Harley Davidson Workers Begin Strike This Morning
Plant in York County, Pennsylvania at a Stand Still
This is the first strike taking place in sixteen years. Workers say that their decision to strike is more than just wages and benefits. They want to make a statement to stand out against what they term America's corporate trend.
The strike began on possibly one of the worst days, as significant snowfall began early this afternoon and is expected to continue throughout the night. One man stated, "I don't care how cold it is, I'll be out here any time."
Workers decided to strike when they became aware that their contracts were being reworked. Unhappy with the fact that they would no longer be receiving the benefits that attracted them to the Harley Davidson plant in the first place, they began to implement this plan to strike.
Although this strike is occurring in York County, PA, it is affecting Harley Davidson plants, as well as various other companies, nationwide. The plant in York is the largest in the country, and the union covers all but 2,800 members. Shares for the company in the New York Stock Exchange have fallen 1.8 percent due to the strike.
The strike was accepted as an option after Harley Davidson released it's new contract offer. Employees were unhappy with the revisions, which call for a lower beginning pay rate, mandatory revisions of their pension plan, and requirement for workers to begin paying part of their health insurance. They were told this is simply the recent trend across the nation in company contracts.
Harley Davidson works together with a variety of other businesses in the area. Due to the closing of the plant, these other companies stopped getting the products and were forced to lay off a number of workers.
Fred Gates, General Manager of Harley-Davidson's operations in York, responded to the union strike by expressing his disappointment. He referenced the automobile industry in Detroit and said that the contract provisions are intended to secure the future of the company.
The following resources were used in the writing of this article:
Harley-Davidson workers in Pennsylvania reject contract and authorize strike, Union strikes Harley-Davidson Pa. plant, Harley-Davidson Disappointed With Union Vote, and Stoppage's ripple effect, which offers information regarding the various businesses connected with Harley Davidson.
Published by J Gorman
A recent graduate from Penn State University, J. Gorman is currently working for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. View profile
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6 Comments
Post a CommentWhat's the deal? Is there are page in the constitution that states if a company gets big enough that they have to become a charity? If Harley has to do this, so be it. It is called capitalism and it make others stronger. Look at the motorcycle industry as a whole. There are more custom shops now than ever and they are able to compete whith a giant like Harley becuase they keep cost down and work smarter, kind of the way Harley started. Bike sales over all are slowing and that means something has to give. Since Harley can't control the cost of raw materials it uses and can't force people to buy it products that leaves the option of lowering the price of it's bikes or producing them for less money. If you look at mspr. of the motorcycles they offer you'll see that they aren't as high as most think. Thank dealers that mark them up for that. I love my HOG, I'm a non-union electrician and I'm proud of that. I am responsible for my own income and don't have to rely on other people to take ca
I'm a 46 year old Toyota factory worker from southern Indiana. I currently own my 8th harley & I to am a bit ashamed that what was once a rarity ( the bike )has become a accross the board corporate money grubing hog. Harley did what every politician does. Sells out for the all mighty dollar. I personaly didn't see anything wrong with being a small company. You told your people to "BELIEVE" we can again be the big dog. Guess what you are ! So quit acting like your going broke. Pay the people like they have payed you.Count the number of harley owners you have working for you.Like all other companys who go big you pay your "idea" people more than they are worth & the best thing they can come up with is to take from the folks , the very heart and soul of what the company used to stand for. Are you kidding me. Give these workers what they deserve. Come on back down here & put your name on a good contract.You've put your "NAME" on everything else.$
The the "FAT CAT CORPORATE PIGS" are trying to Plow the HOGS! Over the past 3 years, I've see a loss of benefits in excess of $5,000.00 a year and cost of living increases below the national average. Wish I had a Union! I'll have to see those Corporate cuts for anticipated expense's (10 years from now) on the show room floor before I sign my name!
MY NAME IS RUSS JONES.I AM A PROUD UAW MEMBER LOCAL 974.WE ALL KNOW WHAT COMPANY GREED CAN DO TO A FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.UNTIL THIS STRIKE IS SETTLED I WILL BOYCOTT H-D&ALL ITS PRODUCTS.
At some point we need to thint about the american worker.We give so much of ourselfs to help the man build his dream.What about the working mans dreams.All we ask for is A fair wage so we can take care of our loved ones.I love my Harley But you must take care of the workers that built my dream bike.Think about it Wille without them I would not have my dream bike.And where would you be
I feel the need to express my outrage and dissapointment I am feeling towards the company management at HarleyDavidson. I and my husband are working class people also and we have struggled and made sacrifices to own a Harley. One of the main reasons we chose Harley was their history which involved their employees helping THEM when they hit hard times. Now they have become the average corporate america who only thinks of themselves for money and aren't willing to share with the working class people who pay more and more out of our paychecks and get less and less money. I am appalled and ashamed to own a Harley at this moment and I will tell you that I will begin a crusade with all of my friends and their friends to boycott Harley-Davidson. How dare you be so greedy. Shame on you Willie for allowing this to happen.