By Tracey Aikman
My entire working life has been dictated by offshoring. I’ve spent my career jumping from one factory closing to another.
When President Trump was elected, he said: “Companies are not going to leave the United States anymore without consequences.” His promises ring hollow to me after I got my latest layoff notice.
My first job out of high school was at a factory owned by United Technologies in Wabash, Indiana. I showed up to work in March 1991 and a sign on the door read: “Moved to Mexico.” My mother, who worked for a sister factory, also lost her job when her factory was sent south of the border.
I eventually got a union job at Chrysler in Kokomo, Indiana, which allowed me to give my family a middle-class life and build our dream house on five acres of land. In 2008, I got laid off. I lost my house and had to start over financially.
When I got my job at Schneider Electric’s “Square D” plant in Peru, Indiana five years ago, making electrical boxes and equipment, I hoped that this job would sustain me until I was ready to retire.
Unfortunately, the multinational corporation that owns our plant announced this summer that they would be moving our work to Mexico and other plants. Once our plant closes, all of Schneider Electric’s North American factories will be non-union.
Now I’m facing another layoff, even though our Peru plant was profitable. In fact, the same week I was laid off, Schneider Electric announced profits of $2.2 billion for the first half of 2019.
I’m not alone. Workers across the Midwest are suffering the same fate. And President Trump continues to fail us. Instead of punishing companies like Schneider Electric, he has rewarded them with $120 million in federal contracts and a massive tax break. The closure of my factory is sad proof that Trump’s lies have consequences.
Trump’s broken promises have become a broken record destroying our communities, even though here in Miami County, we gave him the vast majority of our votes in 2016.
Right now, Our Revolution, a political advocacy organization inspired by Sen. Bernie Sander’s historic presidential run in 2016, is helping to organize a miracle effort to save our plant. Joined by workers from the shuttered GM plant in Lordstown, Ohio and workers from the Carrier plant in Indianapolis, we are calling on Trump to sign an executive order that would prevent taxpayer dollars from going to companies that are shipping American jobs overseas.
With the next round of layoffs scheduled for September 27, there is no time to waste.
We have one request for President Trump: Use the power of the government over federal contracts to stop our jobs from leaving the United States. Show us that you mean what you said when you promised to be a workers’ champion.
We need your help now — and we’ll remember if we don’t get it.
Tracey Aikman has been laid off by global corporations United Technologies, Chrysler, and now Schneider Electric. He is married and is a father of two.
Allen Flynn says
How many times have you been laid off? Could it possibly be you?
mausborn says
The least patriotic President EVER!!!
Real AMERICAN citizens know a liar when they see one.
George Washington: “I cannot tell a lie”
Richard Nixon: “I cannot tell the truth”
Donald Trump: “I cannot tell the difference”
Veteran says
Sorry, don’t believe a word this never Trumper says.
really says
IF you didn’t see thru the Hollywood plastic and NY slickster carnival barker stick the first time VOTE accordingly.
Mike Cocchiola says
Trump told Americans what they wanted to hear. Coal for the miners in West Virginia and Kentucky. Expanded world markets for farmers in Iowa. Manufacturing for Michigan. Prosperity for the South. But it was just talk. His lack of knowledge of the economics of world trade and inability to understand or work within a global economy are fatal flaws in a president. All Trump knows is bluster, bullying and bribes. He was doomed to failure from the start.
Veteran says
Country doing pretty damn good!
Vincent J Colianni says
Trumped has delivered everything he promised to some degree and is striving for more despite the road blocks from his opponents.
If you can not see or understand that, you are not being truthful to yourself.
What you are hearing from his detractors is void of the truth. In fact, most of them seem to be describing themselves when they are describing his supposed short comings.
Watch and read both liberal and conservative programs and articles and get at the truth thru understanding and further investigation, if you really care for the truth.
Please separate emotion from logic.
The statement I’ve heard that describes what is going on is “Do some people hate Trump more than they love America”.
I agree says
I’m willing to bet before days end the majority of comments will be either bashing the author or bashing FlaglerLive. The real story is the inability for the leader of the free world to last 24 hours without lying. And Trumps sheep deny he has ever lied.
Richard says
After reading this article from Tracey Aikman, it truly sounds like he just wanted a forum where he could rant and of course President Trump again gets blamed for his poor choices. To back up to 1991, Trump was not even our president, GH Bush was. Then in 2008 when the economy started to collapse due to the banks handing out junk house loans which more than likely you had one also, you end up losing your house like millions of others in this country and now it’s Trumps fault when it was GW Bush & Obama that were presidents during that time. Now to present time where Tracey is losing yet another job and of course it is Trumps fault for HIM losing his job. People, take a few minutes to read Presidents Trumps accomplishments since taking office up to July of this year. Here is the link to the Fact-Check web site where all of the data has been collected. https://www.factcheck.org/2019/07/trumps-numbers-july-2019-update/
So my guess is that the 5.6 million people who have gotten new jobs since Trump has taken office would most likely not agree with your rant. There are still 7.3 million unfilled jobs available as of May 2019. Go find one instead of complaining. Or go support Bernie Sanders and see what happens to your jobs if he were our president. You will be standing in the food stamp line with millions of other unemployed & homeless people.
Franklin Joseph Clair says
Richard, I agree with you 100%. President Trump has done a fantastic job with the economy and increasing jobs. Unemployment for all people is at an all time low. Jobs are so plentiful that employers are having a difficult time filling them with qualified workers. My tax return improved markedly but Trump haters and liberals continue to blame him for everything. I’m voting for Donald Trump in 2020!
snapperhead says
Unemployment isn’t at an all time low. The unemployment rate was regularly lower than the rate is today in the 40’s 50’s and 60’s and as recently as 2000 was as low as it is now.
https://www.thebalance.com/unemployment-rate-by-year-3305506
And despite the massive tax cuts and blowing up the deficit under Trump, GDP growth hasn’t even beat what is was just 4 years ago.
https://www.thebalance.com/deficit-by-president-what-budget-deficits-hide-3306151
https://www.thebalance.com/us-gdp-by-year-3305543
Of course facts don’t matter to Trump’s Jim Jones like supporters but the informed public sees through the lies. Dubya and the late Nixon have to feel a sense of relief Trump will likely surpass them as the worst presidents in modern history. The only president since polling started that measures favorable/unfavorable ratings and never had one positive rating when you average all the polls.
Edith Campins says
Please, what accomplishments? Lots of promises not kept. Where is the healthcare plan? Where is the infrastructure plan? Has he balanced the budget? Has he paid down the debt? Has N. Korea given up a single nuke? Where are the new factories he said would be built in the US? Why did taxpayers have to bail out the farmers to the tune of $23 billion because of his tariffs? Has he fixed the VA? Has he brought coal back or is it a fact that more coal plants have closed during his 2 1/2 years than all of Res. Obama’s eight years? Where is the trade deal with China? Why does his proposed budget call for cuts to Social Security and Medicare when he said he would never cut them? Why are we sending American troops to Saudi Arabia when they sent us 9 of the terrorists that attacked us on 9/11, Osama Bin Laden, dismebered a journalist that dared to question them and we we have sold them billions in arms? Not to mention the fact that Yemen not Iran claimed reponsibility for the attack and the Saudis immediately retaliated. What proof has trump provided to back his claim that it was Iran who was behind the attack? Why have the taxpayer paid over $110 million for his golfing vacations, the ones he said he would be too busy to take? He exited the Climate Treaty, the Iran Treaty and Reagan’s legacy nuclear arms treaty but hasn’t come up with anything better to replace them? Why does he continually and badly lie to the American people, the most recent example being when he claimed he had not agreed to meet with Iran without preconditions even though he had said exactly that on camera multiple times? And as for the unemployment rate, which is measured the same way he criticized when Obama was president, how many people are working to jobs just to survive? How has his support for white supremacists helped our country? How many more innocent Americans have to die before he and his puppet McConnell do something about guns?
Coyote says
@Edith ….
I am sorry that the FlaglerLive forums don’t have the ‘Thumbs Up and Down” buttons … but please just imagine a great big Thumbs UP click from me :)
palmcoaster says
Kudos Edith! Thank you!
Derrick Redder says
Maybe if your diaper wearing crying corrupt Demonrats in th house would actually be at the jobs they were elected to do. Or come back from thier go no where race to the White House instead of running as loosers with nutty ideas raising money for the DNC which knowing 2020 is a loss is building the war chest for 2024
Those other things could and would be worked on getting done. BUT Nooooo. Let’s just do nothing but obstruct the peoples will.
Alphonse Abonte says
Breaking news!!!!!! Trump to step down on January 20. 2025!
Mark says
Don’t worry, free stuff is coming.
David T Schaefer says
Impeach him NOW……..
Makeitso1701 says
Trump is a con man, why is anyone surprised. The only people in line to buy that “bridge”trump is selling, is the trump cult following.
Alphonse Abonte says
All you never Trumpers, Your Dems have held the Congress at a standstill with IMPEACHMENT FEVER for the last 34 months. You are brainwashed, hold it, you have to have a brain to be brainwashed. You are just angry you lost the 2016 election. Now the latest will surely win Trump a second term. Thanks Dems for all you HAVE NOT done! Who is your top candidate? I will wait …………..NOT! I bet you Dems love your 401ks and any market gains over the last 34 months. Obama …… well, nothing to see here.
Eleanor says
Alphonso,
There are currently numerous bills passed by the House of Representatives addressing most of the important issues of the day. Your anger should be directed at Republican Moscow Mitch, who refuses to allow these bills to come to the Senate floor for a vote because Trump will not sign them into law. As for the economy, it started to boom at the beginning of the Obama administration and continued its upward trend during the Trump administration. If you like a corrupt president who routinely lies, cheats, and uses our tax dollars as his personal piggy bank, than Trump is your man.
Sherry says
WOW! Great post Edith! DITTO!
Add to that trump’s “own admission” that he asked a foreign leader to dig up dirt on his political opponent, sent his civilian “personal” (without a security clearance?) attorney to assist, and then “possibly” had a number of transcripts of phone calls moved to a top secret server. Just SOP. . . another day at the office for this “completely corrupt” administration.
Now let the FOX “talking points” begin. . . BUT, please be entertaining enough to use something besides the “talking points” the White House staff accidentally sent to the Democrats, as well as the Republicans. . . “scuz” we’ve already seen those. . . LOL!
palmcoaster says
I am still registered Rep but and Eisenhower one not a Trump= TTT = Trump, Traitor, Thieve. People that voted for him lack education. culture, brain washable and took the bait or are greedy rich like him that is making his billions out of “other peoples monies” ours our hard earned taxes.
He is selling our country for his personal profit and will never be my president,,,but just Trump the Duce allover again. He didn’t win the election as Clinton had 3 million more votes and not that I really like her, but is the truth. This electoral college system is obsolete and rigged and has to be done away with. You voted for Trump and his lies …karma on you and all those GOP senators that still defend him and are an instrument for his mafia style WH.
Sherry says
Dow skids nearly 300 points lower as ISM manufacturing comes in at worst level since financial crisis
Derrick Redder says
Do some research and learn that it wasn’t TRUMP’S fault. They needed to save money they didn’t move everything just some of the production ops to save money. The company you worked for is a big Demonrat supporter.
They we influenced in this move to recoup consessions gained by you union. They shifted and offered to relocate workers to other plants in America. Then your union overwhelming supported the decision in exchange for buy outs and other perks. Don’t blame Trump blame the Demonrats that promised you a rose garden in exchange for cash.