Since few details have been released about the deal Carrier reached with President-elect Donald Trump and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, the vice president-elect, to keep nearly 1,000 jobs in Indianapolis, some employees say they are waiting before they get their hopes up.
"There's excitement with most people, but there's a lot of skepticism and worry because we don't know the details," T.J. Bray, a Carrier employee for 14 years, told The Associated Press. "There's a few that are worried. And there's still a few that don't even believe this is real. They think it's a play, a set-up, or a scam." Carrier made the announcement on Tuesday that jobs that were set to go to Mexico will instead remain in Indianapolis. Federal officials briefed by Carrier told AP that by keeping the plant open, 800 union workers will keep their jobs; there will likely still be many pink slips passed out, as there were 1,400 workers slated to be laid off. Engineering staff and employees at Carrier's headquarters are included in the 1,000 jobs saved, but those positions were likely going to stay in the state already. United Technologies, Carrier's parent company, also plans to cut some 700 jobs at a pant in Huntington, Indiana, that is still moving to Mexico, AP reports.
Union leaders who represent the Carrier workers say they were not involved in any negotiations, and no one has said yet what the Carrier employees may have to give up or what incentives are being used to keep the jobs in Indianapolis. Indiana Sen. Joe Donnelly (D) is questioning who is going to be retained, the structure for the retention, and if the employees will keep their wages, telling AP, "I would sure like to know as soon as I can." While campaigning, Trump said he would set high tariffs on companies that moved operations to Mexico. Trump and Pence are scheduled to appear with Carrier officials Thursday in Indiana.