Workers at Shell’s new $6 billion plant ‘were told they wouldn’t get PAID if they didn’t attend a Trump speech’ and ‘were ordered not to protest during the event’
- President Trump gave a speech at Shell’s new $6 billion plant in Beaver County, Pennsylvania on Tuesday
- The Commander-in-chief received a rousing reception from hundreds of employees as he proclaimed that blue-collar industries were thriving
- However, a new report claims workers were required to attend Trump’s speech or stay home and not get paid
- Additionally, employees were allegedly told that that
- During his speech, Trump took credit for the soon-to-be completed plant, even though it was initially approved by the Obama administration in 2016
Union workers at a new $6 billion Shell construction in Pennsylvania were reportedly told they would have to take a day off without pay if they didn’t show up to President Trump’s Tuesday speech at the petrochemical plant.
On Monday, workers were sent a memo claiming that attendance at the rally was ‘not mandatory’ but, according to the publication, ‘only those who showed up at 7am, scanned their ID cards, and were prepared to stand for hours would be paid’.
One Shell supervisor purportedly wrote to one of his contractors less than 24 hours out from the rally: ‘NO SCAN, NO PAY’.
Union workers at a new $6 billion Shell construction in Pennsylvania were reportedly told they would have to take a day off without pay if they didn’t show up to President Trump’s Tuesday speech at the petrochemical plant
The paper further reported that those who skipped Trump’s Tuesday rally would also fail to qualify for weekly overtime, meaning they missed out on the time-and-a-half hourly rates that usually applies on Fridays.
Meanwhile, the publication also claims that any ‘resistance’ during Trump’s speech would not be tolerated.
One contractor’s talking points – which were used to prepare employees for the President’s visit – reportedly read: ‘No yelling, shouting, protesting or anything viewed as resistance will be tolerated at the event.
An underlying theme of the event is to promote good will from the unions. Your building trades leaders and jobs stewards have agreed to this.’
Surrounded by dozens of cheering employees clad in hi-vis vests, the optics of the event helped hone Trump’s image as a champion of blue-collar workers and Rust Belt industries
One Shell supervisor purportedly wrote to one of his contractors less than 24 hours out from the rally: ‘NO SCAN, NO PAY’
Trump touted his Tuesday visit to the Pennsylvania plant as a roaring success.
Surrounded by dozens of cheering employees clad in hi-vis vests, the optics of the event helped hone his image as a champion of blue-collar workers and Rust Belt industries.
‘Factory floors across this land are once more crackling with life,’ Trump proclaimed to the Shell employees while on the stage.
‘Our steel mills are fired up and blazing bright. The assembly lines are roaring.’
The President flipped several Rust Belt states – including Pennsylvania – from blue to red in 2016, and he is hoping to keep them that way in 2020.
The President flipped several Rust Belt states – including Pennsylvania – from blue to red in 2016, and he is hoping to keep them that way in 2020
The speech comes just weeks after Trump kicked off his re-election campaign, and as Democratic hopefuls struggle to appeal to workers across the Midwest.
‘I don’t think they [Democratic contenders] give a damn about Western Pennsylvania, do you?’ Trump asked the crowd.
During his speech, the President also took credit for the $6 billion plant, saying: ‘This would have never happened without me and us.’
However, the plant was initially approved in June 2016, during the Obama administration.
Trump is pictured touring the $6 billion plant which has almost been completed
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette claims Trump ‘received a generally warm and at times cheerful welcome at Shell’ and the paper quotes several employees who say they thoroughly enjoyed the President’s visit to their place of work.
‘We’re glad to have the jobs. We’re glad to have the project built,’ one stated.
‘The president is the president whether we like him or dislike him. We respect him for the title.’
The speech comes just weeks after Trump kicked off his re-election campaign, and as Democratic hopefuls struggle to appeal to workers across the Midwest