General Discussion

UTUSN

(77,074 posts) Wed Jan 14, 2026, 01:42 PM Wednesday

Who suspended TJ SABULA - the employer, the union? - Why isn't it free speech?

If there's a paywall this link seems to work, mine was Option 2: https://www.removepaywall.com/

************QUOTE**********

https://archive.is/20260114141013/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/01/13/trump-ford-factory-heckler-detroit/#selection-239.0-243.174

Trump makes obscene gesture, mouths expletive at Detroit factory heckler
“As far as calling him out, definitely no regrets whatsoever,” the heckler told The Post after a video captured Trump twice mouthing “f--- you” and raising his middle finger.

.... The incident was not the first of its kind in modern memory. In 1976, Vice President Nelson Rockefeller (R) was photographed raising his middle finger toward university students in Upstate New York. ....

“As far as calling him out, definitely no regrets whatsoever,” Sabula said, though he added that he is concerned about the future of his job and believes he has been “targeted for political retribution” for “embarrassing Trump in front of his friends.”

Sabula identifies as politically independent and said he never voted for Trump but has supported other Republicans. He estimated that he was roughly 60 feet away from Trump on Tuesday and that the president could hear him “very, very, very clearly.” He said he was specifically referencing Trump’s handling of the Epstein matter.

“I don’t feel as though fate looks upon you often, and when it does, you better be ready to seize the opportunity,” Sabula said. “And today I think I did that.” ....

********UNQUOTE*******

*****ON EDIT: Questions answered Posts 1 & 2 (and I should know them) and union support all, thanks!

15 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Who suspended TJ SABULA - the employer, the union? - Why isn't it free speech? (Original Post) UTUSN Wednesday OP

The employer RandySF Wednesday #1

First Amendment free speech only protects you from government ... Whiskeytide Wednesday #2

This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave Wednesday #7

We do, but some of us are 78!1 - (not speaking for all 78 yr olds) UTUSN Wednesday #10

He has guts and all my respect. Dave Bowman Wednesday #3

UAW just released a statement of support Krazy_Kat Wednesday #4

The UAW is fully behind him underpants Wednesday #5

He is a Union Member and the Union is suporting him. RockCreek Wednesday #6

View the full clip dweller Wednesday #8

The First Amendment does not protect you from your employer. WhiskeyGrinder Wednesday #9

I'm with Sabula, but he was on Company property, so he needs to follow company rules of behavior, etc. Joinfortmill Wednesday #11

Maybe if Ford doesn't want workers voicing opinions of political events, Americanme Wednesday #12

Yet Biden was taunted during a visit Horse with no Name Wednesday #13

And BIDEN was verbally assaulted during a State of the Union (official duty) & nothing happened. UTUSN Wednesday #14

Corporations aren't democracies but unions are the great equalizer yaesu Wednesday #15

RandySF

(81,394 posts)

1. The employer

Reply to UTUSN (Original post)

Wed Jan 14, 2026, 01:44 PM

Wednesday

And this probably falls under workplace conduct. I'm sure it will be appealed.

Whiskeytide

(4,640 posts)

2. First Amendment free speech only protects you from government ...

Reply to UTUSN (Original post)

Wed Jan 14, 2026, 01:46 PM

Wednesday

… suppression. Employers are not required to follow those rules.

Response to Whiskeytide (Reply #2)

PeaceWave This message was self-deleted by its author.

UTUSN

(77,074 posts)

10. We do, but some of us are 78!1 - (not speaking for all 78 yr olds)

Reply to PeaceWave (Reply #7)

Wed Jan 14, 2026, 02:06 PM

Wednesday

Dave Bowman

(6,751 posts)

3. He has guts and all my respect.

Reply to UTUSN (Original post)

Wed Jan 14, 2026, 01:49 PM

Wednesday

Krazy_Kat

(71 posts)

4. UAW just released a statement of support

Reply to UTUSN (Original post)

Wed Jan 14, 2026, 01:51 PM

Wednesday

And also threw some shade to the orange menace:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220938146

underpants

(195,107 posts)

5. The UAW is fully behind him

Reply to UTUSN (Original post)

Wed Jan 14, 2026, 01:51 PM

Wednesday

STATEMENT ON FORD PLANT VISIT FROM VP LAURA DICKERSON, FORD DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR

The autoworker at the Dearborn Truck Plant is a proud member of a strong and fighting union —the UAW. He believes in freedom of speech, a principle we wholeheartedly embrace, and we stand with our membership in protecting their voice on the job.

The UAW will ensure that our member receives the full protection of all negotiated contract language safeguarding his job and his rights as a union member.

Workers should never be subjected to vulgar language or behavior by anyone—including the President of the United States

Link to tweet

?s=46&t=3VBm1LJ8j8qLp6JTs_8J2A

RockCreek

(1,382 posts)

6. He is a Union Member and the Union is suporting him.

Reply to UTUSN (Original post)

Wed Jan 14, 2026, 01:51 PM

Wednesday

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/14/trump-suspended-michigan-autoworker

Go organized labor!

dweller

(27,904 posts)

8. View the full clip

Reply to UTUSN (Original post)

Wed Jan 14, 2026, 01:55 PM

Wednesday

Of the Pisswig walking across mouthing ‘ fuck you ‘ ,
giving the finger , and then he points aggressively at the workfloor and speaking to someone walking with him .
Pretty sure he was demanding ‘something be one to Sabula’

https://m.

&pp=ygUSVHJ1bXAgZ2l2ZXMgZmluZ2Vy

About 1:10 mins in

🤔

✌🏻

WhiskeyGrinder

(26,468 posts)

9. The First Amendment does not protect you from your employer.

Reply to UTUSN (Original post)

Wed Jan 14, 2026, 02:03 PM

Wednesday

Joinfortmill

(20,190 posts)

11. I'm with Sabula, but he was on Company property, so he needs to follow company rules of behavior, etc.

Reply to UTUSN (Original post)

Wed Jan 14, 2026, 02:11 PM

Wednesday

Americanme

(385 posts)

12. Maybe if Ford doesn't want workers voicing opinions of political events,

Reply to UTUSN (Original post)

Wed Jan 14, 2026, 02:56 PM

Wednesday

they should keep political events out of the workplace.

Horse with no Name

(34,221 posts)

13. Yet Biden was taunted during a visit

Reply to UTUSN (Original post)

Wed Jan 14, 2026, 03:01 PM

Wednesday

And nothing happened.

UTUSN

(77,074 posts)

14. And BIDEN was verbally assaulted during a State of the Union (official duty) & nothing happened.

Reply to Horse with no Name (Reply #13)

Wed Jan 14, 2026, 03:03 PM

Wednesday

And what "investigation" is needed to spark a suspension? The employee readily admits his activity, says he has no regrets, and there's video. Nothing "pending".

yaesu

(9,037 posts)

15. Corporations aren't democracies but unions are the great equalizer

Reply to UTUSN (Original post)

Wed Jan 14, 2026, 03:15 PM

Wednesday

So hopefully they will get that hero back to work. Until that happens boycott ford!

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