June, 2006

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Whirlpool slashes jobs; Boycott Whirlpool

By Rev. Edward Pinkney

Since Whirlpool bought Maytag in March 2007, former Maytag executives are moving to Berrien County, Michigan. Whirlpool is building them extravagant homes. Most of the money for this huge expenditure is coming from none other than MICHIGAN TAXPAYERS. By signing off on a $10.4 million tax break specifically for the building of these mansions, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm is selling out taxpayers by forcing us to bear this burden. Whirlpool is shelling out less than half of that figure to get their new executives settled.

Whirlpool Corporation, based in Benton Harbor, is the world's largest appliance maker, with $19 billion in annual sales. With the $1.68 billion purchase of Maytag Corporation, Whirlpool owns over 70% of the world's washer and dryer production. This near-monopoly corporation was made possible by government at all levels. As a result of this merging of interests of the corporation and government, Whirlpool North America delivered record first-quarter operating profits, up 12 percent from the prior year.

Whirlpool will now close three factories and cut 4500 jobs to keep profits up. The cuts include 1000 jobs at a plant in Herrin, Illinois, and another 70 jobs at Maytag's adminstration office in Schaumburg, Illinois. Both buildings are closing. The washer and dryer plants in Searcy, Arkansas will close, and a plant in Newton, Iowa will shut down in 2007.

By eliminating 4500 jobs, Whirlpool Corporation has continued to suck the life out of the residents not only of Benton Harbor, but in the rest of the country, one city at a time. Whirlpool will outsource over 50% of all Maytag jobs left to maximize profit with cheaper overseas labor.

This shows that the big corporations are consolidating, maximizing profits through automation and outsourcing, and few jobs will be left. The question is how are people to survive? Once again, Whirlpool widens the gap between the haves and the have-nots. We must say enough is enough.

Several people from the Newton, Iowa plant contacted me and asked for help. I told them the only way to beat a corporation like Whirlpool is to boycott the products that the company makes. I promised the people in Newton that I would do all I can to help.

BOYCOTT WHIRLPOOL!
BOYCOTT WHIRLPOOL!
BOYCOTT WHIRLPOOL!

Make a donation for Rev. Pinkney's Legal Defense Fund at http://bhbanco.blogspot.com or send a check payable to BANCO, 1940 Union St., Benton Harbor MI 49022. Call Rev. Pinkney at 269-925-0001.