The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union) has called on Whirlpool Corporation Chairman and CEO Marc Bitzer to meet with union leadership following recent layoffs at the company’s Amana, Iowa, manufacturing facility, according to a March 17 letter.
The request comes after Whirlpool laid off 341 workers at the Amana plant on March 9. The IAM Union said these cuts are part of a series of reductions that have brought the workforce down from about 3,000 employees to what could ultimately be between 500 and 600 jobs.
In their letter, IAM International President Brian Bryant and another union leader demanded accountability for what they described as Whirlpool’s increased investment in Mexico. They wrote: “A modernization plan that displaces hundreds of skilled, long-tenured workers without a concrete roadmap for retained or restored employment is not a workforce strategy; it is a workforce reduction.”
The union cited research showing that Whirlpool has invested more than $1 billion in Mexico over the past two decades and tripled its workforce there. The letter also outlined several requests for the proposed meeting, including details about the timeline and scope of the Amana modernization plan, projected employment levels after completion, opportunities to bring new production to Amana, transition support for laid-off workers beyond general assistance already referenced by Whirlpool, and support for Trade Adjustment Assistance certification for affected employees.
The IAM Union has been advocating on behalf of its Local 1526 members at Whirlpool. This included organizing a solidarity rally on March 6 in Amana that drew labor leaders, elected officials, and community members.
Looking ahead, the union is seeking direct engagement with company leadership to discuss next steps for both current employees and those impacted by recent layoffs.
