Nearly 400 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local 1526 are set to lose their jobs at Whirlpool Corporation’s manufacturing facility in Amana, Iowa. The layoffs, effective March 9, 2026, follow a previous round less than a year ago that affected about 250 workers at the same site.
In a statement, the IAM Union criticized Whirlpool’s decision, describing it as part of a broader trend. “Our hearts go out to every member and family impacted by Whirlpool’s decision to cut nearly 400 more jobs at its Amana facility. This is not an isolated incident. It is a pattern of corporate abandonment. Each round of layoffs delivers another devastating blow to a community that has depended on good, union jobs to sustain thousands of Iowa families for generations.”
The union pointed out that while jobs are being cut in Iowa, Whirlpool has expanded its operations in Mexico. The company recently completed an expansion of its refrigerator plant in Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila in 2024 and invested $65 million into its Celaya facility in Guanajuato. Mexico has also become the sole producer of Whirlpool’s French Door refrigerator line, which is exported mainly to the United States and Canada.
IAM Union leaders argue these moves amount to offshoring American jobs for cheaper labor abroad. “Whirlpool has already proven it will not stand by its American workforce. Less than a year ago, the company issued pink slips to approximately 250 IAM members at this same facility. Now management is back with more layoffs and a warning that more cuts may be coming.”
They added: “Iowa County’s largest employer is destroying the very community it claims to support while continuing to build up its operations south of the border.”
The union called on local elected officials and members of Iowa’s Congressional Delegation to intervene on behalf of affected workers: “We are calling on every local elected official and every member of the Iowa Congressional Delegation to stand up for the working families of Amana and push back against this latest round of layoffs. Our members sent their representatives to fight for them, and this is that moment. Silence in the face of this corporate betrayal is not an option.”
IAM stated it would work with local leaders and provide resources for displaced workers: “The IAM is actively working to ensure the rights of every affected member are fully protected. We will continue engaging local leaders and elected officials to mobilize the community and connect displaced workers with every available resource.”
Members at Amana produce refrigerators under several brands including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, and Amana.
The IAM Union represents around 600,000 active and retired members across North America in industries such as aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive and others.
