a nod Trump knowingly aims death threats when he targets individuals on Twitter. #ElectoralCollege #VoteNo #ImWithChuck
— Thomas Reich (@gollum1419_g) December 8, 2016
Chuck Jones makes @realDonaldTrump look like a out of league petty child. #ImWithChuck #wearewithchuck
— Arabs For Bernie (@ArabsForBernie) December 8, 2016
Unions built the middle class, improving the lives of millions by uniting against ppl like @realDonaldTrump. #ImWithChuck @steelworkers
— Kevin Ahern (@kevinahern1) December 8, 2016
If Trump can bully a citizen with a tweet, wait till he has access to the NSA, CIA, DOJ. His vindictiveness makes Nixon gentle #ImWithChuck
— Daniel Wright (@dprite1) December 8, 2016
Â
Enjoy this piece?
… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.
NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.
Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.