Ford suspends worker who heckled Trump during plant tour

Businessinsider reported that Ford suspended a worker after he heckled President Donald Trump during a walk-through of a pickup truck assembly plant. Reporters spoke to five legal and workplace experts, including four employment lawyers and an HR executive, who said private‑sector employees rarely have First Amendment protection at work.

"With very few exceptions, employees in the private sector don't have free speech rights at work," Mark Kluger said. Jessica Childress added that "the First Amendment's right to freedom of speech only applies to government actors, not private employers, such as Ford." The piece noted past cases, such as Juli Briskman being fired after a photograph captured her giving Trump's motorcade the middle finger and her subsequent lawsuit being tossed.

The worker, T.J. Sabula, was suspended rather than fired, the UAW confirmed, and the union said it is reviewing Ford's actions; Laura Dickerson said workers "should never be subjected to vulgar language or behavior by anyone — including the President of the United States," and the union said Sabula "believes in freedom of speech, a principle we wholeheartedly embrace." Ford declined to comment beyond calling it "a personnel matter." Lawyers told reporters Ford was within its rights to suspend him and that suspension can give the company time to investigate.

Key Topics

Business, Ford, T.j. Sabula, United Auto Workers, Donald Trump, Employment Law