Harley workers OK new labor contract
#31
09-13-2010, 09:33 PM
Cruiser
This all revolves around supply and demand.
Ten years ago in my trade you could not find a technician to come work for you. Wages for a technician went up over 70% from the previous ten years. It was all you could do to protect the workers you had. Companies came up with incentive programs to lure technicians to work for them. Everyone was making money.
Then the economy and housing started going south. Now the shoe is on the other foot. Employers now have the pick of the litter, and the bad technicians are weeded out of the trade, because of lack of work.
The moral of the story is motorcycles are a luxury item. The boom economy is gone for now, and concessions have to be made. Like it or not.
Ten years ago in my trade you could not find a technician to come work for you. Wages for a technician went up over 70% from the previous ten years. It was all you could do to protect the workers you had. Companies came up with incentive programs to lure technicians to work for them. Everyone was making money.
Then the economy and housing started going south. Now the shoe is on the other foot. Employers now have the pick of the litter, and the bad technicians are weeded out of the trade, because of lack of work.
The moral of the story is motorcycles are a luxury item. The boom economy is gone for now, and concessions have to be made. Like it or not.
#32
09-13-2010, 09:39 PM
Amen!
I do not understand how you can claim the working man got screwed again??? Most of them got to keep their job, and for that they should be thankful. At what point does an employer owe anything to an employee except for a wage for the work that was performed? Those people were not "owed" anything, nor should they be guaranteed to keep a job.
Without the management to keep the company profitable, those "workers" would be working on nothing! It is about time these unions get back to reality and stop destroying the American workforce by lining their pockets and hanging the group they are supposed to be protecting "out to dry".
This country was founded on a free market place and I am tired of the media and a bunch of socialist liberals making "profit" into a bad name. I am glad things worked out for HD and they are able to stay in Milwakee, but would have also stood by their decision to relocate to a friendlier state, and a right to work state.
Without the management to keep the company profitable, those "workers" would be working on nothing! It is about time these unions get back to reality and stop destroying the American workforce by lining their pockets and hanging the group they are supposed to be protecting "out to dry".
This country was founded on a free market place and I am tired of the media and a bunch of socialist liberals making "profit" into a bad name. I am glad things worked out for HD and they are able to stay in Milwakee, but would have also stood by their decision to relocate to a friendlier state, and a right to work state.
#33
09-13-2010, 09:39 PM
Road Master
#34
09-13-2010, 09:51 PM
Ultimate HDF Member
Tell me about how the "Big 3" shareholders reaped the huge rewards. As one of those shareholders, I lost a BIG part of my retirement savings when GM was taken over by Obama. My shares are worthless now, but the unions got fat again.
#35
09-13-2010, 10:06 PM
Cruiser
Let me get this straight, I buy stock in a company, with the intention of making money from my investment. This is why upper managment is in place to give me a return on my investment. I'm sure everyone in the company are nice people, but I'm not on a mercey mission to give my money away because everyone in that company thinks they are owed something. Just give me a decent dividend.
#36
09-13-2010, 10:09 PM
#37
09-13-2010, 10:10 PM
Road Captain
I understand what your saying but, working is better than the other alternative. Unions have there place and I support them. But I think taking concession in order to keep the jobs is somewhat a good choice for all involved
#38
09-13-2010, 10:16 PM
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I will agree that having a job is better than no job. Hopefully what they gave up to keep their job today they will be able to bargain for it and more in the future when this economy turns around.
#39
09-13-2010, 10:19 PM
Ultimate HDF Member
#40
09-13-2010, 10:31 PM
Man, I just dont understand all the Union bashing. How quickly people forget what the working man had to endure. I personally am thankful for what our forefathers fought and died for. I'm glad my children got to go to school, not to work for pennies. Long hours that did nothing but hurt workers. The list goes on and on. Sorry for the rant, just a proud member of United Steel Workers Local 1148, for 33 years.