Posted on 09/12/2010 7:10:30 PM PDT by WOBBLY BOB
MILWAUKEE — Harley-Davidson employees in Wisconsin are being asked to vote in favor of a labor contract that will freeze their pay, slash hundreds of jobs and hand large volumes of work to nonunion workers.
As bleak as the proposal sounds, employees may have little choice but to accept it. If they don't, Harley-Davidson Motor Co. has threatened to move its last two Wisconsin operations to another state, leaving about 1,350 employees out of work.
Employees are scheduled to vote on the proposed seven-year contract Monday. The results should be available by the evening.
The Milwaukee-based motorcycle company blames its hardball tactics on finances. It says labor costs at its Milwaukee and Tomahawk plants are too high and it only makes sense to keep them open if the workers agree to labor concessions.
Tom Koltz, who has worked at the company for 22 years, doesn't buy that explanation. The 56-year-old from Cudahy acknowledged the tough economic climate but said Harley is turning its back on longtime loyal workers.
(Excerpt) Read more at twincities.com ...
Better to be "underemployed" than "unemployed".
Yes Mercury Marine did the same thing and the Commies waffled.There are right to work States that would love to have Harley factories and make a deal with them as well.
“vote in favor of a labor contract that will freeze their pay, slash hundreds of jobs and hand large volumes of work to nonunion workers.”
What could go wrong here?
Change that they can count on.
Better to lose hundreds of jobs than all of them. And better to take a pay cut than have the operation move out of state and throw you out of a job entirely.
I’ll bet even with a pay cut, these guys do better than someone working at McDonalds. And with things going the way they are, there may not be any openings at McDonalds.
Articles like this make a 106 cubic inch Victory cycle look pretty darn good.
Obama could nationalize Harley and save these union members.
That sounds familiar...
This is SO ironic.
Without President Reagan putting a stop on Honda and other “not made in America” imports on bikes during his Administration Harley would not even be a player in the biking industry today!
Remember who was in office that saved and gave you jobs in the first place!
“...Harley is turning its back on longtime loyal workers.”
As in “union workers who have been sucking the company dry for years.”
Its a new world, Tommy. Adapt or perish.
I have a 2002 FLHP (Road King Police). Great bike. But Harleys are way overpriced. Very expensive to maintain compared to rice burners. I was very tempted to buy a Jap V-twin.
When we rode in the 80’s (the BASF days), the Harleys were so bad we had a couple of trucks follow us on long trips to pick up broke bikes and parts that fell off (one guy dropped a carburetor on the highway).
I have a 2002 FLHP (Road King Police). Great bike. But Harleys are way overpriced. Very expensive to maintain compared to rice burners. I was very tempted to buy a Jap V-twin.
When we rode in the 80’s (the BASF days), the Harleys were so bad we had a couple of trucks follow us on long trips to pick up broke bikes and parts that fell off (one guy dropped a carburetor on the highway).
While you are correct - at least for folks with a sense of work ethic and morals, that isn't often the case with unions.
I have never quite understood the price premium for a Harley. Are they nice? Yes. Are they good looking? Yes. Do they perform? Generally. And from what I have seen, the reliability of Harley’s bikes has improved quite a bit.
BUT
For the cost of a new lower-end Harley, you can get a tricked-out, and likely more reliable bike from one of the “other” makers.
I realize that there is a whole “mystique” about Harleys... But again, the price difference just can’t be justified by name alone (at least in my book). YMMV
I have an 06 Dyna; I’m amazed at all of the issues with their bikes that the company is aware of but refuses to make good: chronic failure of inner primary bearings; poorly designed rotors that that fly apart and fry the stator; steering head clunk; primary auto tensioners are too flimsy, rocker arms out of tolerances, etc....
If they would stop insulting their customers’ intelligence by refusing to acknowledge known flaws in their products, maybe more people would buy their bikes.
I’m not sure if America is ready for Chinese Harleys yet. Would they be called Charleys?
I’m sure Mississippi would be happy for Harleys to be built there. Or Tennessee or Kentucky.
Anyhow yeah the economy stinks and even die hard Harley riders are increasingly sticking with their older rides or even buying second hand.
These guys are going to have to bite the bullet. Either swallow the cuts, or move en masse to wherever the new plants will be, or go begging. Democrats are not their friends any more. I could hardly blame them for feeling very, very used.
We would love to have Harley’s production facilities here in Virginia...we won’t pay them a billion dollars to move here but we are a right to work state (and the winters are pretty mild).
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