Nearly a hundred members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Union, along with community leaders and elected officials, gathered to demand accountability from Whirlpool Corporation as the company prepares to lay off about 341 workers at its Amana, Iowa facility starting March 9.
The rally was organized by IAM Union District 6 and the Hawkeye Area Labor Council. It brought together supporters from across Iowa in solidarity with workers represented by IAM Local 1526. The event highlighted concerns over job losses and called for stronger worker protections in economic development agreements.
Terry Kimmell, IAM Midwest Territory Chief of Staff, said, “We will stand with the Whirlpool workers until they get what they deserve. The layoffs are a failure to hold corporations accountable and a signal that Iowa must strengthen worker protections in economic development agreements. Our union will continue to fight for the 341 men and women who have given years of their lives to make this company successful.”
IAM Union research indicates that Whirlpool has invested more than $1 billion in Mexico over two decades, tripling its workforce there while reducing jobs at the Amana plant. The facility once employed over 3,000 people but could be left with as few as 500 to 600 workers after these layoffs and further cuts expected later this year.
Rick Moyle, President of the Iowa IAM State Council and Executive Director of the Hawkeye Area Labor Council, said, “These workers built Whirlpool’s reputation for quality American manufacturing. Whirlpool took $21.5 million in Iowa taxpayer money with no requirement to protect a single job, and now they’re shipping that work to Mexico. Iowa workers and Iowa taxpayers deserve better.”
Other speakers at the rally urged Whirlpool to reconsider its decision and called on elected officials to ensure companies receiving public funds are held responsible for protecting jobs. Several political leaders attended or responded to IAM’s outreach efforts regarding the layoffs.
The broader implications of these layoffs include potential long-term effects on local employment levels and questions about corporate responsibility when public incentives are involved. Community members say they plan continued advocacy for affected workers.
