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 is seeking clarity on future plans for the facility and assurances for its members who remain employed there.
In their letter, IAM International President Brian Bryant and another union leader said they want accountability from Whirlpool regarding its increased investment in Mexico. They also called for direct talks between company executives and union representatives. “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,” wrote Bryant and Cicinelli in the letter.
According to IAM research, Whirlpool has invested more than $1 billion in Mexico over the past two decades, tripling its workforce there. Meanwhile, the Amana facility’s staff has dropped from about 3,000 employees to what could be as few as 500 to 600 after recent and anticipated cuts.
The union’s formal request includes discussions about the timeline and scope of Amana’s modernization plan, projected employment levels after completion, opportunities to bring new production lines to Amana, transition support for laid-off workers beyond general assistance already referenced by Whirlpool, and backing for Trade Adjustment Assistance certification for affected employees.
The IAM has been active in supporting its Local 1526 members at Whirlpool. This included organizing a solidarity rally on March 6 in Amana that brought together labor leaders, elected officials, and community members. The union continues to press for answers regarding job security and future opportunities at the plant.
