There was a time when American businesses actually took pride in being American businesses, employing Americans. Now that The World Is Flat, companies are in a constant game of musical chairs, seeking out the cheapest possible foreign locations to bump the price of stocks.
Even if a federal subsidy helped them bump up their first quarter profits:
NEW YORK (AP) — Federal rebates for energy-efficient appliances pulled shoppers back into stores, helping Whirlpool Corp.’s revenue rise and its first-quarter profit more than double, the company said.
Guess how Whirlpool is repaying American taxpayers for their support:
Whirlpool Corporation is shutting down a refrigerator plant in Evansville, Indiana that will put 1100 people out of work. Are they having trouble selling refrigerators in these bad economic times? No. Whirlpool is profitable and still selling plenty of refrigerators here. But they want to ship these jobs to Mexico where they can produce them cheaper and without having to respect U.S. labor and environmental regulations.
Whirlpool took $19 million in economic recovery money and now instead of helping our economy recover, it’s destroying 1100 good American jobs. The AFL-CIO has started an online petition drive telling Whirlpool to “Keep It Made In America” to save our jobs. You can find it at unionvoice.org/campaign/Evansville.
The AFL-CIO says Whirlpool should reverse its decision to keep these 1100 jobs in the U.S. and help our economic recovery. The labor federation says taxpayer economic recovery money should be used to create jobs in America, not ship them to cheap labor markets in other countries.
I know if I ever buy another refrigerator, it won’t be a Whirlpool.
Twenty-odd years ago I bought a Whirlpool refrigerator and I’ve been pleased with it. I will soon be buying a new one. Yes, it won’t now be a Whirlpool.
anyone track down a whirlpool contact name — we’re going to be dishwasher shopping soon (too) and I’d like to let them know we’ll find another vendor.
If not whirlpool, then what brand?
I distinctly remember Obama saying no more out sourcing of jobs on the campaign trail,with a proviso about tax breaks.I won’t hold my breath waiting on this promise either.
Don’t buy Maytag, either…owned by Whirlpool. They moved our local plant to Mexico a couple years ago…Or Estate, also Whirlpool.
Whirlpool union members in Galesburg fought the closing of their plant and the moving of their jobs to Mexico beginning before Obama ran for the US Senate.
However, the union did ask for help. Obama went on to use their plight to reinforce the idea that he would fight to keep manufacturing jobs in the US. Alas…
Per this article, which takes quotes from this Bob Secter, Chicago Trib article, the union people never felt Obama took very much action on their behalf.
From the ChiTrib article:
So, GE sucks, Whirlpool trashes US workers…what’s left? Serious question: My frost free frige is alternately dripping into the refrigerator section and then freezing…. Not long for serving it’s purpose?
Here’s a good link to find made-in-America goods:
http://www.stillmadeinusa.com
Doesn’t look great on the appliance front though.
Only some of the Kenmore appliances are made by Whirlpool. Here’s how to tell:
http://www.appliance411.com/purchase/sears.shtml
Is there a link to go sign the petition? If it was there I didn’t see it.
You can sign the petition here:
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/evansville?rk=zda5qwYqokoaE