FORT DODGE, Iowa — Former President Ronald Reagan “gave us an excellent instance” when he fired hanging federal staff within the Nineteen Eighties, Sen. Tim Scott mentioned throughout a marketing campaign occasion Monday, when requested concerning the United Auto Employees strike.
It is the newest of many feedback Scott has made about auto staff, at the same time as different GOP presidential candidates have prevented criticizing them amid a strike at three crops to date.
Scott’s statements got here in response to a query throughout a gathering at Fort Dodge: “Are you able to, as president… insert your self into the Labor Get together talks?” requested one voter in Iowa.
Scott then repeated the query once more to the viewers: “Can I as President of the US contain myself on this labor dispute?”
“Let me reply the primary query,” Scott mentioned. “I feel Ronald Reagan gave us an excellent instance when federal staff determined they have been going to strike. He mentioned, ‘You strike, you hearth.’ A easy idea to me to the purpose the place we may use that once more, actually.
Scott’s marketing campaign declined to touch upon why he was referring to firing federal staff when requested how he would deal with the present auto staff’ strike.
As an alternative, Matt Gorman, a marketing campaign spokesman, mentioned in an announcement that Scott “has made clear repeatedly, each at this occasion and on different events, that taxpayers shouldn’t assist any take care of the UAW and auto corporations.”
Scott’s criticism on Monday prolonged to President Joe Biden, who has defended hanging auto staff and repeatedly described himself as “probably the most pro-union president in American historical past.”
“A part of the problem we face at present with President Biden is — and I do not imply to be disingenuous, I imply to be sincere — I am undecided if the phrases have been purchased and paid for, however he actually did.” “The unions employed her,” Scott mentioned.
Scott has made his criticism of unions a focus of his marketing campaign, typically criticizing academics unions — however just lately increasing his scope to incorporate the UAW.
Whereas presenting his financial plan throughout a coverage roundtable in Duncan, South Carolina, final week, Scott criticized the union’s calls for as they reached the top of their contract with the key automakers.
“We’re witnessing the UAW combating for extra advantages and fewer hours,” Scott mentioned on the occasion. “Extra wages, fewer working days. It is a disconnect from work, and we have now to discover a approach to encourage and encourage individuals to get again to work.”
Altogether, the feedback signify among the strongest criticism of auto staff amongst Republican presidential candidates, because the celebration has shifted to incorporate extra blue-collar staff in recent times.
Former President Donald Trump criticized UAW President Sean Positive, who himself has been essential of Trump. However he has taken a extra sympathetic tone towards autoworkers broadly, and he plans to talk to hanging staff in Detroit on the day of the upcoming Republican major debate, which Trump is skipping. The New York Occasions was the primary to report on Trump’s scheduled go to.
“The auto staff aren’t going to get any jobs while you have a look at it, as a result of should you have a look at what they’re doing with electrical vehicles, the electrical vehicles are going to be made in China,” Trump mentioned. On a latest episode of NBC’s “Meet the Press,” she added, “Auto staff are being offered down the river by their leaders.”
Throughout a marketing campaign occasion in Iowa over the weekend, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis requested a query concerning the UAW strike — however selected to not immediately criticize union staff, as a substitute saying he did not have sufficient data earlier than turning his reply right into a “Biden push.” for electrical vehicles,” which he mentioned was “devastating for the auto business as a complete.”
“Ford staff could be higher off if individuals may afford a gas-powered Ford F-150,” DeSantis mentioned.
In the meantime, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum referred to as the UAW strike “the battle for the way forward for American transportation” however didn’t criticize unionized staff.
“Union staff will go, ‘Wow, we’ll swap to all electrical autos, we’ll have fewer jobs, we’ll swap to all electrical autos, you understand, we’re charging our future and you are going to go to,'” Burgum mentioned at a marketing campaign occasion in Laconia, New Hampshire, on Monday. “We should depend upon China to fulfill our transportation wants.”