MILWAUKEE – It's the roar that made Milwaukee famous — the distinctive throaty rumble of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. But that much-loved racket could be rumbling away to another state if the company cannot bring down its labor costs.Read the whole article. They hint around the real reason - intractable unions, yet again - and point to immutable contracts and unyielding schedules as part of the rational behind moving the company. They've got locations in York, PA and Kansas City, MO where they might relocate, already having a presence in those states and some familiarity (they offer factory tours at all locations already). It's a pretty safe bet, though, that no matter where they go, the union will have a greatly reduced role in operations.
It's hard to imagine that mindset; it's hard to think that this group would rather force the company to shutter it's factory where it has lived, worked, eat, slept, and breathed the manufacture of motorcycles since before the Great War. They would rather the company close down the facility than make concessions on critical production issues - clinging stubbornly to "the way things have always been done" rather than embracing the reality of the present and deferring some of their clout in favor of the greater good. They would rather kill the host than admit they need to change.
And change they must, or they - and Harley Davidson - will not see another 107 years.
That is all.
Story sent by Brad_in_ma. Thanks Brad!
10 comments:
Pournelle's "Iron Law" applies to the Unions as it does to all institutions. Some people get behind the organization's goals, and some people get behind the organization itself. It's the second group who take control.
The Union leadership thrives on conflict, both because it helps them drum up support from the rank and file, and just to give them something to do. No conflict with management, why do you need a bunch of union leaders?
It's too bad.
I can't help but think we need minimum wage or unions but not both. With the current state of gov't oversight, unions are all pretty pointless...
let us not forget the role of the People's Republik of Wisconsin and their tax structure in the contemplated move. It is at least as large a part of the decision as the union intractability. States which are dark blue have issues holding onto businesses.
I'd say something about Intractable Unions, but I'd like to keep my kneecaps. I do wonder what happens to all those Union Locals that are set up outside the closed factories. Do the local Bosses now get a paycheck by robbing a piece out of the worker's retirement pay, or do they crawl out of their "Safety Net" and take "Leadership Position" in another state, kinda like former Cleveland Mayors pulling in 250 G's teaching "Government" classes at the Kennedy School in Boston?
A proper parasite does not kill it's host. "Bad parasite! No host for you!"
I did not know that Harley employed union labor. That 'splains why the damn things are so expensive.
I am not a Harley-Hater. I have wanted a Low-Rider since I first sat on one, and have kept it a distant dream when I found out what I'd have to pay for it. I'd give a finger to get one, and that's about what they were asking!
Still love that scooter, but I love riding more than Harley, so I'll likely get another import. I know, I know. "Take your blasphemies elsewhere."
tweaker
Nah, man, it's all good.
You ride, it's good... Doesn't matter if it's a Jap bike, German, or English; on two wheels (or three), you're good with me...
HD won't be the first, how many employees did Briggs & Stratton have there before having to relocate the majority of its manufacturing to other areas? How many are left now? The main factor in the move was the union demands on the company. Unions were a great thing in the beginning, but they have become as bad as, if not worse than, the companies and policies they were formed to gaurd against.
Will
First off, I'm no big fan of unions. As an engineer working in the manufacturing/industrial sector, I have no great love of union members, management, etc....
but this probably has more to do with the coming gubernatorial election in the fall than anything else. Break out the popcorn, its going to be fun (in a morbid sort of way) watching candidates try one up each other throwing money at Harley this year.
I'm going to expose my underside here, and say that unions are only half (or maybe slightly more than that) of the problem. While I don't think that an assembly line worker should be earning more than a high school teacher, I also believe that no one is looking at economic reality.
Harley-Davidson has vastly increased their executive-level pay in the past 20 years, and there's no signs of that slowing down. If money is such an issue, why aren't the executives living with COLA insead of massive annual salary increases?
I realize that I sound like a socialist, but even though they turn out a beloved product, Harley is still guilty of widening the gap between executive and labor pay rates. I call shenanigans on this from the top of the highest windmill out there. This is a non-issue using the media as a surrogate battlefield during labor negotiations.
I dislike unions, anyhow, but even a broken clock is right twice a day.
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