When requested about auto strikes, Tim Scott praised the sooner firing of hanging federal staff

FORT DODGE, Iowa — Former President Ronald Reagan “gave us an amazing instance” when he fired hanging federal staff within the Eighties, Sen. Tim Scott mentioned throughout a marketing campaign occasion Monday, when requested concerning the United Auto Staff strike.

It is the most recent of many feedback Scott has made about auto staff, whilst different GOP presidential candidates have averted criticizing them amid a strike at three crops up to now.

Scott’s statements got here in response to a query throughout a gathering at Fort Dodge: “Are you able to, as president… insert your self into the Labor Get together talks?” requested one voter in Iowa.

Scott then repeated the query once more to the viewers: “Can I as President of the USA contain myself on this labor dispute?”

“Let me reply the primary query,” Scott mentioned. “I feel Ronald Reagan gave us an amazing instance when federal staff determined they have been going to strike. He mentioned, ‘You strike, you hearth.’ A easy idea to me to the purpose the place we may use that once more, definitely.

Scott’s marketing campaign declined to touch upon why he was referring to firing federal staff when requested how he would deal with the present auto staff’ strike.

Scott’s criticism prolonged to President Joe Biden, who has defended hanging auto staff and repeatedly described himself as “essentially the most pro-union president in American historical past.”

“A part of the problem we face immediately with President Biden is — and I do not imply to be disingenuous, I imply to be sincere — I am unsure if the phrases have been purchased and paid for, however he definitely did.” “The unions employed her,” Scott mentioned Monday.

Scott has made his criticism of unions a focus of his marketing campaign, usually criticizing academics unions — however just lately increasing his scope to incorporate the UAW.

Whereas presenting his financial plan throughout a coverage roundtable in Duncan, South Carolina, final week, Scott criticized the union’s calls for as they reached the tip of their contract with the most important automakers.

“We’re witnessing the UAW combating for extra advantages and fewer hours,” Scott mentioned on the occasion. “Extra wages, fewer working days. It’s a disconnect from work, and we’ve to discover a approach to encourage and encourage folks to return to work.

Altogether, the feedback characterize a number of the strongest criticism of auto staff amongst Republican presidential candidates, because the social gathering has shifted to incorporate extra blue-collar staff lately.

Former President Donald Trump criticized UAW President Sean Wonderful, who himself has been crucial of Trump. However he has taken a extra sympathetic tone towards autoworkers broadly, and he plans to talk to hanging staff in Detroit on the day of the upcoming Republican main debate, which Trump is skipping. The New York Instances was the primary to report on Trump’s scheduled go to.

“The auto staff aren’t going to get any jobs once you take a look at it, as a result of should you take a look at what they’re doing with electrical automobiles, the electrical automobiles are going to be made in China,” Trump mentioned. On a latest episode of NBC’s “Meet the Press,” she added, “Auto staff are being offered down the river by their leaders.”