Strike threat leaves Harley plant in dust (profits up $$ up

[wakeme2008]

http://money.cnn.com/2007/02/01/news/companies/harley.reut/index.htm?cnn=yes
Strike threat leaves Harley plant in dust
Production is halted as workers at York, Pa. plant overwhelmingly reject proposed contract offering lower wages and benefits for new workers.
February 1 2007: 1:39 PM EST

CHICAGO (Reuters) -- Harley-Davidson Motor Co. said Thursday that it halted production at its largest assembly plant after workers there rejected a proposed three-year contract and authorized a strike that could begin early Friday.

The workers at the motorcycle maker's York, Pennsylvania, plant voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to reject a proposed new contract that called for lower wages and benefits for new workers and forced all union-represented workers to pay more for health insurance.

..cut..
Harley said the contract concessions were necessary to help the company, which is currently enjoying growing sales and profit, avoid finding itself "in the same position that the Detroit auto industry is in now" 10 years down the road.

..more at link...

Bet the CEO is doing great .. :grr:

[Sherman A1]

1. "Bet the CEO is doing great .."

Aren't they always!

[NV Whino]

2. Let's see, how long ago was it

that Bush visited a Harley plant?

How long do you give Caterpillar?

[A HERETIC I AM]

3. The CEO has been with the company for 35 years....

and the guy he replaced had been there for 31 years. They among others bought Harley from AMF thus saving it from certain ruin. These are not the types that get hired, take hundreds of millions in salary and bonuses, lay off thousands and then leave. The last time there was a labor dispute at Harley Davidson it was VERY short lived.


Of course, whenever there is a dispute, there is plenty of blame to be heaped at the feet of the guys in charge. :sarcasm: