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 announcement.
The request comes after significant job cuts at the plant, raising concerns about the future of IAM members still employed there. The union is seeking clarity on Whirlpool’s plans for the facility and accountability regarding the company’s investments outside the United States.
In a letter sent by IAM International President Brian Bryant and another union leader, they said that Whirlpool has invested more than $1 billion in Mexico over two decades, tripling its workforce there. Meanwhile, employment at the Amana plant has dropped from around 3,000 workers to potentially as few as 500 to 600 after recent layoffs. “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.
The union’s letter follows Whirlpool’s March 9 layoff of 341 workers at Amana. The IAM is formally requesting that any meeting with company leadership include discussions about the timeline and scope of Amana’s modernization plan, projected employment levels after completion, opportunities for new production at Amana involving IAM-represented workers, transition support for laid-off employees beyond general assistance already referenced by Whirlpool, and support for Trade Adjustment Assistance certification for affected workers.
The IAM has also organized efforts such as a solidarity rally held on March 6 in Amana to support Local 1526 members impacted by these changes. Labor leaders, elected officials, and community members attended this event.
Broader implications of these developments may affect not only current employees but also the local community reliant on jobs provided by the facility. The union continues to press for direct engagement with company leadership to secure commitments regarding future employment and support measures.
