Crossposted from Hillbilly Report.
Across the Ohio River from Kentucky in Indiana is the city of Evansville. For years, American workers have made quality appliances at the Whirlpool factory there. Now, Whirlpool has decided to close this factory down and put 1100 more Americans out of work. It it even more outrageous the circumstances under which they plan to do so.
Yes, it seems as if the American worker are just too fat and sassy, despite the quality products they produce. From an email from Working America:
The Whirlpool Corp. is closing a refrigerator manufacturing plant in Evansville, Ind., putting more than 1,100 people out of work. Even worse, Whirlpool will continue to produce these refrigerators, but not in Evansville and not anywhere else in America. They are planning to manufacture them in Mexico, where weaker labor and environmental laws make them "cheaper" for Whirlpool to produce.
To make matters worse, Whirlpool has shown profitibility even manufacturing in the states. They also took millions of dollars that was set aside to help Americans recover from the economy the Republicans crashed into a ditch:
This is outrageous and unacceptable, especially in light of Whirlpool’s profitability and the $19 million dollars in economic recovery money Whirlpool recently received from the federal government as a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Those are OUR economic recovery funds, not Mexico’s.
While the President of AFL-CIO, Richard Trumka plans on going to Evansville in person to protest this action, it is much easier for you. All you have to do is go to this link and sign the petition letting Whirlpool know enough is enough:
http://www.unionvoice.org/...
I think the good folks at Working America put it best:
Too many people have lost their jobs. Too many jobs have been sent overseas. Enough is enough. Whirlpool’s management can’t take our money, shut down our factories and lay off our workers. It’s not acceptable—and together we’re going to deliver a loud and clear message to Whirlpool: Keep It Made in America and Save Our Jobs.
Together we will fight against corporate greed and for good jobs. Together we will rebuild the American economy, because everyone deserves a good job NOW!
It is outrageous that any company would take the economic recovery money that was allotted to help America recover from the Republican recession/near depression and still cost Americans jobs and livelihoods. These funds were for us, not Mexico. If Whirlpool does not relent and still closes this plant we should punish them by never buying there products again.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!