Care to explain that statement?

 

Just like every other large manufacturing company, Harley Davidson is only concerned with the bottom line and what they have to do to stay in business. If they can shut down the York plant (which is about 36 years old), and build a new state of the art facility that will produce the product at lower cost then that’s what they will do. Advancements in robotic assembly and environmental systems since the York plant was built are a big incentive. Much of the cost of building a new plant and retooling can be taken as a tax write-off. Couple that with the tax incentives and cold cash that a State and City government will willingly provide and there is little reason not to kill the York plant as far as business goes. However, I suspect that getting the union out of their hair is also a major reason. I hate the idea of people losing their jobs but at least the jobs will not be going off shore. I think that we are going to see many more manufacturing facilities move or shutdown before the economy can make a significant recovery.

 

Does anyone know how the Kansas City HD plant workers pay scale compares to that of the York HD plant worker?

 

I worked for a large manufacturing company that move to Carolina to get away from
a Union.

 

I have no idea, but if they are Union workers I would bet the pay scales are pretty close.
The only difference would be in the cost of living differences between the two locations.

I have to believe a move like this isn't so much to save labor costs, as it is total production costs.
It might save labor costs though if the new plant is more automated and does not require as many production workers.

 

I've posted on this before, and gotten flamed every time I did...but here goes. The York plant makes the best selling models Harley sells, so why close it down. It's simple, go back to the last contract negotiation and see which local played hardball with Harley. It was York. Milwaukee and Kansas City settled much quicker and didn't try to hold the company hostage. I'm sure management hasn't forgotten this.

 

don't know if this is good news or bad news?

 

I heard that the Chinese bought the York plant and they 're going to make "Hawry crows"in the U.S.!!!!

 

i live in KC and it was one of the top stories this morning on the news. They just laid off several employees. So they say they may rehire them for new plant. If it comes to KC that is...

 

Yet... When I was talking to a HD rep in Rapid City, I brought up York. She said some things they manufacture there (side stands for example) cost them more to make in house vs. outsourcing (read - China)

If they build a new plant, my guess is it will have a much larger shipping receiving dock because a lot more will be coming over on ships.