President Donald J. Trump met on January 23 with several union leaders and employees in the construction and sheet metal industries, according to Politico. Unions represented at the meeting include the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, North America’s Building Trades Unions, Laborers’ International Union of North America, United Association (which represents plumbers, fitters, welders, and service techs), and Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, Transportation.
Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa and AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka were invited, but did not attend. Both met with the President during the transition. United Steelworkers union spokesman Wayne Ranick said the union was not invited.
According to Business Insider, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the meeting was arranged because “the president has received tremendous support from working men and women and he’s dedicated to growing and deepening their support.” U.S. News reported Trump told the assembled that he is redoing the nation’s trade deals (including the intention to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership) “to put a lot of people back to work.”
