FORT SMITH, Ark. (AP) — Whirlpool Corporation says it is moving up its planned layoffs by a week but will give pink slips to fewer than the 360 people as originally announced.
The company says it will lay off 280 people effective October 26th when it shuts down the second shift of its line that produces 22-cubic-foot side-by-side refrigerators. Whirlpool says it will add 80 employees to its line that produces 25-cubic-foot refrigerators.
The company announced last year that 700 workers would be laid off in the first half of 2008, though part of that layoff is coming early. The union at the plant says the company plans to shut down the 22-cubic-foot refrigerator line in April. Whirlpool is moving work to a new plant in Mexico.
