Union boss calls on prez to visit Fall River plant
Aims to stop Philips job losses
A union leader who is pleading with President Trump to help save more than 100 jobs in Fall River is hoping for more action — including a visit to the soon-to-be shuttered factory — after a boilerplate response from the
White House.
IBEW Local 1499 President Joseph Santos told the Herald Monday he is looking for Trump’s help after the Philips Lighting plant in Fall River announced it would relocate to an existing company facility in Monterrey, Mexico — taking 160 jobs, including 100 union positions. Former Fall River Mayor William Flanagan also beseeched the White House, tweeting directly at Trump.
A White House spokeswoman told the Herald yesterday the president would defend U.S. workers, but did not specifically address the Fall River pleas.
“President Trump is committed to defending the American worker and continues to build on the economic momentum provided by his tax cuts and regulatory relief that will make it easier for American workers and companies to succeed,” White House Director of Media Affairs Helen Aguirre Ferre said in a statement.
Santos said he was appreciative of the general response, but he wants to hear more from the president.
“I’d love to hear him say ‘What am I going to do for Fall River. How can we help Fall River?’ The ideal thing would be for President Trump to come to Fall River and see who we are and what we do,” Santos said. “We need to put pressure on the government to help us keep jobs in America.”
IBEW international rep John Horak said he wants to see a stronger response from local, state and federal officials as well.
“Why these people aren’t stepping up, I have no idea,” Horak said.
U.S. Sen. Edward J. Markey’s office did not respond to a request for comment. A spokesman for U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren said the senator’s office had been in touch with IBEW and the company, and is working with the congressional delegation on helping out workers.
In a statement, U.S. Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III said Philips should keep the plant open.
“For the nearly 200 Fall River families facing layoffs, a small investment in retraining will not relieve the pain and uncertainty of a lost job and lost savings,” Kennedy said. “If Philips Lighting can afford to buy back $187.4 million in shares in 2018 alone to reward shareholders, the multinational corporation can afford to keep this factory open and these workers employed.”