Coats Statement on Meeting with United Technologies Representatives

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Dan Coats (R-Ind.) today issued the following statement following a meeting in his Washington office with representatives from United Technologies Corporation (UTC), the parent company of Carrier and United Technologies Electronic Controls (UTEC):

“Today I met with representatives from United Technologies and expressed my profound disappointment with both the decision to move jobs from Indiana to Mexico and the way this decision has been handled.

“Carrier and UTEC have a long history of doing business in Indiana, and the Hoosier workers at Indiana facilities consistently have been recognized for their productivity and professionalism. They deserve better than the treatment they received.

“I also expressed my disappointment that the company chose to make this announcement without first consulting with Governor Pence or other Hoosier leaders. Given the long history of support for Carrier and UTEC in Indiana, an attempt to keep these jobs in our state would have been appropriate before decisions were made.

“UTC indicated that the decision to move manufacturing jobs to Mexico is final and that a variety of factors, including burdensome federal regulations and our nation’s high corporate tax rate, are responsible for the relocation of these jobs.

“I pressed for a full repayment of all taxpayer dollars the company received and was given assurances that the state of Indiana will be repaid for every cent. In the coming months, I will press UTC to ensure they fully repay Hoosier taxpayers. The company also assured me it will not utilize the federal tax credits the Energy Department awarded the company.

“I also pushed them to do whatever needs to be done to settle issues with the workers’ union in Indianapolis so that the employees at Carrier’s Indianapolis facility receive the assistance they deserve, including severance pay and training to help them find new jobs.

“I wish I could provide better news to the families and workers impacted by this decision, and my heart goes out to them at this difficult time. I will do all I can to ensure UTC does everything possible during this three-year transition period to assist affected workers.”