Elected Officials Want Meeting With UTC Execs

A portion of UTEC's work force

A bipartisan group of Hoosier politicians is asking executives with Connecticut-based United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) to "come to the table in good faith" in an attempt to keep some 2,100 jobs in-state. Officials at Carrier Corp. in Indianapolis and United Technologies Electronic Controls Inc. in Huntington announced plans last week to relocate manufacturing operations to Mexico. The letter is signed by Governor Mike Pence, both cities’ mayors and the congressmen and senators that represent the affected communities.

Company executives met Tuesday with officials from the union that represents Carrier Corp. workers in Indianapolis. United Steelworkers Local 1999 President Chuck Jones said he was told the decision centered on lower wages in Mexico. Around 1,400 jobs in Indianapolis and 700 in Huntington are expected to be phased out in the coming years.

The message includes the signatures of Governor Pence, Senators Dan Coats and Joe Donnelly, Congressmen Andre Carson and Marlin Stutzman, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and Huntington Mayor Brooks Fetters. You can view the letter requesting a meeting with United Technologies below.