Whirlpool: Recall of 150 workers possible

A few laid off Whirlpool workers and, indirectly, the area economy may have a financially brighter holiday season.

Whirlpool Corp. confirmed Friday the possible recall of up to 150 workers to support increased refrigerator production planned at its Fort Smith plant for at least the remainder of 2009.

Sources have told The City Wire that up to 200 could be recalled, and that seven previously scheduled plant shutdown days around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are now scheduled for production. Also, the sources said production is planned for seven Saturdays between Oct. 31 and Dec. 19.

The only catch to the Whirlpool production increase is the ability of vendors to supply parts for the extra work. Suppliers to Whirlpool are not always able to bring back employees and ramp up production as fast as Whirlpool can generate the demand for parts.

JIll Saletta, director of external communications for Benton Harbor, Mich.-based Whirlpool, issued this statement to The City Wire: “Plant leadership yesterday (Oct. 15) communicated to employees a number of potential changes which could be taking place at the plant shortly, including a move to 9-hour days, and the addition of a number of Saturday production days. These changes are pending availability of parts required for production. Additionally, leadership indicated the possible recall of approximately 150 employees to support increased production demand. All of the potential changes are due to increased demand, and are not being proposed due to shifts of production among the plants.”
 
The City Wire first reported Oct. 13 of planned production increases at Whirlpool’s Fort Smith plant.

The future of Whirlpool’s Fort Smith plant has been a cause for concern by area business and civic leaders since November 2003 when the company announced a major global reorganization plan. The news in the past 3.5 years has been troubling, with Whirlpool announcing numerous production cuts and layoffs that has seen employment in Fort Smith drop from about 4,600 in early 2006 to around 1,050 today. The last hit came in August, when the company cut about 40 salaried and about 250 hourly jobs.

There is some hope brewing that the employment decline has ended.

“I don’t think you’re seeing a one-time deal with this (worker recall),” the source, who is familiar with Whirlpool operations, explained. “They (recalled workers) will probably come back and be back for good. What you’re seeing, I think, is the start of a return in product demand out there (national market).”