INDIANAPOLIS -- It was a bittersweet day for workers the Indianapolis Carrier plant on Thursday as the details of the deal between Carrier and President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration were revealed.
The deal, which will keep 730 union, production line jobs in Indianapolis as well as 70 salaried positions, will not save the roughly 600 other jobs that will still be shipped to Mexico.
Some workers are calling Trump a hero for the news.
Workers like LaKeisha Austin.
Austin's video of Carrier executives announcing they were closing their Indianapolis plant and moving the jobs to Mexico started the chain of events that led to Thursday’s announcement.
And while she's sad that all of the 1,400 jobs couldn't be saved. She's happy for those that will be.
“Today is a great day. We’re happy that our jobs are saved,” said Austin. “Donald Trump was in the building today and a lot of people were happy, smiling, clapping and we had a couple people even crying with excitement. Today is a beautiful day.”
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Austin said she has no regrets about recording that meeting where employees given the news, and she’s glad she was able to get the ball rolling.
“It needed to be done, and I’m just glad that it was done. I was used as a Vessel to get us where we are here today. All part of God’s plan,” said Austin.
Other's like President of Indiana State AFL-CIO Brett Voorhies, say they're happy with the news, but concerned about what it means for the future and other jobs in the state.
“Today is a great day for labor,” said Voorhies. “It’s a great day for workers in general. 730 jobs were saved today and I applaud President-elect Trump and Gov. Pence for the job well done.”
Voorhies said that now they need to look forward to all of the other jobs being sent overseas. He said it’s not just Carrier employees struggling.
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He said he's concerned about all of the other jobs that aren't being talked about. “What concerns me is what about the other 600 jobs at the Carrier corporation," said Voorhies. "What about the 350 jobs at Rexnord? What about the 600 jobs in Kokomo at GM? What about the 700 jobs at Carrier in Huntington?”
Carrier has told those that will still be losing their job that the previously agreed upon severence packages will still be honored, but Voorhies said that's not enough.
“We’re still bleeding across the state of Indiana and across the entire country obviously on jobs being offshored either overseas or abroad. Something still need to be done, this is just the tip of the iceberg," said Voorhies.
FULL CARRIER COVERAGE: DOCUMENTARY SERIES: Moving to Mexico with 1,400 of Indy's lost jobs | Jilted workers get first look at Carrier's offer | TIMELINE: Carrier to ship 1,400 jobs from Indiana to Mexico | Trump made money off of Carrier in 2015 | Carrier president: More growth expected in '16 | Ex-Carrier employee sentenced for embezzlement | Carrier pay in Mexico questioned | Carrier refutes offer of $5.85/hour for workers to stay in Indy | Coats, Donnelly have 'disappointing' meeting with Carrier execs | Sen. Donnelly: Carrier never cited federal regulations as reason for move | Union president: 'We're not going away quietly' | Carrier employees protest move at statehouse | Pence on Carrier meeting: 'I don't want to create any false hope for people' | Moving to Mexico: What you need to know about Monterrey, Mexico | Moving to Mexico: On the ground in Monterrey, Mexico, where Carrier is moving Trump weights in on Carrier relocation to Mexico | Carrier: Company did not receive $5M in federal stimulus funds | President of United Steelworkers Union: No hope of saving 1,400 jobs | Carrier employees, local businesses reel after announcement of move to Mexico | WATCH: Employees react to news that Carrier is moving from Indy to Mexico
