This isn't a good week to be an employee at Harley-Davidson. Yesterday, we told you the company had to shut down operations due to the employees' exposure to benzene, a chemical that causes cancer. Now, Harley-Davidson CEO Keith Wandell is hinting that some workers at Harley plants nationwide may not have their jobs for very much longer. "I wish to God I could stand in front of everybody and say that you're going to be guaranteed a job for life," Wandell said during a question and answer session at Harley-Davidon's annual shareholder's meeting. "We'd all be great friends and pat each other on the back and walk into the sunset together. You know what? Life isn't that simple."
During the meeting, an hourly employee asked about the company's commitment to unionized workers.
Wandell's response? "I will come to work every day, roll up my sleeves, work next to you on the line, whatever has to happen to ensure that we are a great company," he said. "But I'm not going to tell people something that isn't true."
Harley-Davidson execs have been hard pressed to come up with ideas to save jobs while also securing the company's financial future, and have already had to make some tough choices. Later this year, the company's Franklin distribution center will close its doors for good, and Harley-Davidson has already closed the Buell Motorcycle Co. plant in East Troy, in addition to eliminating the brand alltogether.
On top of that, the company plans to sell MV Agusta, restructure the motorcycle assembly operations in York, and close the Wauwatosa factory (once work is shifted to the Menomonee Falls plant).
"Everybody on this management team is working very hard to try to do what is right for this company and only history will judge whether we made the right decision," Wendell said. "None of us get up every morning and want to make people's lives miserable and see people lose their jobs. If you think that's the case, I apologize."
Comments
GM makes a bunch of different brands, they failed. Dodge / Crysler / Plymoth makes a bunch of different brands too, they also failed. (not the first time for them either).
Ford makes Fords, and they didnt even need a bailout. You might take a lesson from them.
When they build one with a long life rock solid engine with a minimum of 4 cylinders, frame mount fairing, standard peg positioning, lots of options including those for the co-rider, and near silence, sign me up!
I'm no sport bike fan, but Buell seemed to be the best thing HD had tried in years, had they marketed it differently it would have been successful.
But since the existing owner & dealer base seem to be so VERY close-minded, it's basically impossible for the company to do anything other than a V-twin.
By the way, anything built by Harley-Havidson IS a Harley by definition. You're right that Ford builds Ford - but they quit the Model T & Model A a long time ago. Perhaps Harley should follow suit?
And Lincoln and Mercury, but who's counting.
Listen people, we are in a recession, an age of contraction after some unchecked expansion, it is the nature of economics.
But that doesn't stop (you guys) from taking a crack at the reining big dog, H-D.
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