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Harley may move out of Milwaukee!!

hmmm...

So, of course that means that the savings will be passed on to consumers... .. rrriiiight...:hungover
 
Oldhway said:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100804/ap_on_bi_ge/us_harley_milwaukee_breakup

Ouch!! Like 'em or not, they are a huge part of American Motorccyle culture and are responsible for a large part of the sport's resurgence since the glory days of the '80's.
This would be awfully tough on Milwaukee, but I think it is probably an attempt to muscle the union for wage concessions. Sounds strangely like what happened with GM.
Click to expand...

Your assessment sounds quite logical.

Living in the shadow of Brew Town (on a clear day, Sarah Palin and I can see Milwaukee from my house!), the 'word' is that if no concessions are made, their recently-built museum/restaurant/design center/hotel complex and certain administrative offices (Juneau Avenue) would stay put (still can call it "Milwaukee Iron" that way), but production would go elsewhere (York, Kansas City, ???).

Hope they can work things out. :bikes
 
My Chevy Impala was assembled in Canada and the factory in Norfolk, Va where my F-150 was assembled has been closed. Maybe Harleys made with a southern accent would not be so bad.
 
I am betting if they don't get needed concessions it will be one of the right-to-work states where most of the new automobile manufacturing facilities have been built over the last 20 years - think South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, or my pick, Texas (though Iowa, being right next door, would also be a good bet...)
 
Ted said:
I am betting if they don't get needed concessions it will be one of the right-to-work states where most of the new automobile manufacturing facilities have been built over the last 20 years - think South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, or my pick, Texas (though Iowa, being right next door, would also be a good bet...)
Click to expand...

Don't forget Tennesse or Virginia. I live in Virginia but would strongly consider Tennessee. They have low taxes (no state income tax) and the weather is not as hot as it is farther south. The right to work states is where people are working. Look at the unemployment rates in the rust belt states. It seems that companies are going to right to work states or overseas.
 
Oldhway said:
Ouch!! Like 'em or not, they are a huge part of American Motorccyle culture and are responsible for a large part of the sport's resurgence since the glory days of the '80's.
This would be awfully tough on Milwaukee, but I think it is probably an attempt to muscle the union for wage concessions. Sounds strangely like what happened with GM.
Click to expand...

I love 'em.

It's sad to see news like this.. but a part of life.
 
They actually assemble HD's in KC MO and York PA

The VRods, Sportsters and Dynas are produced in KC, if you are ever driving through take the tour, the high tech nature of the machinery is very impressive. The plant is on I 29 by the Airport. The Softails and Dressers are made in York PA. HD recently got Union Concessions from the Union to stay in York. In KC the laid off 450 hourly last year but have hired back all but about 100.
 
The feeling among the "Old Guard" at Harley is that this is an effort by the upper management to strong-arm the Union to concede on several issues.

One of our good friends who has been with H-D for 30+ years is planning an early retirement at the end of this year, before concessions are made which will reduce his pension.
 
Last year Harley bought MV Agusta for $109 Million. They just sold it back to the company they bought it from. No selling price has been disclosed but it is rumored to be significantly less than what they paid. So did management goof up & now the workers have to make up the difference?

http://www.jsonline.com/business/100130534.html
 
As a stockholder I would expect those hired to run the company would bear the higher costs of labor in Milwaukee so long as there was a matching higher return, such as efficiency, quality or availability. When increased costs outweigh the increased returns I would fully expect those same managers to look elsewhere for solutions that consider and compare the objective such as labor cost, availability and expertise, taxes, and costs to move production, as well as the subjective such as heritage of producing in Milwaukee, public relations, etc.
 
kewlmoose said:
Last year Harley bought MV Agusta for $109 Million. They just sold it back to the company they bought it from. No selling price has been disclosed but it is rumored to be significantly less than what they paid. So did management goof up & now the workers have to make up the difference?

http://www.jsonline.com/business/100130534.html
Click to expand...

It was over two years ago (when HD was loaded with $$$) that they bought MV. That was a bad decision that cost the owners of the company (stock holders) a *lot* of money.
 
Oops, I see the purchase date was 2008 not 2009. Still would like to know how much that cost HD.
 
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