Whirlpool layoffs in Amana spark outcry over jobs, trade policy

More than 300 workers at Whirlpool Corp.’s manufacturing facility in Amana will lose their jobs March 9, according to union officials, marking the latest in a series of layoffs that labor leaders say reflects a long-term shift of production out of the United States.

The layoffs — 341 positions according to a notice filed with Iowa Workforce Development — come less than a year after the company cut about 250 jobs at the same plant. Union leaders warn additional reductions could follow later this year, potentially shrinking the workforce to a fraction of what it once was.

“It’s not just a one-time business decision — it’s a calculated plan,” said Sam Cicinelli, Midwest territory general vice president for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers during a virtual news conference Wednesday.

Workforce shrinks dramatically

Just five years ago, the Amana plant employed more than 3,000 workers. Today, that number stands between 1,200 and 1,300. After the March layoffs — and a second anticipated round later in 2026 — union officials estimate staffing could drop to as few as 500 to 600 workers.

Kerry Waddell, a longtime employee who now represents IAM District 6, described a steady reduction in production capacity.

“It’s going to take us down (from five assembly lines) to one assembly line,” Waddell said, adding the remaining line will be cut from two shifts to one at the end of the second quarter. “So what we've seen is a systematic disassembly of the entire plant while we've seen the Mexico facility grow.”

  Buy Photo

Workers share fear and uncertainty

For employees, the layoffs bring immediate financial and emotional strain.

“They’re worried. They’re scared,” said Sandy Lorenz, a 33-year employee and union representative. “There aren't jobs here. There aren't living wage jobs. They'll have to get two or three jobs to make what they're making to feed their families.”

Workers will lose their health insurance on their first day of unemployment, union officials said, and will receive no severance. Iowa’s reduced unemployment benefits — now capped at 16 weeks — add to the uncertainty.

Sandra Freytag, a 31-year employee, said the layoffs differ from past cycles where workers were eventually called back.

“They are laying those people off because that product has stopped and discontinued. So there won't be jobs for those people to come back to,” she said.

  Buy Photo

Union points to Mexico expansion

Union leaders argue the layoffs are tied directly to Whirlpool’s growing investment in Mexico, where production has expanded significantly over the past two decades.

According to IAM research, Whirlpool has invested more than $1 billion in Mexico over the last 20 years, tripling its workforce there and increasing exports twelvefold.

The company now employs roughly 11,500 workers in Mexico — a number expected to grow — compared with about 14,000 manufacturing employees in the United States.

Recent investments include expansion of a refrigerator plant in Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila; a $65 million investment in Celaya, Guanajuato, and a designation of Mexico as the primary producer of certain refrigerator lines sold in North America.

IAM officials raised concerns about trade policies that allow companies to shift production out of the country while continuing to access U.S. markets. Union officials say many of those products are shipped back to U.S. consumers tariff-free under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, creating incentives to move jobs, putting additional pressure on American manufacturing workers and communities like those in Iowa.

The union also highlighted millions in public subsidies Whirlpool has received, including at least $21.5 million from the state of Iowa and roughly $94 million nationwide.

Company response

Whirlpool has said the Amana facility remains “a vital part” of its U.S. operations and that it plans to invest in modernization, including warehousing and parts production.

Whirlpool Corporation defended the layoffs as part of a long-term restructuring of its Amana facility, framing the move as a necessary step to modernize operations and ensure future stability.

Company officials said the cuts are tied to a “multiyear transformation” that will shift the plant’s role within Whirlpool’s U.S. footprint. While the facility will continue producing refrigerators, it will expand into warehousing, parts and subassembly work.

“As the only U.S.-based manufacturer of major kitchen and laundry appliances, Whirlpool Corporation’s facility in Amana, Iowa, is a vital part of the company’s U.S. manufacturing footprint,” the company said in a statement. “ … This transformation is necessary to position the Amana plant for continued stability and success.”

However, union officials argue those changes will not replace lost manufacturing jobs or support the current workforce.

Whirlpool indicated that fewer than 400 jobs will be eliminated beginning March 9, with the possibility of additional reductions later this year as the company continues evaluating operational needs. The company also confirmed it has already begun phasing out older refrigeration production lines and plans to invest in upgraded manufacturing capabilities at the facility in the coming years.

The company said it will provide support to affected workers, including on-site human resources assistance, access to employee assistance programs and guidance on unemployment benefits through Iowa Workforce Development.

Political pressure mounts

The IAM has reached out to Iowa’s congressional delegation, including U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, as well as Gov. Kim Reynolds, urging intervention.

While some lawmakers have expressed concern, union representatives say no firm commitments have been made. Staff-level meetings are being scheduled, though to date IAM representatives have met only with Grassley’s team, said IAM legislative director Loren Almeroth.

“This is not a partisan issue,” Almeroth said. “This is about jobs, communities and the future of American manufacturing.”

Grassley, in a statement, said his office is in ongoing communication with the employees’ union, the impacted communities and Whirlpool.“

U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, whose district includes the Amana facility, said she is "deeply disappointed by Whirlpool’s decision,“ calling the move “a tough blow for families and for a community that has long been a pillar of domestic manufacturing.”

In a statement to The Gazette, Miller-Meeks praised Iowa’s manufacturing workforce as “second to none” and emphasized the broader economic pressures facing the industry, pointing to inflation and regulatory challenges in recent years. She highlighted “Made in America” provisions in Republicans’ sweeping tax cut and spending bill, signed into law last year as part efforts to strengthen domestic production and prevent job losses.

Miller-Meeks also urged affected workers to seek assistance, noting that her office can help connect families with federal resources and workforce support programs.

Fellow Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson posted on X that she is “frustrated” by Whirlpool’s decisions, and planned to reach out to company leadership about the planned layoffs, “its impact on our community and to confirm reports regarding potential expansion in Mexico.”

"Iowa workers are best in class — skilled, reliable, and proud to build products right here in America,“ Hinson said. ”As we work to strengthen domestic manufacturing and reduce burdensome regulations, companies should continue investing in their U.S. workforce.“

Hinson’s office also pointed to her broader focus on manufacturing policy, including efforts to expand tax incentives and reduce regulatory costs for U.S. manufacturers. Hinson supported provisions in the GOP tax cuts package aimed at boosting domestic production, including full expensing for new factory construction and improvements, research and development, and capital investments such as machinery and equipment.

  Buy Photo

In addition to federal outreach, Iowa Democratic congressional candidate Christina Bohannan issued an open letter to Whirlpool management and Iowa’s elected officials. In her letter, Bohannan calls on the company to cancel the layoffs at its Amana facility, reverse what she describes as the offshoring of jobs to Mexico, and engage directly with IAM Local 1526 to explore alternatives.

Bohannan argued the company has provided little explanation for the cuts and that many longtime employees will receive no severance.

  Buy Photo

A University of Iowa law professor and former state lawmaker, Bohannan is mounting her third campaign to unseat Miller-Meeks in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District.

Additionally, Democratic state Rep. Lindsay James, of Dubuque, has met with affected IAM members and sent a letter condemning the layoffs and demanding answers. James is seeking her party’s nomination in the open-seat race for northeast Iowa’s U.S. House seat being vacated by Hinson, who is running for U.S. Senate.

Other Democratic candidates, including state Sen. Zach Wahls of Coralville — who is running for U.S. Senate — and State Auditor Rob Sand, who is running for governor, have met with workers and voiced concern, adding to growing pressure on Whirlpool.

A $140 million Sub-Zero/Wolf appliance manufacturing plant is set to open this spring in southwest Cedar Rapids, with earlier reports projecting about 200 jobs. Union officials say the company has not contacted any of their members.

Comments: (319) 398-8499; tom.barton@thegazette.com