Machinists Union to Whirlpool: ‘Spin This’
December 6, 2012
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On December 2, 2012, the Whirlpool Corporation took out a full-page ad in the Washington Post to congratulate itself on a supposed commitment to U.S. workers, their families and communities. In response, the IAM says: “Hold the applause.”
Like many large corporations, Whirlpool has shuttered numerous U.S. factories during the past 10 years, eliminating thousands of American jobs and devastating small communities in the name of lower costs and global competition. In 2013 alone, Whirlpool expects to reap a $400 million windfall from job cuts and consolidations.
Meanwhile, Whirlpool continues to pressure cash-strapped states for tax incentives, grants and lower tax rates in exchange for squishy promises not to relocate to other cash-strapped states. Since 2007, Whirlpool secured grants worth at least $63.1 million from 41 grants in seven states.
“In the absence of a national policy to protect U.S. manufacturing jobs, we will continue to see companies like Whirlpool waving the U.S. flag with one hand while shoving U.S. workers out the door with the other,” said IAM President Tom Buffenbarger.
