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 be as few as 500 to 600 jobs after anticipated second-quarter cuts.
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 is seeking direct engagement with company leadership to discuss several issues. These include the timeline and scope of the Amana modernization plan, projected employment levels after its completion, opportunities to bring new production to Amana, transition and reemployment commitments for laid-off workers beyond general assistance previously referenced by Whirlpool, and support for Trade Adjustment Assistance certification for affected employees.
The IAM Union has also been active in supporting its members at the facility. This included organizing a solidarity rally on March 6 in Amana that drew labor leaders, elected officials, and community members.
The union’s call for dialogue highlights ongoing concerns about job security and future prospects for workers at the Amana plant amid broader changes within Whirlpool’s operations.
