Trump's New Year's gift to the steelworkers who supported him: More layoffs!

Daily Kos Staff

Friday December 22, 2017 · 9:04 AM PST

2017/12/22 · 09:04

ABRIDGE, PA - OCTOBER 10: Republican candidate for President Donald J Trump speaks to supporters at a rally at Ambridge Area Senior High School on October 10, 2016 in Ambridge, Pennsylvania. Ambridge, Pennsylvania, named after the American Bridge Company, a steel fabricating plant that employed 60,000 workers is a traditionally Democratic stronghold, but is shifting Republican as a shrinking tax base and lost jobs having devastating economic effects on the former industrial community. (Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

The New York Times has a depressing article about the fait accompli of steel jobs in America under Trump. The realities of the evolving economy have meant that steel jobs and coal jobs, are disappearing as we become more and more of a service industry country. Of course, white supremacist in chief Donald Trump promised that he would turn back the clocks to a time that never really existed, with benefits for people he had no interest in. Since taking office, Trump has done nothing.

In September, ArcelorMittal, which owns the mill, announced that it would lay off 150 of the plant’s 207 workers next year. While the cuts will start with the most junior employees, they will go so deep that even workers with decades of experience will be cast out.

“I told my son, ‘Christmas is going to be kind of scarce, because mommy’s going to lose her job soon,’” said Kimberly Allen, a steelworker and single parent who has worked at the plant for more than 22 years. On the seniority list, she’s 72nd.

In fact, more foreign steel than ever is being imported into the United States. That doesn’t help create jobs in the American steel industry—unless your job is buying foreign-made steel. Go figure? But don’t worry everyone. Tax breaks!

President Trump and his advisers say they have been focused on the tax legislation, which Congress passed this week. The White House has said that it plans to turn to trade measures, including the steel investigation, once the bill is signed into law.

And while some Trump voters have realized they have been had, others are willing to climb up on a cross and nail themselves to it in the name of gold-leaf embossed glory.

Chuck Hauer, who has worked at the plant for 22 years and ranks around 80 on the seniority list — meaning he is likely to be laid off — said he had voted Republican because he believed that Mr. Trump was “for the people.” He said he still believed that the tariffs would happen, though perhaps not soon enough to save him.

“He’s just delaying it,” Mr. Hauer said of the president. “And I think the delay is hurting us more than he knows.”

Trump. Doesn’t. Care.

Trump's New Year's gift to the steelworkers who supported him: More layoffs!

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