Company boycotts Carrier in sympathy of laid off workers
ANDERSON, Ind. (WISH) – A HVAC company owner is turning his back on one of his biggest suppliers after he said the supplier turned its back on its employees.
Wednesday, Carrier announced it plans to relocate its manufacturing plant from Indianapolis’ west side to Mexico, taking 1,400 jobs with it. The decision obviously isn’t sitting well with employees but it’s also bothering several heating and air companies.
It’s a business decision that comes from the heart.
“We’re not helping buy a CEO their 5th vacation home, we’re helping feed our family,” said R.D. Poffenbarger as he installed a thermostat.
He owns 911 Heating and Cooling in Anderson and is loyal to his suppliers.
“I’ve used Carrier products in my company the whole time,” he said spanning 16 years in business. But he said that won’t happen anymore, not after what Carrier announced Wednesday.
“They were always promoting that they were made in the U.S. and it just shocked me that they would (relocate to Mexico),” he said.
The out-of-the-country move is part of the reason why Poffenbarger says he’ll no longer use Carrier products. “You notice different workmanship…failures,” he said. “It just gets to be a cheaper product.”
He also sympathizes with the workers. Living in Anderson, he knows what it’s like when manufacturing companies skip town.
“Used to be Delco, Guide Lamp, GM, and they all left. So I have friends you know, I have people I went to school with as parents that all of sudden were out of jobs,” he said.
Poffenbarger plans to use only suppliers like Goodman or Ameristar going forward. It might hurt his bottom line, but he said it won’t hurt his conscience.
“I was talking to my service manager Coby and I said you know, we may take a hit for doing this but I feel it’s right,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Poffenbarger said he was at a HVAC supply store. He said while there, other heating and air company owners told him they agreed with his decision. He said the supply store was also contemplating not carrying Carrier products.