Whirlpool Announces Shutdown of LaVergne Plant

Whirlpool announced today it will shutdown its refrigeration plant in LaVergne, eliminating some 500 jobs.

Despite the plant experiencing job cuts earlier this year, LaVergne Mayor Ronnie Erwin says he was surprised to get a call from Whirlpool corporate offices this morning.

“Actually, I was pretty shocked. I mean, Whirlpool has a reputation, when they slow down they do have a layoff, but they pretty much keep everybody and it picks back up. I mean, that’s kind of been the routine throughout the years. So to receive that phone call from the office out of Washington D.C., yeah, it was a shock to be honest with you.”

Those who lose their jobs will be offered a severance package, according to a statement from Whirlpool. The closure is part of a larger restructuring, which moves 275 jobs to a plant in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Whirlpool is also consolidating two operations in Mexico.

Mayor Erwin says there are lots of middle-aged hourly workers in LaVergne, on the verge of retirement, who fear the thought of finding another career.