UAW Defends Ford Factory Worker Suspended For Heckling Trump | EUROtoday

The United Auto Workers union mentioned it plans to defend a Ford manufacturing facility employee who was suspended after calling President Donald Trump a “pedophile protector” whereas he toured one of many firm’s Michigan factories.

Trump, clearly rattled by the heckle, flipped off the employee and mouthed the phrases, “Fuck you!” in response to video of the alternate posted Tuesday by TMZ.

The line employee, TJ Sabula, informed The Washington Post he had “no regrets whatsoever” over calling out the president with a reference to Jeffrey Epstein, the notorious pedophile, human trafficker and onetime Trump buddy. He mentioned he’s been suspended from his job pending an investigation.

Laura Dickerson, a vp for the UAW and head of its Ford division, mentioned in a press release Wednesday that the union could have Sabula’s again.

“He believes in freedom of speech, a principle we wholeheartedly embrace, and we stand with our membership in protecting their voice on the job,” Dickerson mentioned, with out naming Sabula. “The UAW will ensure that our member receives the full protection of all negotiated contract language safeguarding his job and his rights as a union member.”

She added, “Workers should never be subjected to vulgar language or behavior by anyone – including the President of the United States.”

Ford didn’t instantly reply to an inquiry from HuffPost relating to the suspension.

Union contracts just like the UAW’s embody clauses defending employees from being terminated or disciplined with out simply trigger. A typical step is to file a grievance on the worker’s behalf, arguing the firing or suspension was unwarranted, initiating talks with administration that may result in mediation or arbitration if it isn’t resolved.

UAW President Shawn Fain was among the many most outspoken labor leaders opposing Trump through the presidential marketing campaign final yr. He steadily referred to as Trump a “scab” and a “con man” who doesn’t care in any respect about common individuals, arguing {that a} second Trump presidency could be disastrous for the working class.

He additionally blasted Trump for internet hosting a marketing campaign occasion the place a number of individuals carrying “Auto Workers for Trump” had been not really autoworkers.

“It’s pathetic. Everything he does is a con,” Fain mentioned on the time. “Donald Trump serves himself. He’s always served himself.”

Trump was in Detroit to tour the Ford manufacturing facility with CEO Jim Farley and board chairman Bill Ford. The president additionally delivered a speech on the Detroit Economic Club that was stuffed with his typical lies in regards to the financial system and different issueslike election fraud.

The White House has defended Trump hurling an expletive and giving the center finger to a employee through the tour.

“A lunatic was wildly screaming expletives in a complete fit of rage, and the President gave an appropriate and unambiguous response,” Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung claimed.