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U.S. NEWS Friday 17 February 2017
US Financial Front:

Auto workers union preparing ‘Buy American’ ad campaign

AP Auto Writer thirds said they would buy
DETROIT (AP) — The United the cheaper pair.
Auto Workers union is pre- Allen Adamson, founder of
paring an ad campaign BrandSimple consulting in
that urges consumers to the New York area, said the
buy U.S.-made cars and simplicity of a ‘Buy Ameri-
trucks as it tries to tap into can’ campaign might work
President Donald Trump’s for a short time with part of
efforts to rebuild the coun- the U.S. population. But the
try’s manufacturing sector. message could become
President Dennis Williams muddied because foreign
said the ads could be automakers build some
similar to 1970s garment models here and Detroit
workers campaign with a automakers build some in
catchy jingle that told peo- other countries, he said.
ple to look for a union label “If there ever was a time
on clothing. to give it a try, that time
Williams told reporters Thurs- is now,” he said. “I don’t
day that the union wants think it will turn into action
to take advantage of what because it’s too complex
it sees as a movement and confusing for the aver- United Auto Workers president Dennis Williams speaks during a roundtable with reporters in De-
in the U.S. to bring back age consumer.” Williams, troit, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017. The UAW union is working on an advertising campaign that urges
manufacturing jobs lost to whose union endorsed people to buy U.S.-made cars and trucks in an effort to build on what the union sees as national-
cheaper-labor countries Clinton, didn’t say when istic sentiment that President Donald Trump tapped into during the election.
such as Mexico. “If it’s not the ads would start. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
built in the United States Williams also told reporters
then don’t buy it,” Williams the UAW is willing to work
said Thursday at the UAW’s with Trump to redo the
headquarters in Detroit. trade deal. It’s still research-
He urged consumers to ing the border tax Trump
buy union-made vehicles has talked about on goods
first, then those made at imported from Mexico.
non-union factories in the A number of automakers
U.S. In essence, he’s telling have announced new in-
people to buy a U.S.-made vestments in the U.S. or a
Toyota Camry over a Mex- shift in production plans
ican-made Ford Fusion, since Trump won the elec-
which may put him at odds tion, with Trump taking
with Detroit automakers. credit for most of them.
Trump used the slogan Williams said factory invest-
“Make America Great ment and jobs announce-
Again” in his campaign to ments by General Motors
defeat Hillary Clinton. He and Fiat Chrysler were
also campaigned on rene- in the works long before
gotiating the North Ameri- Trump was elected. But he
can Free Trade Agree- gave Trump credit for pres-
ment, which he blamed for suring Ford to scrap a new
the loss of U.S. manufactur- small-car factory in Mexico
ing jobs to Mexico. and keep production of a
The UAW is likely facing an low-selling Lincoln SUV in
uphill battle. The success Kentucky. While Ford can-
that foreign-made cars celed the Mexico factory,
have had in the United it still will move production
States, as well as the pop- of the Focus compact from
ularity of other imported the Detroit area to an exist-
goods, suggests that con- ing Mexican plant. No U.S.
sumers are more focused jobs would be lost because
on price and quality rather the U.S. plant will get new
than simply whether some- vehicles. The union leader
thing is made in the U.S. also said that six to eight
Polls also suggest this is months ago, workers at
true. An Associated Press- electric car maker Tesla
GfK poll last April found Inc.’s factory in Fremont,
that Americans would like California, contacted the
to buy products made in UAW about representa-
the United States, but not if tion. The union has sent a
they cost more. Given the small number of organizers
choice between a $50 pair there, but it’s up to workers
of pants made overseas or whether the UAW will start
an $85 pair manufactured a full organizing campaign,
in the United States, two- Williams said.q