Latest on Harley leaving York PA.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 752
Likes: 5
Harley is in business to make money for the stock owners, just like anyone else, not to employ people. If they could do this without people they would do it. Lowering their cost will not lower the price of the bike, they don't have to because people will buy them no matter.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 10,788
Likes: 2,222
From: Texas
justjohn: You are so right, I have been self-employed most of my life, and hired a LOT of workers. I never hired anyone just so that they would have a good job, even though they ALWAYS did.
I hired them because they could make ME money. That was the one and only reason.
I hired them because they could make ME money. That was the one and only reason.
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 501
Likes: 0
From: SW Iowa
I don't understand Unions. I have always worked by the hour, month, and the past few years in my own business where I quit counting hours.
How much money a month does the York workers pay the union in monthly dues? Is it a sliding scale? And what does it buy them? Can they demand a reduction in that due payment to off set any HD giveback in wages?
How much money a month does the York workers pay the union in monthly dues? Is it a sliding scale? And what does it buy them? Can they demand a reduction in that due payment to off set any HD giveback in wages?
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Went to Sturgis this year, attended the HD display at Rapid City. Lots of volunteers there working the display and demos. Talked to a handful of YORK employees. Bottom line, HD is trying to bust the UNION plain and simple. Been tryin to do it for years. Also had issues in Wisconsin recently if you remember.
Not starting a debate or insulting anyone, but For all you right to work states.....ya really think HD will lower the prices once they bust the Union and pay your workers $10 less per hour? Hell they dropped one muffler and the tail light on the 2010 touring models, prices did not go down did they? Try buying that muffler and or tali light assembly, it will cost ya more that $500! More money for the major players and stockholders! Thats it! Pretty soon all the middle class good pay jobs will be gone, then who will have the extra cash to buy anything, especially a new $20000 HD?
I have been to York, it may be an older facility but the machines and production equipment is very efficient, some very modern high tech robot welders and plasma cutters, its well maintained and its very clean. HD stockholders wanted to build more bikes to sell more (03-04) so they added an additional assembly line at YORK. Gee, they flooded the market, killed the used bike / trade in price market, overload the dealers with bikes, try to control all the pricing, now they produce more than they can sell. Do the prices go down on new models? Nope! So what does the braintrust do now? CUT WAGES and still make lots of bikes. DUH! The economy is not well, why the hell would you shut down a productive facility and build a new one or move when ya can't sell what ya got? HD sales were off bigtime first and second quarter this year! Its all bout money, cut wages and make more money.....YA RIGHT!
Not starting a debate or insulting anyone, but For all you right to work states.....ya really think HD will lower the prices once they bust the Union and pay your workers $10 less per hour? Hell they dropped one muffler and the tail light on the 2010 touring models, prices did not go down did they? Try buying that muffler and or tali light assembly, it will cost ya more that $500! More money for the major players and stockholders! Thats it! Pretty soon all the middle class good pay jobs will be gone, then who will have the extra cash to buy anything, especially a new $20000 HD?
I have been to York, it may be an older facility but the machines and production equipment is very efficient, some very modern high tech robot welders and plasma cutters, its well maintained and its very clean. HD stockholders wanted to build more bikes to sell more (03-04) so they added an additional assembly line at YORK. Gee, they flooded the market, killed the used bike / trade in price market, overload the dealers with bikes, try to control all the pricing, now they produce more than they can sell. Do the prices go down on new models? Nope! So what does the braintrust do now? CUT WAGES and still make lots of bikes. DUH! The economy is not well, why the hell would you shut down a productive facility and build a new one or move when ya can't sell what ya got? HD sales were off bigtime first and second quarter this year! Its all bout money, cut wages and make more money.....YA RIGHT!
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,362
Likes: 13
From: georgetown ky
If H-D makes Ky the new home of touring bikes.I know about 50 guys that would work there for free just for the priviledge of saying they work for harley. If it wasn't for needing money to live I would be one. but you can bet I will have my application in for a paying job.
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 46,845
Likes: 22,534
From: Land of the Free, Home of Jack Daniel's
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Manufacturers are seeing growth for the first time in nearly two years and Middle Tennessee stands to benefit. Murfreesboro has been named as a possible site for a new Harley Davidson plant.
Rutherford County could have a cure for the cutbacks. Murfreesboro is up against two other cities for a Harley Davidson production facility, one in Indiana and one in Kentucky. If landed, the plant could bring 2,500 jobs.
In June, Nissan announced its' building a one million square foot battery plant in Smyrna. Nissan's plant could bring 1,300 new jobs.
If Murfreesboro does not land the new Harley Davidson plant, Penn said that was ok. He said being in the running was enough to peak the interest of other companies.
Rutherford County could have a cure for the cutbacks. Murfreesboro is up against two other cities for a Harley Davidson production facility, one in Indiana and one in Kentucky. If landed, the plant could bring 2,500 jobs.
In June, Nissan announced its' building a one million square foot battery plant in Smyrna. Nissan's plant could bring 1,300 new jobs.
If Murfreesboro does not land the new Harley Davidson plant, Penn said that was ok. He said being in the running was enough to peak the interest of other companies.
