Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) recalled President Ronald Reagan’s words about federal workers striking when discussing how he’d handle the United Auto Workers strike.
“Ronald Reagan gave us a great example when federal boys decided to strike: ‘You strike, you’re fired.’ Simple concept to me to the extent that we could use that once again,” Scott told a gathering of supporters. “Absolutely.”
UAW STRIKE: SHAWN FAIN GIVES NEW DEADLINE BEFORE MORE UNION WORKERS WALK OUT ON JOBS
Scott, who is a 2024 GOP presidential candidate, was referencing Reagan’s choice to fire more than 11,000 federal workers in 1981 who did not return to work when ordered to. Before those firings, roughly 13,000 air traffic controllers had chosen to walk out after discussions with the Federal Aviation Administration had fallen apart.
“The second thing that I would do that’s very important, and this is probably not a well-known fact,” he continued. “Part of the challenge that we have today with President Biden is — and I don’t mean this to be disingenuous; I mean this to be sincere — I’m not sure the words are ‘bought and paid for,’ but certainly he has been leased by the unions.”
Scott reminded voters that Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 included $86 billion in grant money for pension plans to help ensure union workers received their benefits.
The South Carolina Republican promised “to stop reshoring pension plans that are failing in the private sector because the deal makers make unrealistic promises.”
Scott’s comments come as UAW President Shawn Fain has pushed back against political leaders who says are out of touch with the working class.
“Every fiber of our union is being poured into fighting the billionaire class and an economy that enriches people like Donald Trump at the expense of workers,” Fain said in a statement.
“We can’t keep electing billionaires and millionaires that don’t have any understanding what it is like to live paycheck to paycheck and struggle to get by and expecting them to solve the problems of the working class,” he added.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Fain gave Friday at noon as the new deadline for contract negotiations to make “serious progress.”
“Either the Big Three get down to business and work with us to make progress in negotiations, or more locals will be called on to stand up and go out on strike,” Fain said.
