Video challenges President-elect Donald Trump to keep promise about jobs
KOKOMO, Ind. (WISH) — A video is challenging President-elect Donald Trump to keep his promise when it comes to saving jobs in America.
This comes after General Motors announced plans to lay off 160 people at the Kokomo plant.
Some workers told 24-Hour News 8 the video is a plea to save their jobs in Kokomo and across the country. They are hoping Trump will deliver on his promise once he takes office.
“It’s a major loss for Kokomo,” said one worker, who didn’t want to share his name. “Any work loss in Kokomo is a loss for Kokomo.”
Earlier this month, GM announced plans to lay off 160 people at the plant on Lincoln Road.
“I’ve been here 10 years and it’s kind of dwindled down ever since,” the worker said. “I think everybody kind of knew it could be coming down someday, but we were all hopeful that it would not.”
The company decided to stop semi-conductor production by the middle of 2017, according to a spokesperson.
The worker who asked not be identified on camera said he’s losing his job in the next six months.
“This was one of the largest manufacturing places around and it employed a lot of retirees in the local area,” he said. “You know, it’s just sad to see the state of the building that it’s in at this time.”
The announcement comes at a time when other companies like Carrier and Rexnord have plans to move jobs from Indianapolis to Mexico.
“We want to challenge our new president to do what he said he’s going to do and try to keep our jobs here,” he said.
He’s been sharing a video online created by another co-worker. James Campbell did not create the video, but saw the video online.
“My first thought with the video was that it was a great idea because (of) President-elect Trump and (with) Vice President-elect Mike Pence being from Indiana,” said Campbell.
The three minute video is a message to the president-elect to fulfill his campaign promise by starting with Kokomo.
“I thought it was a great way to try to reach out to them, and the job loss really hurts everyone in every walk of life,” said Campbell. “Even people that work at the gas station across the street or people we buy cars from and churches.”
One worker said he has been sending the video to lawmakers and heard back from a congresswoman.
They are hoping to set up a time to talk after Thanksgiving.