Harley to cut 1,100 jobs, shrink York operations

Harley-Davidson Inc. says it will cut 1,100 jobs over two years and scale back its operations as its fourth-quarter profit slid amid the weak motorcycle market.

[Nick]

Harley is a ridiculous company. They are so unorganized its not even funny. They pay 11 million dollars a year out in overtime just for the mechanics and paint. that is where there money is going but they are to dumb to relize it. I hope the whole company goes under.

[Bro1856]

Hey Union guys- You wanted more and more from the company. Gues what? You screwed yourselves.

[ustaxpayer]

The fatboy is about to sing.

[Bro1856]

Frankly, after the last strike, I'm surprised that Harley didn't shut the York plant down and move somewhere down South.

It would be a better business decision to do that anyway. Lower taxes, lower cost of living, and better weather

[nonbiker]

you would think to save their name they would make a scooter or something more friendly.

[BEK]

Bro1856 wrote:

Frankly, after the last strike, I'm surprised that Harley didn't shut the York plant down and move somewhere down South.
It would be a better business decision to do that anyway. Lower taxes, lower cost of living, and better weather

You are right about that! It was only a matter of time before they pissed away their jobs....

[Flaky]

I thought I once read that Harley Davidson was one of the few companies that was operating debt free. Strangely, when Ford began, they were one of the companies that would not offer financing, and it wasn't until the 70's that they pretty much were forced to as to compete with other companies did. Now both of these businesses are hurting. It just makes me wonder if Harley has made of series of bad decisions, or if really the sluggish sales are to blame. I also have heard that the younger or next generation is not as interested in purchasing cycles in the style that Harley makes.

But to say that the plant should close here, or the whole company should go under is not smart. If you haven't learned by now, everything has a ripple effect.

[John Waynes Horse]

Good rumor is the assembly plant will move to Alabama in Late 09 or early 10.The current assembly plant will be a Northeast Distribution center.This is much the same as Cat did over 10 yrs ago.

[biker1]

bro1856 is an ass most of the effected employees were not there long enough to "want more and more"
so he should shut his hole.

[anonymous]

"bro1856 is an ass most of the effected employees were not there long enough to "want more and more"
so he should shut his hole"

You are probably one of those worthless union workers that have been there for an extended period of time. One that refuses to do his job, or step out of the way so that someone better can do it for you. If i'm wrong about you, sorry. When I was there, it was ridiculous. Maintenance workers sit there week after week getting overtime on Saturdays and double time on Sundays and do nothing. Or they complained when something was given to them to do. The best thing that could happen to Harley is for them to move elsewhere, to a non union state, because the the workers there (not all of them, but a good majority of them) have taken too much advantage of the company.

[Bro1856]

biker1 wrote:

bro1856 is an ass most of the effected employees were not there long enough to "want more and more"
so he should shut his hole.

Must be a unionist goon who wants to intimidate and stifled free speech, the exchange of ideas, and the freedom to disagree with what the unions have done to American manufacturing.

Sir, whether they were there long enough or not, they are a union. Union means all together.

[Unions are worthless]

Attention Unions Members: You made your bed- now sleep in it! Hope none of you just bought a new house or car cause the repo man will be a comin'

[Tony Hanover]

Happy Union! That's what happens when you pay guys/gals $15.00 and hr. to sweep floors!

[Agree with Bro1856]

Unions just jack up prices and the people who buy the company's products supplement the workers income. Call it Blue collar wellfare. I pay a few hundred bucks/month for my healthcare and still make a decent living. Oh I also still have a job!!!!

If you want to transfer with Harley you better start speaking Spanish!

se habla espanol!

[I LOVE HARLEY]

All you people that keep talking shit on Harley are just mad your not making 20 some dollars a hr. Most of the people there that want more and more are the old farts who been there for 15-20yrs. Get your facts straight before you start assuming.

[John Waynes Horse]

I LOVE HARLEY wrote:

All you people that keep talking **** on Harley are just mad your not making 20 some dollars a hr. Most of the people there that want more and more are the old farts who been there for 15-20yrs. Get your facts straight before you start assuming.

Soon 425 Harley Workers will be making ZERO dollars an hour

[Unions are worthless]

I LOVE HARLEY wrote:

All you people that keep talking shit on Harley are just mad your not making 20 some dollars a hr. Most of the people there that want more and more are the old farts who been there for 15-20yrs. Get your facts straight before you start assuming.

All of them want Harley to pay for the bulk of their benefits where most of America pays substantially more for theirs. They want all of that and work at a snails pace-
OH I make over $45 per our- thank you very much!!!
going, going,...

[happy lady]

I LOVE HARLEY wrote:

All you people that keep talking shit on Harley are just mad your not making 20 some dollars a hr. Most of the people there that want more and more are the old farts who been there for 15-20yrs. Get your facts straight before you start assuming.

People has the right to say what they want. Why are you talking bad about elder? Do you work at Harley?

[CItizen]

I call the union legalized extortion. They cry to get what they want. If they don't get it, they go on strike and hold the company by the short hairs.

To those losing their job: You have my condolences because more than likely, you have not been there long enough to become a full fledged goon of the union. To the rest of the union "brotherhood" I hope the company requires concessions that bring you down to the level of those working for a living around you. You have gone on too long rubbing peoples noses in your salaries and benefits now your time has come.

[nosferatu]

No one has mentioned lowering prices. $20 - $30,000 for a motorcycle is kinda ridiculous.