Rexnord’s decision to move jobs from Indiana to Mexico and Texas is among the latest targets for President-elect Donald Trump on Twitter.
Trump tweeted Friday evening that the company was moving to Mexico “and rather viciously firing all of its 300 workers.”
“This is happening all over our country. No more!” Trump wrote.
Milwaukee-based Rexnord Corp. first announced preliminary plans to move work from Indiana in October. It wasn’t until November, about a week after the presidential election, that the company finalized its plans, according to the United Steelworkers Local 1999.
The union said the company cited a $15.5 million net cost savings in the first year of the move and an additional $300,000 to $400,000 each year after that. The average hourly wage for Indianapolis employees is $25.20 and for the Mexico and Texas facilities it is $5.13, according to the union.
The local union also represents employees at the Carrier plant in Indianapolis. Trump announced a deal last week with Carrier to keep some of that company’s work in Indiana after repeatedly criticizing the company’s decision on the campaign trail.
Rexnord did not respond to repeated calls and emails last week regarding any conversations with the incoming presidential administration. The company also did not respond to an email Monday morning seeking comment on Trump’s tweet.
Trump returned to tweeting about companies leaving the U.S. on Sunday, promising to reduce taxes and regulations on businesses.
“But any business that leaves our country for another country, fires its employees, builds a new factory or plant in the other country, and then thinks it will sell its product back into the U.S. …… without retribution or consequence, is WRONG!” he said in the series of tweets.
He said there would be a 35 percent tax for companies looking to sell products back across the border after moving to Mexico.
“This tax will make leaving financially difficult, but….. these companies are able to move between all 50 states, with no tax or tariff being charged. Please be forewarned prior to making a very … expensive mistake! THE UNITED STATES IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS,” Trump tweeted.
