York HD Assembly plant

[halfwitt]

This will devastate our local economy:

 

Harley-Davidson Inc. could shrink or shut down its York County plant as the company tries to slash costs.

"We have determined that we need to make some major changes in our York operations to position them competitively," spokesman Bob Klein said today.

 

The 230-acre Springettsbury Township plant is widely viewed as an anchor of the local economy. Milwaukee-based Harley has more than 2,000 employees here, though layoffs are eroding the numbers.

 

The problems at the plant include excess capacity and inefficiencies, Klein said. Harley plans to compare the cost of moving the operation with the cost of revamping it, he said. He declined to discuss long-term demand projections underlying Harley's review. Preliminary recommendations are expected by the fall.

 

Harley in 2003 expanded the plant with a roughly $145 million factory for its Softail line of bikes. One scenario for keeping the plant open is to move production of Touring model bikes out of a separate building that dates back to the World War II era and into the new building, Klein said.

 

A three-year contract the company hammered out with its union amid a 2007 strike will expire in February.

 

Asked whether contract concessions might save the plant, union leader Dave Bunnell said: "That's always a possibility. We are just getting ready to elect our negotiating committee, and 'til we do that we won't be in talks at all." Bunnell is president of Local 175 of the International Association of Machinists (IAM) and Aerospace Workers.

 

Klein only said labor costs would be a factor in the company's calculations. The IAM and another Harley union, the United Steelworkers, are involved in the company's review of a potential move, Klein said. Harley is assuming a new facility would be unionized, he said. Local union leaders also are working with management on the cost study. No similar reviews are occurring at other Harley plants, Klein said.

 

Harley had about 2,500 hourly workers and 320 salaried workers in York County as of May 1, Klein said. Bunnell said his union counted about 2,140 members as of the latest layoff.

 

And looking ahead, it seems likely the York County plant is at least going to shrink, Bunnell said.

"Yeah, that's kind of the feedback we're getting," he said.

Harley-Davidson shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol HOG.

[Flyinfool]

We are getting a lot of the same story here in Milwaukee.

HD is going to shut down AT LEAST one Milwaukee plant along with more big layoffs.

While HD is not the biggest employer in Milwaukee it is certainly up there in size and can still have a significant impact on our economy.

 

As I often tell my friends that are strict HD only people, "When HD starts making a water cooled, shaft drive, 4+ cylinder, QUIET, vibration free, bike with a frame mounted faring, I'll consider buying one. Till then, they do not make anything that interests me."

 

I hate to say it but I think that the HD execs went to the same business school as the Chrysler and GM execs, "We will make what we dam well feel like making and you will just have to learn to like it."

Heck the new HD CEO does not even own a motorcycle. I am sure that he is well in tune with what the customers need/want.

 

p.s.

I am sure glad that Milwaukee just took 2 out of 3 from the Chubs.

[halfwitt]

p.s.

I am sure glad that Milwaukee just took 2 out of 3 from the Chubs.

 

It ain't over til it's over! Actually, I'm more concerned with the Cards this year. We had a scare with D. Lee and the bullpen stinks again. Oh well.

 

In the past couple of years, York County ahs lost Caterpillar, Pfaltzgraff and York International. Not to mention York Peppermint Patties!

[cecdoo]

Hopefully they will work something out to keep the plant open, I am sure they will use it as leverage for the new contract. Hate to see them close it down. Craig

[midnightventure]

We are getting a lot of the same story here in Milwaukee.

HD is going to shut down AT LEAST one Milwaukee plant along with more big layoffs.

While HD is not the biggest employer in Milwaukee it is certainly up there in size and can still have a significant impact on our economy.

 

As I often tell my friends that are strict HD only people, "When HD starts making a water cooled, shaft drive, 4+ cylinder, QUIET, vibration free, bike with a frame mounted faring, I'll consider buying one. Till then, they do not make anything that interests me."

 

I hate to say it but I think that the HD execs went to the same business school as the Chrysler and GM execs, "We will make what we dam well feel like making and you will just have to learn to like it."

Heck the new HD CEO does not even own a motorcycle. I am sure that he is well in tune with what the customers need/want.

 

p.s.

I am sure glad that Milwaukee just took 2 out of 3 from the Chubs.

 

Harley still sells more than anybody else. They make what their customers want to buy. At least they don't cheat on the speedometer to make their bikes look like they are faster and get better gas mileage than they really do like the Japanese manufacturers do. GM and Chrysler were also making the products their customers wanted until gas prices went sky high. Even Toyota which is considered the best managed manufacturing company in the world is losing big money right now. And yes I like my 95 Trans Am, my 2001 sunfire and my 2003 GMC Sonoma. When I had my Sportster I liked it very much but I could sell it for what I paid for it and I would have lost 7000 dollars on my Venture. I just hope we don't end up with one American car manufacturer.