Less than a week after approving a new three-year contract, union workers at Maytag Corp.’s Amana Refrigeration Products plant in Middle Amana face possible layoffs.
“It’s an adjustment in production schedules driven by seasonality,” Maytag spokeswoman Lynne Dragomier said Wednesday.
Dragomier said Maytag is offering workers the opportunity to sign up for voluntary layoffs, hoping to reduce or eliminate the need for any forced layoffs. The voluntary layoffs are allowed by provisions of the company’s new three-year contract.
Taking a voluntary layoff allows workers who want the time off for personal needs to take it rather than following a formula based strictly on seniority, Dragomier said.
Many companies build up large inventory backlogs in anticipation of possible strikes when a contract is expiring. Dragomier said that was not a factor in the current round of layoffs.
Maytag officials would not say how many positions will be affected by the layoffs.
The new five-year contract provided for wage increases totaling $1.25 over the life of the contract, plus improved retirement benefits. It also allows the company the option of going to four-day, 10-hour work weeks and three-day, 12-hour weekend work schedules.
About 2,300 bargaining unit employees work at the Amana plant, which primarily manufactures side-by-side refrigerator-freezers.
From Billings Gazette