Nearly one hundred members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Union, along with community leaders and elected officials, gathered on March 9 to call for accountability from Whirlpool Corporation as the company prepares to lay off about 341 workers at its Amana, Iowa facility.
The rally was organized by IAM Union District 6 and the Hawkeye Area Labor Council. It brought together supporters from across Iowa to show solidarity with workers represented by IAM Local 1526. The layoffs are set to begin Monday, March 9, and could reduce the Amana workforce—which once numbered over 3,000—to between 500 and 600 employees after further anticipated cuts in the second quarter.
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.”
According to IAM Union research, Whirlpool has invested more than $1 billion in Mexico over two decades while tripling its workforce there. 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 event urged Whirlpool to reconsider its decision and called on elected officials to ensure companies receiving public funds are held responsible for protecting jobs. The lineup included labor leaders such as Kerry Waddell from IAM District 6; Sandy Freytag, a longtime Whirlpool worker; Mike Sadler from Cedar Rapids Building & Construction Trades; Laura Saucer from Iowa County Community Development; Nate Willems, labor attorney; Charlie Wishman from the Iowa State Federation of Labor; among others.
IAM International President Brian Bryant sent letters regarding the layoffs to every member of Iowa’s Congressional delegation as well as President Trump. These efforts have already prompted responses from several political figures including Governor Kim Reynolds and members of both parties in Congress.
A number of elected officials and candidates attended or supported the rally—including congressional candidates Christina Bohannan, Bob Krause, Lindsay James, Clint Twedt-Ball; state senators Zach Wahls, Josh Turek (also U.S. Senate candidate), Art Staed, Tom Townsend, Liz Bennett; state representatives Aime Wichtendahl, Angel Ramirez, Dan Gosa, Ken Croken; attorney general candidate Nate Willems; Senate Minority Leader Janice Weiner; Linn County Supervisor Sami Scheetz; senate candidate Meghann Foster; and Polly Denison.
The broader implications include ongoing concerns about job security for manufacturing workers in Iowa when companies receive public incentives without requirements for local employment retention.
