ATHENS, Ohio — As part of a tour of Ohio’s manufacturing sites, Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH) toured Quickloadz Container System in Athens on Wednesday, and discussed their design and construction processes with the various workers at the company as he touts his U.S. trade policy.
Quickloadz Container System is a company that constructs semi-truck beds that are designed to make the loading and unloading process for shipping containers much more effective by automating many of the key functions.
During his tour of the facility, Ryan became familiar with many of the feats that the local manufacturing company has been able to accomplish. The tour covered the entire facility, from the initial designs, to the tech that goes into it, and ending with the manufacturing of the equipment. One piece of technology that the Congressman was able to personally test out was a method of automatically unloading a truck bed using one’s own smartphone, designed by the company themselves.
Congressman Ryan spoke with the Guardian after the walkthrough of the facility and spoke highly of the working class of Ohio. When asked what policies he hopes to enact if elected to the United States Senate in November, he pointed out the need for improved infrastructure, especially for new start-up businesses like Quickloadz. Ryan also stated his disdain for the various tariffs that have been lifted for overseas competition and hopes to reestablish the state and country’s position in the manufacturing sector, especially in rural parts of the country.
“If companies like this are going to grow, companies like [Quickloadz] need access to quality internet,” stated the visiting Congressman, who was referring to southern Ohio’s lack of high-speed internet. “I do a lot of work with the defense industry and military, so figuring out how to connect companies like this to the defense world where they need to move all kinds of stuff and it could [make a difference].”
The candidate for the U.S. Senate — who has spoken against many of the actions of the Supreme Court lately — says the Court has been making major governmental oversteps. Ryan said with recent decisions by the High Court, he is concerned that the threat to workers’ rights is a possibility, as previously the U.S. and Ohio Supreme Court have threatened and overturned various working rights and union policies.
“I think we need to continue to make sure [workers] have the rights they need — to organize and lift up their own standard of living.”
Ryan closed by giving a message to the Ohioan workers, acknowledging certain statewide and national crises that have become economic issues for the average citizen. He said he remains hopeful that standards will improve going forward with wages rising, but sees more possibility for improvement.
“We need to put more money in your pocket!” said the touring Congressman, in closing.