HD to leave Milwaukee
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
From:
I'm with AZCFH on this one
Ideally, would I like to see the engine production stay in Milwaukee? You bet, but would I stop buying Harleys if they built the motors in the same place that they build the rest of the bike (York, PA), the answer is no. Or anywhere else in the US. I mean, it really doesnt make a whole lot of sense to build the motor and ship it half way across the US to the place where you build the motorcycles I cant imagine that being very cost effective.
About 20-30 years ago, if there were an HD Forum, wed all be complaining about them moving motorcycle production to PA I havent seen that post yet or seen any old timer cruising their Pan Head saying that theyll never buy another until they make EVERYTHING in Milwaukee again.
The other thing is that the corporate headquarters, design, museum, etc will be staying in Milwaukee. Doesnt do much for the job scene and is a slap in the face to the workers, but they, technically speaking, would still be created in Milwaukee.
- Jerm
Ideally, would I like to see the engine production stay in Milwaukee? You bet, but would I stop buying Harleys if they built the motors in the same place that they build the rest of the bike (York, PA), the answer is no. Or anywhere else in the US. I mean, it really doesnt make a whole lot of sense to build the motor and ship it half way across the US to the place where you build the motorcycles I cant imagine that being very cost effective.
About 20-30 years ago, if there were an HD Forum, wed all be complaining about them moving motorcycle production to PA I havent seen that post yet or seen any old timer cruising their Pan Head saying that theyll never buy another until they make EVERYTHING in Milwaukee again.
The other thing is that the corporate headquarters, design, museum, etc will be staying in Milwaukee. Doesnt do much for the job scene and is a slap in the face to the workers, but they, technically speaking, would still be created in Milwaukee.
- Jerm
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
If unions disappear the U.S. will become a third world country. You'll either be rich or poor,there will be no middle class to buy harley's and they too will disappear.
We will be right back to where we were in the early 1900's. Except now the money that controlls this country can and will out source jobs to the lowest bidding country.They
don't rats behind about the country they live in, they only care about the money they
can put in their pocket........thats my 2 cents
We will be right back to where we were in the early 1900's. Except now the money that controlls this country can and will out source jobs to the lowest bidding country.They
don't rats behind about the country they live in, they only care about the money they
can put in their pocket........thats my 2 cents
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,410
Likes: 8
From: Knoxville, TN
$50.00 an hour for a fork lift driver? The "burdened overhead costs" ( hourly wage, taxes, insurance, benefits, utilities, retirement plan contributions, etc.) probably increase that $50.00 to around $100 per hour.
Add to that the federal corporate tax rate of 35%, and the cost of doing business is astronomical.
The labor unions have contributed to the demise of Detroit, and they still don't get it.
Time for some consessions if they want to keep those union jobs!
Add to that the federal corporate tax rate of 35%, and the cost of doing business is astronomical.
The labor unions have contributed to the demise of Detroit, and they still don't get it.
Time for some consessions if they want to keep those union jobs!
Let's do some SIMPLE math, real quick.....
Typical work week is 40 hours.
There are 52 weeks in 1 year.
40 hours X 52 weeks = 2080 hours per year.
2080 hours X $50 per hour = $104,000
Are you freakin' kidding me?!
Tell me you don't believe they gross $104,000 per year?
Double that by your math to $208,000 for all the bennies.
You SERIOUSLY think HD, or ANY company, is shelling out that for EACH employee?
LUDICROUS!!!
HD factory employee's wages are in line with autoworkers.
Around $28 dollars an hour.
Now, add in all the benefits you mention, that may come to $40 bucks per hour.
You people feel free to flame me.
HOWEVER, if you have NO real world experience in a Corporate Finance Department.....you're doing nothing but talking out your ***.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 433
Likes: 0
From: Northern Alabama
My family owned and operated a Ford Tractor dealership a few years back. I drove the delivery truck to the KC, MO deport to pick up a load of parts and machinery. When my turn to load came around the truck was loaded down to the last box being on the fork lift and it was about 6 feet from the end of the truck when the lunch break whistle blew. The forklift operator shut down the lift and jumped off leaving the load about four feet in the air and six feet from the end of the truck. I had to wait 90 minutes to get that last box on the truck. The forklift operator explained that if he would have "worked" any time at all after the whistle blew he would have been fired....
Intermediate
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 37
Likes: 1
From: PA
Well by your own math of $40 per hour that is still 80 Grand a year, right?
Probably way to much in this ecomony. But the fact is that the Northern states have governments that are often hostile to business, and the older Northern based unions are often hostile to business also. Why is why all the new auto plants set up in the US by Germany and Japan were in the South.
If there is an exception, it just proves the rule.
Probably way to much in this ecomony. But the fact is that the Northern states have governments that are often hostile to business, and the older Northern based unions are often hostile to business also. Why is why all the new auto plants set up in the US by Germany and Japan were in the South.
If there is an exception, it just proves the rule.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 102
From: Central Illinois
The manufacture of Harleys moved out of Milwaukee a long time ago, to York and Kansas City. I would hate to see the rest of the component production leave Wisconsin, due to the tradition, but it is probably inevitable. I don't have a particular problem with it, except for the employees who lose their jobs. Wisconsin is a liberal tax and spend state, (like Illinois) so most companies are moving out of the state, not in (again, like Illinois).
The real boogie man here is the Government. Massive taxation, EPA regs getting tougher every year and constant increase in .gov interference in everything takes a toll financially.
The real boogie man here is the Government. Massive taxation, EPA regs getting tougher every year and constant increase in .gov interference in everything takes a toll financially.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,135
Likes: 4,780
From: Sandpoint, Idaho
My family owned and operated a Ford Tractor dealership a few years back. I drove the delivery truck to the KC, MO deport to pick up a load of parts and machinery. When my turn to load came around the truck was loaded down to the last box being on the fork lift and it was about 6 feet from the end of the truck when the lunch break whistle blew. The forklift operator shut down the lift and jumped off leaving the load about four feet in the air and six feet from the end of the truck. I had to wait 90 minutes to get that last box on the truck. The forklift operator explained that if he would have "worked" any time at all after the whistle blew he would have been fired....
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,410
Likes: 8
From: Knoxville, TN
A FAR cry from that posters stated $208,000.
Also, lets not make a mistake...that's TOTAL cost to the company.
If the worker makes $28 per hour, he earns $58,240 dollars.
My wife gave me the companies added cost amount of $12 per hour, which was being generous.
She was a Director in Finance of a Corporation, I take her word for it.
Have ANY of you ever done auto assembly line work?
I have.
Did 7 years for Nissan Motor Mfg. in Smyrna, TN.
Left 13 years ago, on my own accord.
Let me just state that the $21.65 per hour that I was paid, I EARNED every damn penny.
The benefits were comparable to The Big 3.
The upper management at Nissan didn't get these insane pay packages & outlandish bonuses.
Will HD's upper management take pay cuts, too?
Reduced bonuses?
I HIGHLY doubt it.
And you people think they're worth the mega-millions they're paid???
