The US has witnessed a decline in factory jobs, contradicting promises of a tariff-led manufacturing renaissance. As reported by The Guardian, workers at Whirlpool, the US's largest appliance manufacturer and a strong supporter of Donald Trump's tariff policies, are criticizing the company for cutting jobs at an Iowa plant while expanding production in Mexico.
The job cuts at Whirlpool come as the company continues to back the Trump administration's trade policies, which have been touted as a means to bolster US manufacturing. However, the US has lost 83,000 factory jobs since Trump took office in January 2025. Effective 9 March, some 341 jobs are being cut at the Whirlpool plant in Amana, Iowa, with more cuts expected later this year.
The plant, which produces refrigerators under the Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, and Amana brands, has seen a significant decline in its workforce over the years. Sandra Freytag, the first shift plant chair who has worked at the plant for 31 years, noted that the company began cutting production lines and moving them to Mexico several years ago. "Now we're seeing that they're making our product in Mexico," she said.
Impact on Local Communities
The job cuts have devastating implications for the local community, with Whirlpool being the largest employer in the area. Freytag explained that the company's actions would "devastate" the small towns surrounding the plant, as many workers would lose their jobs and struggle to find new employment. The plant's workforce has declined from nearly 3,000 to close to 1,300 in recent years.
Kerry Waddell, a business agent for the union who worked at the Whirlpool plant in Iowa for 36 years, stated that employees impacted by the cuts have no severance agreement, lose their health insurance immediately, and face reduced unemployment benefits. "We have tremendous capacity to produce and manufacture in that facility," Waddell said. "What they're actually doing is taking jobs out of Iowa, moving them to Mexico, and those very refrigerators are being brought back into the US for sale."
Whirlpool's Support for Tariff Policies
During Trump's first term, Whirlpool sought and received tariffs on imported washing machines, which the company claimed was a "win" for American workers and consumers. However, according to the conservative Heritage thinktank, the tariffs drove up prices of appliances, costing consumers $1.5 billion annually and decreasing demand.
Whirlpool has continued to support Trump's tariff policies, with CEO Marc Bitzer stating that the company is "strongly supportive" of the policies and "very thankful" for the investment opportunities they provide. However, the company's actions have been criticized by union officials, who argue that the tariffs have not prevented Whirlpool from cutting jobs and offshoring work to Mexico.
Workers' Perspectives
Sandy Lorenz, the third shift plant chair who has worked at the plant for 33 years, expressed her devastation at the prospect of losing her job. "Being there over 30 years, I've grown myself with this company. I've devoted my life to them. I've raised my children there, and just thinking that I might not have a job in a year, it's just devastating," she said. "They could keep these products here, and they could keep these people working, but it just comes down to that they are greedy and want to make a little more money. And that's the bottom line."
Response from Whirlpool and the White House
Whirlpool stated that the job cuts are part of a multi-year modernization plan aimed at transforming the plant into a dynamic operation. The company emphasized its continued support for Trump's tariff policies, expressing confidence that the US administration will take strong actions to support domestic manufacturing and American workers. The White House did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
