WASHINGTON, March 16, 2026 — The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) sent a letter to Whirlpool Corporation Chairman and CEO Marc Bitzer demanding a meeting with company leadership to address the layoffs at the Amana, Iowa, manufacturing workforce and to establish a path forward for IAM members still working at the Whirlpool facility.
Bryant and Cicinelli’s letter demands accountability for Whirlpool’s increased investment in Mexico and calls for direct engagement between Whirlpool leadership and IAM leadership.
IAM Union research shows Whirlpool has invested more than $1 billion in Mexico over the last 20 years, tripling its workforce there, while the Amana facility, which once employed more than 3,000 workers, could be reduced to as few as 500 to 600 workers following the March 9 layoffs and anticipated second-quarter cuts
“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 letter follows Whirlpool’s March 9 layoff of 341 Amana workers, the latest in a series of reductions that have cut the facility’s workforce from approximately 3,000 to what may ultimately be 500 to 600 jobs.
The IAM is formally requesting that the meeting include: – A substantive discussion of the timeline and scope of the Amana modernization plan – Projected employment levels upon completion, opportunities to bring new production to Amana and the role of IAM-represented workers in that expansion – Transition and reemployment commitments for laid-off workers beyond the general assistance Whirlpool has referenced – Whirlpool’s support for Trade Adjustment Assistance certification for affected workers
The IAM has been fighting on behalf of IAM Local 1526 members at Whirlpool, including a solidarity rally held on March 6 in Amana, Iowa, drawing labor leaders, elected officials, and community members.
Read the complete letter here.
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