HD at it again

[nineronesix]

Hope this isn't a repost. I did a search and found nothing.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/03/rumormill-harley-davidson-considering-move-away-from-milwaukee/

 

[browland]

Jerks.... next they will consider moving to Mexico I'm sure Keith W. wouldn't see a problem with that move.

 

[samiam901]

Yep their a bunch of ass-bags[down]

It would be like a Toledo without Jeep (or Tony Packo's)

On a side note I live near Toledo and Tony Packo's if the bomb[up]

 

[YJBoomer]

Here at the plant in York, PA they where going to leave to KY. If I'm not mistaken and please correct me if I'm wrong, after everything was said and done the workers are not getting a raise for 7 years.

 

[myronman3]

nothing those sleazy douches do can suprise me.

 

[Baal]

Two words:

Screw them. [mad]

What this is going to turn out to be is a ploy to wrestle economic concessions and incentives from the State of Wisconsin and the City of Milwaukee. Remember, these jagoffs tried to get bailout money from the Feds to save the financing arm from the stupid policies that they put in place to prop up sales of motorcycles that were starting to stack up from over production.

If they die, let 'em. Apologies to those whose jobs are affected, but this company dug their own hole. If they go offshore with production, they'll see a drop in sales like they never dreamed. And then they'll die anyway, leaving the public holding the tab (remember Excelsior-Henderson?)

 

[upthemaiden]

According to H-D, it could save millions of dollars per year by changing locations due to reduced costs associated with labor contracts and scheduling flexibilities.

So..... I'm confused how a 'home grown American company' doesn't feel the screwing over their 'home grown American employee's' doesn't contradict the American image they're trying to sell?? If they're going to pick up and move their entire operation because they'd like to get out of treating their employees well, they might as well just move overseas. I know unions aren't great for business, but when you make a ****** product, and are surviving 100% off the fact that people want to buy your image, you'd do better not to make yourself look like a *******. The only reason Walmart gets away with it is because people are too cheap to care who's screwed over in the process of their shopping, but that's really not what HD has going for it.

 

[ctmallam]

Thank you Labor Unions for putting people out of work.

 

[jzchev28]

samiam, i live in oregon, oh. and yes packos ruels!

 

[BikerTrash]

The York workers got to choose between HD moving or sign a HORRIBLE contract (pay cuts, benefits cuts, buildings closed, more outsourcing, and 1/2 of the workers cut, ...), and the exact thing is happening/going to happen in WI.

 

[boreas]

ctmallam-wow you blame the workers!!! for making a good wage!!! that's F-up, coming from a company that paid 100 million dollars to shut down Buell inc., in the worst economy since the great depression. Harley had a buyer to take this division on (can/am)but choose to take Buell to its grave at a 100 million dollar price tag [mad]

 

[upthemaiden]

Thank you Labor Unions for putting people out of work.

Yeah man I think you completely missed the point of this one. Labor unions are meant to keep workers from getting screwed over. HD on the other hand is so intent on making some cash that they're actually willing to pack up and move else where just to take back what their employees have worked for. If there wasn't a union they would've just cut their wages and screwed their schedules. Union or not this is because HD is looking to make some cash at the expense of their workers.

 

[buelladdicted]

yea, I guess thats why the auto maker with the largest, strongest,union work force of any company in the history of this country ,didnt need bailing out and owes its sucess to paying its employees 2. dollars a day more than its competitors at the very start of its sucess. FORD and the worse thing for buissness is when people dont earn enough money to buy products made in there own country. but hey,dont worry it will all just trickle down some day,keep waiting,its working great.

 

[303xb]

labor unions. what a joke.

 

[boreas]

labor unions. what a joke.

Why is it a joke? Protecting workers rights is funny?,I don't get it. Bargaining a decent wage and benefits for your family ,is that hysterical?. What is a joke is a corporation closing shop ,dump there work force ,with no obligation ...but pay out mega bonuses to CEOs (millions)..Race to the bottom is coming!!!!

 

[jbxb]

if they did move over seas people will still buy them. nobody sticks together. unions are dying because no one sticks together. outsource harley it'll be like buying a harley-kia. still made in the state but not really.

 

[jbxb]

i strongly agree with boreas. way to go.[up]

 

[Stevenc150]

Why is it a joke? Protecting workers rights is funny?,I don't get it. Bargaining a decent wage and benefits for your family ,is that hysterical?.

What's kinda funny, is even the Sorry workers get their rights protected and the same wage as those that bust their butt. At least in a non-Union shop, you can drop "dead-weight" like that without wading through the Union bull-crap. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Balrog]

I think unions are like cops, a necessary evil. without them things would surely be worse for everyone. however, how much is... the guy holding the "slow" sign on the side of the road (for example) really worth? Unions get some people paid more than they should be paid and employers know this. They also seem to protect the lazy from the employer to some extent. Im not union and have never been and my wage is fair in my opinion. However, when business is slow, I make less (I am paid based on output). Im sure it could be better, but then when things get slow, lay-offs would surely come for me which Ive not seen yet.

 

[TJBurly]

I have worked for both union and non-unionized companies. While I agree that the ideal of a union protecting workers rights is worthwhile, in reality what often happens is that the union handcuffs the management in ways that prevent the company from remaining competitive. In a global economy like we have today this is dangerous to the long term health of a country. You can see this when you compare the autoworkers in my area, the non-union (Toyota, Honda) are in a much better position than the unionized factories (GM,Chrysler). In a economic downturn like we recently had you can see a reality check with the unionized workers, realizing that the security the union promised is just not there.

I still think that the best business models that exist involve a high amount of employee ownership, involvement and empowerment.