FORT SMITH — Whirlpool Corp. has formalized its closing plan for its refrigerator factory in Fort Smith.
The company has sent Fort Smith Mayor Sandy Sanders a letter saying that 834 workers will lose their jobs on June 29. Another 77 employees will be terminated by July 31.
Benton Harbor, Mich.-based Whirlpool has been reducing the number of workers at the plant for years, since opening a side-by-side refrigerator plant in Mexico.
The factory had 4,600 workers as recently as 2006 but the company lists only 917 in the layoff notice, including management.
Fort Smith television station KHBS reports the last six workers will be laid off by Aug. 31. The letter says there is no plan to recall any workers because the plant will become idle.