EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — More than 450 jobs are being eliminated as Whirlpool Corp. ends a production shift at an Evansville factory that is being shut down in June.
Union officials say Friday was the last day for 465 workers at the plant. Whirlpool announced last year that it would shut down the 1,100-worker refrigerator factory and move production to Mexico.
A few dozen union members held protest signs in the rain Thursday along U.S. 41 outside the plant. Worker Danny Rowe said he hoped their presence reminded others about the number of jobs leaving the country.
Some 1,500 people joined the AFL-CIO national president in an Evansville march last month protesting the factory-closing decision by Benton Harbor, Mich.-based Whirlpool.
Editor's note: This planned phasing-out of workers from Whirlpool Corp.'s Evansville plant comes on the heels of a controversial announcement that CEO Jeff Fettig's compensation for 2009 rose more than 75 percent, to $10.8 million, as the company planned on moving American jobs to Mexico.
For one take on the CEO's compensation, go play “Pin The Integrity On The Upper Management” with Associate Editor Joel Hans.
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