I searched for a thread on this and came up empty. A friend told me tonight York may move to WI, and that tomorrow there was to be a huge gathering of bikes in York to protest the possible move.

http://wbal.com/apps/news/templates/...27069&zoneid=3


Harley Davidson Workers Told York Plant Might Close

Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Steve Fermier and WGAL TV
The storied Harley Davidson plant near York, Pa., visited by Presidents and thousands of tourists each year, might end up shutting down.
That was one of the options presented to employees at a meeting on Monday, WBAL's sister station WGAL TV reported.
"As it stands York is not competitive long term ... due to cost pressures. Additional major changes will be needed," said Harley-Davidson spokesman Bob Klein.

The company is looking at a three-part strategy to improve itself.

"(We're) going to have a major evaluation of the York operations facility," said Klein.
He said that includes working with Local 98 of the Machinists Union to find options that could keep a restructured and scaled down facility in York.

Klein said the company would also look at exploring other possible locations in the U.S. for production and assembly.

 

The MOCO will do what they have to do to stay in business. ----That is just the way it HAS to be!

 

+1 As long as they are still made somewhere in the States and are a *majority* of American made parts I'll continue to support the MoCo no matter what they do.

 

+1 Have to support our own.

 

They could move all production to Kansas City.

 

It's a contract year in York and the state of PA has become less and less business friendly under the Rendell administation. Witness the closed Caterpillar plant a few miles down the road from the York plant. I love living so close to the plant but could completely understand why Harley would move it.

 

Many reasons to close it . #1 old & inefficient #2 Labor is a problemand recently did go on strike , let them learn the hard way , SOMEONE else does actually want the work #3Build down south where the riding season and probably less shipping cost due to a longer riding season #4 Auto manufactuers are finding the south much friendlier to a working enviornment .... people are happy to work & not live, eat & hinge thier thoughts and reactions on whatever crap thier union steward feeds them.... even more likey to be non union , and just do good work and live without the extra layer of managment via union bosses.

 

It seems to me that there was an article in HOG a couple months ago stating that it was a pretty high tech operation.

 

Its a sign of the times. Everyone is tightening up.
Things will get worse before they get better.
It sucks to lose a job.
MikeM

 

Dutch110 is 100% correct in his assment. No business in their right mind would consider coming into PA's present business climate.
And, those here, who have other options (as HD surely does) are all looking for a way out.
It hasn't been too long ago that HD sunk millions into the York operation for upgrades and modernization, so it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out...
High labor costs + high taxes and fees = restructure