Newton Independent

Whirlpool CEO's compensation grows 29 percent

Newton Independent

Whirlpool Corp. Chairman and CEO Jeff Fettig saw his 2012 compensation grow 29 percent based on higher cash bonuses linked to the world's largest appliance maker's performance, the online business site 4-Traders reported Monday.

The Whirlpool CEO saw his salary, incentive-based pay, executive perks, stock awards and his pension grow to $15.9 million for the year, up from $12.3 million the year before.

Whirlpool Park near Clyde, Ohio found to be toxic dumping ground

Newton Independent

An EPA report released Tuesday indicates that Whirlpool Park, an area built for children to play in the Clyde, Ohio area, was a dumping ground for PCBs and a sludge filled with toxic metals.

The federal agency undertook the study after numerous families living in the area dubbed the "Clyde Cancer Cluster" have been sickened and died from cancer.

Attorneys for the victims say the Whirlpool Corporation did not disclose the information found in the EPA report.

"Obviously, it is upsetting to learn that such significant amounts of poison sludge are dumped anywhere," said attorney Alan Mortensen in a television news report. "But to either dump it in proximity or cover it over with a children's park and a swimming pool filled with water coming from the very spot where the dumping occurred is an outrage."

 

Whirlpool wins latest round in anti-dumping case

Newton Independent

The U.S. Department of Commerce on Monday made a preliminary determination that foreign manufacturers of residential washing machines are dumping their products into the U.S. marketplace.

The decision was made in response to a filing by Whirlpool Corporation late last year claiming that Korean producers LG, Samsung and Daewoo were unfairly selling their residential washers in the U.S., a move made by Whirlpool to protect their 22,000 U.S. workers, the communities in which they work and U.S. consumers.

"The Commerce Department's preliminary finding shows that dumping is occurring, which supports the legal action we took on behalf of our employees and the U.S. appliance industry," said Whirlpool Corporation spokesperson Kristine Vernier. "Whirlpool is committed to building products in the regions where they are sold and investing in our U.S. manufacturing presence. Our investments will continue as long as we can compete on a level playing field, with all of our foreign competitors playing be established rules."

As a result of the ruling, foreign competitors, including Samsung and LG, will be required to pay cash deposits on washers imported to the U.S. starting in August. The Department of Commerce announced cash deposit rates for Korean producers LG, Samsung and Daewoo of 12.5 percent, 9.62 percent, and 79.11 percent, respectively. Cash deposit rates for Mexican producers Electrolux and Samsung re 33.3 percent, and 72.41 percent, respectively.

The DOC also imposed a 72.41 cash deposit rate for Whirlpool washers made in Mexico. However, the company said in a statement that it has discontinued shipping washers from Mexico for sale in the United States and therefore will not pay the deposits.

Whirlpool noted the investments it has made in its Clyde, Ohio production facility by noting that by next year, nearly 100 percent of the washers Whirlpool sells in the U.S. will be manufactured in the U.S.

The anti-dumping investigation is continuing. Final orders are expected early next year.

U.S. sides with Whirlpool over unfair trade claims

Newton Independent

The U.S. Department of Commerce on Wednesday issued a preliminary determination in favor of Whirlpool who had claimed that the South Korean government is providing subsidies to South Korean clothes washer manufacturers that violate trade laws.

The Commerce Department found that Korean manufacturers Daewoo Electronics, LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics received subsidies ranging from 0.22 percent to more than 70 percent.

Late last year, Whirlpool filed anti-dumping petitions against residential clothes washers from South Korea and Mexico and an anti-subsidy petition against the same products from South Korea seeking enforcement of U.S. and international trade laws.

"Whirlpool is pleased with this favorable preliminary decision, given the proven record that South Korean appliance producers have benefitted from their government's subsidies that violate trade law," Whirlpool said in a statement. "We look forward to participating fully in the thorough investigation by the U.S. Department of Commerce, and we are optimistic that the final determination will further validate that these subsidies undermine competition and cause material harm to the U.S. appliance industry."

Whirlpool weighing options on bottom-mount refrigerator anti-dumping decision

Newton Independent

Whirlpool Corp., said today it will review the U.S. International Trade Commission's decision that found that unlawfully traded bottom-mount refrigerators imported from South Korea and Mexico did not cause material injury to the U.S. industry before making a final determination on whether to appeal.

Last year, Whirlpool Corporation filed a complaint with federal regulators claiming two Korean-based appliance manufacturers, Samsung and LG Electronics, were selling bottom-mount refrigerators in the United States at less than fair value thus jeopardizing similar refrigeration products Whirlpool produces at its Amana, Iowa plant where approximately 2,200 people are employed.

"Of course we're extremely disappointed by today's ruling and the implications it has for our U.S. production of bottom-mount refrigerators," said Marc Bitzer, president, Whirlpool North America. "We believe the facts clearly demonstrated that dumped imports of bottom-mount refrigerators from South Korea and Mexico are causing injury to the U.S. industry. Despite today's ruling, Whirlpool remains committed to taking acton against any unlawful trade practices that threaten our 23,000 U.S. employees or our ability to produce in the United States the innovative and high-quality products that consumers demand."

For more information on the anti-dumping petitions, follow this link.

Whirlpool to pay Indiana $800,000 for job losses

Newton Independent

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation and Whirlpool Corporation announced today that the world's largest appliance manufacturer will pay the state $800,000 to resolve all tax credits and incentives associated with the loss of employment in the company's Evansville, Ind., facility.

"As per our standard agreements with companies, incentives are conditional upon the hiring and retention of Hoosier employees," said Dan Hasler, Secretary of Commerce and CEO of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. "While we are delighted to have Whirlpool, who has been a port of the local community for more than 50 years, continue to employ associates in Evansville, the current levels do not meet previous commitments."

Following a significant layoff of manufacturing jobs in 2009, Whirlpool agreed to preserve 260 full-time positions in Evansville in order to retain previously awarded tax credits. As part of its organizational efficiency efforts, Whirlpool recently relocated most North American procurement positions, including some from Evansville, to the company's headquarters in Michigan. The company's refrigeration research, engineering and design functions remain in Evansville with approximately 230 people, of which approximately 210 are Indiana residents.

"While our industry continues to face economic challenges that have impacted employment levels, we are proud that approximately 1,000 Hoosiers work at Whirlpool facilities, including many who commute to our nearby world headquarters in Michigan," said Jeff Noel, corporate vice president of Whirlpool.

Commerce Department sides with Whirlpool in anti-dumping case over bottom-mount refrigerators

Newton Independent

Trade sanctions against two South Korean bottom-mount refrigerator appliance manufacturers could be in place by May after a final dumping margin determination was made by the U.S. Department of Commerce on Monday.

The decision follows Whirlpool Corpration's complaint to federal trade regulators that LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics are selling bottom-mount refrigerators in the United States at less than fair value thus jeopardizing similar refrigeration products Whirlpool produces at its Amana, Iowa plant where approximately 2,200 people are employed.

In its final determinations, the Commerce Department found company specific dumping margins for the two South Korean producers (LG Electronics 15.41 percent and Samsung 5.16 percent) and four Mexican producers (LG Electronics 30.34 percent, Samsung Electronics 15.95 percent, Mabe 6.0 percent and Electrolux 22.94 percent). In Whirlpool's separate countervailing duty case related to the same products from South Korea, the Commerce Department found countervailing margins of 12.9 percent for South Korea exporter Daewoo and 2.46 percent for exporter Samsung.

The U.S. International Trade Commission will make a final injury determination in April. Whirlpool expects that the investigation will lead to trade remedies against the unlawfully traded bottom-mount refrigerators from South Korea and Mexico.

"As the world's leading home appliance maker, we are taking a stand with these petitions to protect our 23,000 U.S. employees who produce the innovative and high quality products that consumers demand," said Marc Blitzer, president of Whirlpool North America.

Whirlpool files unfair trade complaints against Samsung, LG over clothes washers

Newton Independent

Whirlpool Corporation on Friday filed anti-dumping petitions against residential clothes washers from South Korea and Mexico, along with a countervailing duty petition against the same products coming from South Korea.

The petitions claim that South Korean washing machine manufacturers Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics have dumped their products into the United States and are selling them at prices substantially less than fair value. Their actions, the petitions claim, undermines competition, causes material injury to the appliance manufacturing industry, harms consumers and threatens American jobs.

"When foreign manufacturers are permitted to dump products into the United States, it undermines competition," said Marc Bitzer, president of Whirlpool North America, in announcing the filings with the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. International Trade Commission. "It is important for an open global trading system to have a process of enforcement to maintain the integrity of the system and provide all manufacturers a level playing field on which to compete."

Whirlpool produces its clothes washers in Clyde, Ohio, where it employs more than 3,500 workers. The company recently invested $175 million in the Ohio plant to produce energy- and water-efficient washers.

Previously, Whirlpool filed unfair trade practices against Samsung and LG over the production of bottom-mount refrigerators, which are made by Whirlpool at its Amana, Iowa, plant.

And here's an interesting article that says Whirlpool's filings are in essence a request to the government to force consumers to pay more for washing machines.

Former Maytag workers foretell Whirlpool's Fort Smith workers' future

Newton Independent

MSNBC political commentator Ed Schultz traveled to Newton on Saturday to get a glimpse of what Whirlpool employees in Fort Smith, Ark., can look forward to after the world's largest appliance manufacturer announced last week its plans to close the refrigerator plant there and eliminate about 1,000 jobs.

Schultz announced his intention to travel to Newton during his show on Friday where he took aim at Whirlpool's decision to close the Arkansas plant, as well as slash 5,000 jobs across North America and Europe in order to improve profit margins for shareholders.

What he learned from a group of former Maytag workers after his visit with them Saturday afternoon led Schultz to send a camera crew to the UAW Local 997 union hall in Newton for a live remote telecast as a follow-up to his visit that aired as part of his show Monday evening.

"What do workers in Fort Smith have to look forward to?" Schultz asked Steve Wilcox, who spent 22 years at Maytag before the plant closed in 2007.

"There's a lot of emotional heartache," Wilcox said. "There's a lot of questions about what am I going to do, how am I going to support my family."

Wilcox, who now runs the Smokin' Mississippi Queen barbecue catering service, told Schultz that the worry over the future just "escalates."

"You don't know what you're going to do," he said.

Max Tipton, who spent 41 years at Maytag and held union leadership positions, told Schultz that we are "seeing the end of the American dream."

"What went wrong with Newton was Whirlpool," Tipton said. "Maytag was a wealthy company. It knew how to make the best products on the market."

Then, Tipton said, Whirlpool bought Maytag and announced it would close the plant a year later.

"I don't know that they gave any reason," he said.

Schultz asked Wilcox what he would ask the Republican presidential candidates at the National Association of Manufacturers forum in Pella today.

"Can you help America out?" Wilcox said he would ask.

You can watch the segment of Monday's show, including clips from Schultz's visit on Saturday, here.

Whirlpool to cut 5,000 jobs

By PETER HUSSMANN

Whirlpool Corporation plans to eliminate 5,000 jobs from its North American and European operations, including 1,200 salaried positions, in response to a continued weak global economy.

The Benton Harbor, Mich.-based company announced its "cost and capacity reduction" plan in releasing its third quarter results today.

"As we previously indicated, in a period of uncertain economic growth and consumer demand, we would be prepared to take the necessary actions in order to expand our operating margins and improve our earnings," said Whirlpool CEO Jeff Fettig. "Given the weakening global economic environment, we are today announcing aggressive plans that will result in substantial cost and capacity reductions. The plans are the result of a comprehensive global review of our operations, products and manufacturing facilities."

On Thursday, Whirlpool said that it planned to close its Fort Smith, Ark., refrigeration manufacturing facility by the middle of 2012 and consolidate its operations in Mexico, Ohio and Amana, Iowa, where about 160 jobs are expected to be added. The Fort Smith closure will impact approximately 1,000 jobs.

The workforce reduction of 5,000 employees in North America and Europe equate to a 10 percent workforce reduction in those regions. In addition to cutting 1,200 salaried employees and the closure of the Fort Smith operation, Whirlpool said it would:

• Relocate dishwasher production from Neunkirchen, Germany to Poland in 2012.
• Take additional organizational efficiency actions in North America and Europe.
• Reduce overall capacity by approximately 6 million units.

The actions are expected to result in $400 million in annual cost savings by the end of 2013, the company said.

"We are taking necessary actions to address a much more challenging global economic environment," Fettig said. "We believe our cost and capacity reduction initiatives, recently announced cost-based price increases and innovative product launches will enable us to expand operating margins and deliver long-term value to shareholders."

In announcing its third quarter results, Whirlpool said net earnings for the period totaled $177 million, or $2.27 per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $79 million, or $1.02 per diluted share, for the same period last year.

Sales in 2011 were $4.6 billion, compared to $4.5 billion reported in the third quarter of 2010. Third quarter operating profit totaled $136 million compared with $234 million in the previous year. Weaker global demand and higher raw material and oil-related costs during the quarter offset the benefits of ongoing productivity, cost reduction initiatives and previously announced price increases, the company said.

"During the quarter, we experienced weaker than expected global industry demand and elevated material costs," Fettig said. "Our results were negatively impacted by recessionary demand levels in developed countries, a slowdown in emerging markets and high levels of inflation in material costs."

Third quarter sales in North America decreased 2 percent from the previous year to $2.4 billion. Operating profit for the region in the quarter was $62 million compared to $114 million the year before.

Based on the current economic outlook, Whirlpool expects full-year 2011 U.S. industry unit shipments to decrease approximately 3 to 5 percent.

Whirlpool to close Arkansas plant; move some jobs to Amana, Iowa

Newton Independent

Whirlpool announced today that it will close its Fort Smith, Ark., manufacturing plant by the middle of next year and move some of the plant's current refrigerator production to its Amana, Iowa plant, an Arkansas TV station is reporting.

The company said the closure will affect approximately 1,000 employees, mainly hourly workers. There are about 800 workers at the plant currently on layoff.

Company officials, the TV station reports, said the closure is "driven by a decrease in demand for side-by-side refrigerator platforms that has resulted from the continued weakness in the global economy, and the aggressive pricing actions of global competitors - some of whose trade practices are currently under investigation by the U.S. government."

Fort Smith production will shift to existing plants in the U.S. and Mexico, the company said, "to leverage the resources and excess capacity at those facilities."

Production of built-in refrigerators will shift to Amana which will add 160 jobs to the plant. Trash compactor manufacturing will move to Ottawa, Ohio, with production of the "reduced, declining volumes" of side-by-side refrigerators being built within "excess capacity" space at a plant in Mexico.

The Arkansas TV station reported that Whirlpool employed approximately 4,600 workers at the Fort Smith factory in 2006.

Whirlpool says court orders LG to pay costs in advertising lawsuit

Newton Independent

Whirlpool announced today that a U.S. district court has ordered its South Korea-based rival LG Electronics to pay costs to Whirlpool in connection with a lawsuit involving Whirlpool steam dryer advertising.

The world's largest manufacturer of home appliances said that a U.S. court in Chicago ordered LG to pay a "substantial portion" of Whirlpool's costs "as the prevailing party in the lawsuit." The court, the company's statement said, found that "Whirlpool has established that its dryers do, in fact, use steam."

LG Electronics filed the suit in 2008 and sought to ban Whirlpool from using the term "steam" in its advertising for its "steam dryers." LG claimed that the Benton Harbor, Mich.-based company's steam dryers do nothing more than re-wet the clothes and mislead consumers about the benefits of the product.

News story says Whirlpool plans for 'more streamlined' company

Newton Independent

The Herald-Palladium, a newspaper covering southwest Michigan, reported today that Whirlpool Corporation will make an announcement about changes the world's largest appliance manufacturer plans to make in response to the anemic economy.

The H-P staff writer quotes Jeff Noel, the head of Whirlpool communications who was quoted widely during the time the Benton Harbor-based company decided to close its Newton operations after taking over Maytag, who said "strategic organizational changes" will be made at Whirlpool facilities across the U.S. that will result in a "more streamlined" company able to "quickly adjust to current and anticipated market conditions."

"Current demand for all major appliances is at recessionary levels and the marketplace remains volatile," Noel is quoted in the story.

One comment on the story makes note of the subcontracting of a Benton Harbor-based Whirlpool department to Ohio.

No further information is available at this time. You can read the H-P story here.

UAW objects to most of Whirlpool's legal costs payment claim in Maytag retiree lawsuit

By PETER HUSSMANN

Attorneys for the UAW and UAW Local 997 are objecting to most of the legal costs Whirlpool is trying recover as the winning party in its case against Maytag retirees over the company's right to change the health care benefits to retired Newton production workers.

On Monday, attorneys for the UAW filed a resistance to Whirlpool's previously filed bill of costs claiming more than half of the $60,000 Whirlpool is seeking is not allowed.

Lawyers for Whirlpool and Maytag filed a bill of costs in federal court seeking payment from the union for the fees it incurred in the production of transcripts, court filings and depositions in the case it brought against the Newton Maytag retirees in 2008.

The request for costs follows a joint filing by the attorneys where it was agreed that neither party would seek attorneys' fees in the case.

Under civil procedure rules, costs "are allowed to the prevailing party."

The total amount Whirlpool is seeking to recover from the UAW is $60,012.67.

Lawyers for the union, however, object to more than 80 of the bills costing a total of $42,494.02 that Whirlpool presented to the court for payment by the UAW. The UAW agrees to pay $17,518.65 of Whirlpool's bill of costs claim.

Specifically, the UAW is objecting to costs Whirlpool included for such things as process servers, unneeded deposition transcripts, stamps, copy costs, messenger services and a portion of the airfare, lodging, transportation and meals for Mark Krivoruchka, Maytag's former head of human resources.

Judge rules against Maytag retirees in medical benefits case

By PETER HUSSMANN

Whirlpool had the right to change the retiree medical benefits to more than 3,000 former Maytag workers in Newton, a federal judge has ruled.

U.S. District Court Judge James Gritzner entered a judgment on Thursday, in a filing posted late today, in favor of the Whirlpool Corporation in the federal class-action lawsuit it brought against UAW Local 997 retirees three years ago. The decision follows a bench trial held late last year and the submission of post-trial briefs, in lieu of closing arguments following the trial in December 2010, in March 2011.

Judge Gritzner's 60-page ruling states that while he is sympathetic to the financial impact the decision will have on Maytag retirees, lawyers representing the UAW Local 997 retirees did not provide enough evidence that the retiree medical benefits were vested.

"In summation, the Union's inconclusive documentary evidence and underwhelming extrinsic evidence do not satisfy the Union's burden of proof because the general duration provisions, continuation language, coordination of benefits clauses, and reservation of rights language in the written documents and extrinsic evidence of changes to retiree medical benefits demonstrated by a preponderance of the evidence that the parties did not agree that the retiree medical benefits would survive the expiration of the retiree medical benefits schedule in the 2004 CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement)," Judge Gritzner's ruling states.

"The court is not unaware of the expectations of the Newton retirees nor unsympathetic in the result reached herein," the ruling continues. "However, the Union has not carried its burden under the law of showing that the Company agreed to vest retiree medical benefits. Regardless of what either side was thinking about vesting, proper allocation of the burden of the proof shows that the Union had the obligation to include express vesting language or present specific evidence that the Company agreed to provide vested retiree medical benefits.

"This the Union has not done within the structure of the applicable law in this circuit."

At this time it is uncertain what lawyers for Maytag retirees might do following the ruling. The possibility exists for an appeal to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The Newton Independent is attempting to contact lawyers for the parties to gain reaction.

The full ruling can be read below.

Download Judge Gritzner Ruling on Maytag Retiree Medical Benefits Case

Insurance company sues Whirlpool over defective washer

By PETER HUSSMANN

An Illinois insurance company is attempting to collect more than $200,000 from Whirlpool Corporation for a claim it paid to a Cumming, Iowa couple for damages their home received after a Neptune washing machine malfunctioned and flooded their home.

Country Mutual Insurance Company of Bloomington, Ill., filed suit in Warren County District Court last month seeking to be subrogated for the payment it made to policy holders Christine and Denis Marchand after the first floor of their residence was flooded by the defective appliance purchased from the Home Depot in 2005.

According to the suit, Ms. Marchand placed a load of wash in the Neptune at approximately 9 p.m. on July 8, 2008. Three and a half hours later an automatic alarm system at the residence was activated and the Marchands discovered the main floor of their home flooded with water. The couple investigated its source and found water flowing from the washing machine.

The insurance company is seeking to recoup the payments it made for the compensation of the couple's losses, an amount in excess of $200,000, the suit states.

On Tuesday, lawyers for Whirlpool moved the case to the jurisdiction of the federal court system.

Whirlpool wins first round in its unfair trade petition against LG, Samsung

Newton Independent

Whirlpool today won the first round in its complaint to federal trade regulators that two Korean-based appliance manufacturers are selling bottom-mount refrigerators in the United States at less than fair value thus jeopardizing similar refrigeration products Whirlpool produces at its Amana, Iowa plant where approximately 2,000 people are employed.

The U.S. International Trade Commission voted in favor of Whirlpool's petition to get anti-dumping and countervailing duties imposed on refrigerators made by LG Electronics and Samsung at its plants in Mexico and South Korea.

"This unanimous decision by the ITC validates the action we've taken to protect our 23,000 U.S. employees and the communities in which they work," Whirlpool spokeswoman Jill Saletta said in a statement.

Today's decision is the first of several Whirlpool must win before tariffs as high as 183 percent could be imposed.

LG said today that it disagrees with the decision and will aggressively contest the injury-related issues in the final determination phase.

"LG looks forward to the opportunity to more fully set forth the reasons why imports from LG, the innovation leader in the refrigerator industry, has in no manner injured Whirlpool," said Sam Kim, President, Home Appliances, LG Electronics USA. "We are confident that LG will prevail in the final ITC determination."

Whirlpool, LG Electronics' legal fight over 'steam' dryers expected to continue

By PETER HUSSMANN

The false advertising fight between appliance giants Whirlpool and LG Electronics does not appear to be over even with a federal judge's ruling on Monday that sided with Whirlpool's use of the word "steam" on dryer products in manufactures in Ohio.

The United States District Court in Chicago refused to award any relief to LG in its 2008 lawsuit against Whirlpool claiming that the Benton Harbor, Mich.-based company's steam dryers do nothing more than re-wet the clothes and mislead consumers about the benefits of the product.

In a news release issued by Whirlpool today, company officials said the court found that "Whirlpool has established that its dryers do, in fact, use steam" and that "LG did not introduce expert testimony or credible evidence of even a single Whirlpool customer, retailer, or trade representative who expressed confusion."

Whirlpool said Monday's ruling follows a jury verdict in October 2010 where LG sought to ban Whirlpool from using the word "steam" to describe its steam dryers. Whirlpool's technology combines existing heat sources with an automatic water mist creating "steam" inside the drum where the clothes are.

"This decision by the court," said Marc Bitzer, president, Whirlpool North American Region, "confirms the jury's verdict that consumers want choice and the kind of innovative laundry solutions Whirlpool has provided for 100 years. This victory means consumers will continue to have a choice in purchasing their steam laundry appliances."

LG, however, vowed today to appeal the decision by the federal district court judge in declining to issue an injunction against Whirlpool for its violation of an Illinois false advertising statute.

The Korean appliance manufacturer said the October 2010 jury verdict found that Whirlpool had violated the Illinois Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act for advertising its cold-water spray dryers that Whirlpool calls "steam" dryers. LG contends Whirlpool's Duet, Cabrio and Maytag Bravo "steam" dryers do not produce or use steam.

Unlike Whirlpool's technology, LG says its dryers use a steam generator outside the drum to boil water and inject hot steam into the dryer during its steam cycles.

"LG Electronics believes that Whirlpool should not be allowed to continue practices that the federal jury determined to be a violation of law," the company said in its statement today. "Consumers are being misled by Whirlpool's deceptive marketing of cold water spray as steam. On behalf of consumers, LG will continue to challenge Whirlpool's deceptive activities and review all options including an appeal."

Whirlpool files unfair trade practices petitions against Samsung, LG

Newton Independent

Whirlpool Corporation today filed a complaint with federal regulators claiming two Korean-based appliance manufacturers are selling bottom-mount refrigerators in the United States at less than fair value thus jeopardizing similar refrigeration products Whirlpool produces at its Amana, Iowa plant where approximately 2,000 people are employed.

The anti-dumping and countervailing duty petitions were filed against Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission. The petitions request an investigation into the production of bottom-mount refrigerators produced by the companies in Mexico and South Korea. The petitions claim the companies have been given subsidies by the South Korean government that make their products less expensive to sell.

"Whirlpool Corporation is the world leader in appliances because we have invested in our people and in the technologies to give consumers the high-quality products they want for the past 100 years," said Marc Bitzer, president, Whirlpool North America. "When foreign producers compete in the U.S. market using unfair trade practices, we have no choice but to take action to defend the integrity of the global trading system, our approximately 23,500 U.S. employees, the U.S. refrigerator industry, and American consumers. Dumping is an unfair trade practice used to drive out competitors, which means consumers end up with fewer choices."

Whirlpool made the decision to take legal action after an investigation showed that Samsung and LG violated U.S. trade laws and, as a result, caused material injury to the U.S. appliance manufacturing industry.

You can view the full petitions by going here.

Lawyer for Maytag retirees gets second extension of time to file post-trial brief

By PETER HUSSMANN

A federal judge on Friday granted the lawyer for the UAW and Newton Local 997 a second extension of time to file a post-trial brief following the trial over Whirlpool's right to slash health care benefits for more than 3,000 retired Maytag production workers.

Attorney Robert Seltzer was granted the additional week of time to file the brief after he filed a motion stating that he has been unable to complete the legal document because he "has a back injury that has seriously interfered with his ability to work."

In February, the lawyer representing the union and Local 997 retirees asked the court for an extension from the previous Feb. 18 deadline until tomorrow due to the complexity of the legal issues, an illness and the renovation of the law firm's Chicago offices.

Attorneys for Whirlpool, though not objecting to the second request for an extension, said the extensions are becoming "excessive," noting the UAW's and Local 997's law firm has a number of other capable attorneys to assist.

"The number of reasons advanced for extensions is becoming excessive," attorneys for Whirlpool stated in its response to the UAW's motion. "Plaintiffs do not object to the most recent second extension requested by Defendants, so long as it is the last extension which will be granted to Defendants."

Trial in the matter concluded on Dec. 14, 2010. The post-trial briefs are now due March 15.