Letter to the Editor: A Career Whirlpool Man Speaks Out

By: Bill Hazelip

The article was front page titled, “US Factories Buck Decline.” The Factory in the article, is Whirlpool! The City is Cleveland, Tennessee. The paper is the Wall Street Journal! Here is a link to the story: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748704029704576088412618821224.html

Why, would one of the World’s largest newspapers contribute a two page article with a photo and bar-graphs for this story?

Well, lets see what they have to say:

“Although, the labor costs would be lower in Mexico, Whirlpool found lots of reasons to stay in Cleveland, Tenn.. It already had a trained work force there and wouldn’t need to pay severance costs. Freight costs would be lower since most of the plants products are already sold in the USA. Also, our country looked safer than Mexico, with all of their drug-related violence. But most of all the local community leaders and political leaders got involved to keep the industry in Cleveland, Tennessee.”

Whereas, our City political climate is always, “what can business do for us, ” the model of Cleveland was, ” what can we do for Whirlpool!” The plant in Cleveland which hired over 1600 laborers was old and in need of repairs. The leadership of Cleveland approached Whirlpool with $30,000,000 in incentives, and tax breaks! The leadership of Cleveland knows it is easier to keep an industry, than to replace an industry. Whirlpool responded with a bid to build a new 120 million dollar plant for its cooking products.

Locally, Evansville’s Whirlpool manufacturing operation was unique in every way. It possessed the top engineering, design and labor force in the industry. Plus, two Universities and trade schools. Our location is near the center of the country’s population. The large production plant was located next to an Airport, on a major rail line, a north to south major highway and next to two interstates, a manufacturer’s dream location And the present facility was keep in good shape by the local management. So, why did Whirlpool have such a change of heart for Cleveland, but not Evansville?

We can’t blame the local unions this time, they already made concession after concessions. Plus, they were willing to make even more if they could keep the company here. No, it was simply no leadership from our city government! It was not present, not now or in the past six years. Never, can I remember when local government was so distance from the needs of businesses and manufacturers in Evansville. When Whirlpool needed the most attention, our City officials were busy putting together a 117 page study for an arena which the citizens of Evansville did not want, and expanding more recreational facilities for a city that has lost a third of its population in my life time. The Mayor was much too busy for Whirlpool and the other dozen industries that have closed their doors during his term. Most City officials would be crying in their beer, but we lost that business too, so lets just order more wine and wonder why?

There is an old cliche’ throw the bums out! Our city Council members should not be asked to resign, they should do it voluntarily so the new Mayor can some make some progress without all of this never-ending political baggage!

I spent 40 years at Whirlpool, 17 in the plant and 23 in Corporate Management.