Former Fall River Mayor Asks President Trump for Help Saving Jobs

April 24, 2018 2:08 pm

By: Scott Cook

Email: scook@abc6.com

Twitter: @JScottCook

FALL RIVER, M.A. (WLNE) — On Friday, Philip’s announced that its Fall River plant would be shutting down and relocating to another facility in Monterrey, Mexico, laying off 160 workers in the process.

On Monday, former Fall River mayor, Will Flanagan, took to Twitter, asking President Donald Trump for help.

"He aggressively campaigned on the fact that when he was elected President, cities like Fall River would win again,” Flanagan explained.

“That he would stop companies like Philip’s from leaving America and going to Mexico for cheaper labor."

Flanagan took to the President’s favorite platform – Twitter — to ask for help, but says that he will write a letter to the Trump administration if his Tweet goes unnoticed.

"I am realistic. I know in my heart that the President may not be able to stop Philip’s from leaving Fall River and moving to Mexico,” said Flanagan.

“However, what I am hoping for is that the 200 people who are about to lose their jobs here – some federal assistance comes to them. Whether it’s in the form of workforce training, whether it’s an incentive, we need to all work together to help find them a job to go to."

A spokeswoman for Philip’s said the company is working with local unions and officials to provide re–training programs for employees who were laid off.

As of now there is no set date for the plant to close, but ABC 6 is told that it will shut down by 2019.