Just ran across this article about workers rights:
http://www.americanrightsatwork.org/srb/ldl/2005/harley.cfm

This is why I own a Harley.

Thanks HD:clap :clap :clap :clap

That's from 2005. I was thinking this post was about the recent announcement by H-D to build a new engine plant, but first they asked for concessions from the unions, something like wage freezes on new hires, pension concessions, benefit cuts and a 100 worker concession. The union voted against that. H-D said "OK, we are going to look elsewhere to build our new engine plant then." They continued negotiations, and with $4.5 million in assistance from the State of Wisconsin (didn't H-D just announce record revenue of $1.65 BILLION (http://www.forbes.com/home/markets/2006/10/12/harley-davidson-earnings-markets-equity-cx_tvr_1012markets09.html) - why do they need enterprise tax credits to build a new engine plant in Wisconsin?) , the union agreed with H-D and the new plant is going to be built in Wisconsin.

I think recent news is more telling than something from a couple years ago.

A good place to start reading news about HD:
http://finance.google.com/finance?q=HOG

--Chris

Welcome to the capitolism which is America. Naturally, HD will build wherever they dang well please. So a good business decision would be to find a location which is most cost-effective & meets their needs. I really doubt that anyone directly employed by HD is living in poverty due to low pay, or working in a sweat shop.

The $4.5 million that Wisconsin is giving them is more of an "investment" by the state than a tax credit. With the new industry & jobs, wisconsin's economy will benefit and the $4.5 million will be back in their hands in no time (relatively speaking). There are people whose job it is to determine weather or not it is a good investment for the state, what the $ return will be over time, and what kind of overall impact (for better or for worse) a given business will have on the area & state. If HD would let them keep the 4.5, then HD is just throwing money away. That would be a very poor business decision.

Just think what a harley would cost if they were not for profit

I work for G.M. and we make decisions now based on the local union politics. Those that want to be difficult get their plants closed. Every day is a challenge in a union shop when you are in management. I think that Harley is going to do whatever makes the best sense long term. U.S. unions that are progressive come up with ways of saving jobs and the less progressive are shrinking and eventually be trying to protect jobs that no longer exist in the country. We in the auto indutry are constantly accused of taking advantage of the poor workers. Since when is just shy of $30.00 an hour, 6 weeks vacation, cost free medical, and 30 year retirement a poor deal. I thank the union for my inflated wages but that is it.

Chris, G.M. support 3 retirees for every active worker. It is going to take 15 years before the ratio finally normalizes. I wonder if we will succeed that long. Our biggest problem is quality perception and quality is the only thing that the union actually says is purely owned by labor.

I'm a union member, but most of the union "rights and benefits" don't apply to DOD employees (by federal law). We have to work alongside scabs and illegal aliens from Electric Boat and Todd on our combat ships and our services are frequently "volunteered" by the Navy as subcontractors to these two prime contractors - due to their continued inability to hire and retain the needed QUALIFIED couple of thousand additional tradespersons to complete the full contracts (which we used to do 100% before private industry told the Navy they needed more work and we were axed by 40%). Tough to find SKILLED workers who will go up and down ladders and into noisey, filthy bilges and cramped hull tanks, working much like in 1940, for $23 an hour. For the most part unions are exactly like politicians - they DEPEND on employees (the voters) for their power plays and give little back in return.

Happy to see they actually still build something in the USA. Seems like every GM, Ford product I've owned recently is full of parts made in Mexico. Can't figure out why they risk coming up here when all of our jobs are going down there.