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 event was organized by IAM Union District 6 and the Hawkeye Area Labor Council. Supporters from across Iowa attended to show solidarity with IAM Local 1526 members who are affected by the layoffs. The rally highlighted concerns over job losses and called attention to corporate responsibility when public funds are involved.
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, tripling its workforce there while reducing jobs at the Amana plant. The facility once employed over 3,000 people but could be left with only 500 to 600 workers after these layoffs and further cuts expected later in the 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 tax dollars are held accountable for protecting jobs. The speaker lineup included labor leaders such as Pastor Kevin Jones; Kerry Waddell; Sandy Freytag; Mike Sadler; Laura Saucer; Nate Willems; Charlie Wishman; among others.
IAM International President Brian Bryant sent letters regarding the situation to every member of Iowa’s Congressional delegation as well as President Trump. These efforts have prompted responses from several political figures including Governor Kim Reynolds, congressional candidate Christina Bohannan, state Democrats in both chambers, and Republican U.S. Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Ashley Hinson.
Several elected officials and candidates joined workers at the rally—including Christina Bohannan (U.S. congressional candidate), Bob Krause (U.S. congressional candidate), Lindsay James (Iowa State Representative), Clint Twedt-Ball (U.S. congressional candidate), Zach Wahls (Iowa State Senator), Josh Turek (Iowa state representative), Art Staed (Iowa State Senator), Tom Townsend (Iowa State Senator), Liz Bennett (Iowa State Senator), Aime Wichtendahl (Iowa State Representative), Angel Ramirez (Iowa State Representative), Dan Gosa (Iowa State Representative), Ken Croken (Iowa State Representative), Nate Willems (Attorney General candidate), Janice Weiner (Senate Minority Leader), Meghann Foster (Senate candidate), Sami Scheetz (Linn County Supervisor) and Polly Denison (State Representative candidate).
The broader implications of these layoffs extend beyond individual job losses—raising questions about economic development policies tied to public funding and long-term commitments by major employers.
