Harley workers respond

Lets see. expensive noise making redneck riding bikes. Not a need or a want right now. A friend of mine once said, What you save in gas on a harley, You loose in oil from all the oil leaks you gain. American Made Junk thats seeing its days end. Regan is not here to bail you out this time.

Its the biggining of the end for Harley.Younger people want fast sleek bikes. The 40 somethings arnt buying bikes right now. Harley will most likely move and close the York plant . I really hope im wrong but i can see the writing on the wall here.I agree with ustaxpayer, please please older workers if they offer you a retirement package take it. Let the 25yr old with a young family keep his job.Remember CAT? They never thought they would close. Heres a short list of manufacturers that have closed in the past 20 yrs. Cole Steel,CAT,Lyon Metal,Teledyne Mckay,Certainteed,all good paying family supporting jobs.

Everyone at work calls me by my nickname is Sparky. I have worked for the company for 35 years and I will be taking an early retirement when the company and the union work out the details. I worked for the company when we didn't know from day to day if we had a job back in the 80's. We came back strong when we re-grouped. I feel the same now. We will come back strong both as a company and an economy. I pray that you keep us in your prayers.

Times are Changing wrote:

Lets see. expensive noise making redneck riding bikes. Not a need or a want right now. A friend of mine once said, What you save in gas on a harley, You loose in oil from all the oil leaks you gain. American Made Junk thats seeing its days end. Regan is not here to bail you out this time.

It is thinking like this that brings down the American factories. You should support the American way of life and not wish that everything was made overseas.
I have had better luck with Harleys then with any Jap bike that I have owned. No mechanical problems just change the oil and flush the gas tank ever now and then. Going on 10 years, 75,000 miles, NO PROBLEM.

What dumb comments from the person who talks about Reagan - I guess who he means (Regan). He was a Republican who did nothing but hurt this country with tripling the deficit, like Bush has hurt us. We should be trying to keep jobs here and not send overseas!! We need to fight for the American workers!

Smart acting attitudes do no good for the company or the employees. It's a hard time for all companies now and we sure hope the best for the employees of Harley-Davidson. Harley is a #1 motorcycle and admired by millions, to call it anything else is a lie. The economy will improve, the company will prosper again and the employees will continue to make a quality product.

Yes, pay the American workers whatever they want and we will then not ba able to afford anything!

I would just like to say thats i think its ridiculous how much people get paid to work at harley! I work at a retirement home where i give people baths give them their dinner put them to bed and such and get paid around 8.50 an hour. I understand its hard work putting bikes together but shouldn't someone taking care of elderly people get paid a little bit more than them?

hard working mother wrote:

I would just like to say thats i think its ridiculous how much people get paid to work at harley! I work at a retirement home where i give people baths give them their dinner put them to bed and such and get paid around 8.50 an hour. I understand its hard work putting bikes together but shouldn't someone taking care of elderly people get paid a little bit more than them?

Find a different job. For 2 reasons, if you are not happy, and if you think you should be making more. It is simple. You don't have to work there for that money.

John Wayne wrote:

Its the biggining of the end for Harley.Younger people want fast sleek bikes. The 40 somethings arnt buying bikes right now. Harley will most likely move and close the York plant . I really hope im wrong but i can see the writing on the wall here.I agree with ustaxpayer, please please older workers if they offer you a retirement package take it. Let the 25yr old with a young family keep his job.Remember CAT? They never thought they would close. Heres a short list of manufacturers that have closed in the past 20 yrs. Cole Steel,CAT,Lyon Metal,Teledyne Mckay,Certainteed,all good paying family supporting jobs.

Sad to say, I'm afraid more local companies are going this way. If a company like Harley, where it seemed one's job was untouchable at one time is laying off, then we are in for a rude awakening.

hard working mother wrote:

I would just like to say thats i think its ridiculous how much people get paid to work at harley! I work at a retirement home where i give people baths give them their dinner put them to bed and such and get paid around 8.50 an hour. I understand its hard work putting bikes together but shouldn't someone taking care of elderly people get paid a little bit more than them?

I don't get paid what I feel I'm "worth" either, but I will never decry someone for making more than me.

Nice call on deciding to strike, what like a year ago. Harley can't do it without you right? Ahuh. Maybe you'll appreciate your next job.

After reading the negative comments written about the Harley workers, it is apparent to me that just how ignorant many people really are. First of all, every one of us are experiencing rough times due to the declining economy. Harley is doing what they need to. It has nothing to do with the strike in which top management forced (and wanted) the workers to do in an effort to reduce inventory. These people work hard for their money just like each of us do and are entitled to negotiate thier terms when they run out. Just like you would do in that situation. Harley workers make comparable wages to the rest of the large manufacturing companies. Hrley pays well but if you think they get paid the "best" wages, think again. I don't work for Harley, but make much more than my husband who is a 15-year employee at Harley. It's because I took advantage of opportunities presented to me. If you don't like your job or pay, find another. If you don't know what you are talking about, you should keep quiet.

Guess they'd rather live in a socialist state.

Instead of whining about having a poor paying job, go out and get one that pays what you think you're worth.

You'll find out, you're already over paid.

boneheads wrote:

Nice call on deciding to strike, what like a year ago. Harley can't do it without you right? Ahuh. Maybe you'll appreciate your next job.

i agree. weres all the smack talkin about how jealous everyone is. welcome to the jungle harley workers.

hard working mother wrote:

I would just like to say thats i think its ridiculous how much people get paid to work at harley! I work at a retirement home where i give people baths give them their dinner put them to bed and such and get paid around 8.50 an hour. I understand its hard work putting bikes together but shouldn't someone taking care of elderly people get paid a little bit more than them?

I am a "hard-working mother" as well. Do you think you are the only one? And by the way, I Do work at Harley. I am sorry that you do not get paid what you feel you are worth but don't begrudge me making a decent living for my family. If I was unhappy in my current employement situation and felt it wasn't supporting my family I would make a change instantly. I dont envy your job but if I did i wouldnt hate on you for having it.

What goes around, comes around. Or something like that.

donthateplease wrote:

<quoted text>
I am a "hard-working mother" as well. Do you think you are the only one? And by the way, I Do work at Harley. I am sorry that you do not get paid what you feel you are worth but don't begrudge me making a decent living for my family. If I was unhappy in my current employement situation and felt it wasn't supporting my family I would make a change instantly. I dont envy your job but if I did i wouldnt hate on you for having it.

shes not hating on you just making a comparison.

Correct im not hating on anyone..i have SEVERAL family members that work at Harley in different postions. And i LOVE my job thats why im still there...Not to mention i've made so many close realtionships with my residents. i was just making a comparison...I've had many of my "harley" family members say thats its crazy how much they make compared to me. Just hope you never end up in a retirement home and have people quitting because they dont get paid enough and no one is going to be there to take care of you :X

hard working mother wrote:

Correct im not hating on anyone..i have SEVERAL family members that work at Harley in different postions. And i LOVE my job thats why im still there...Not to mention i've made so many close realtionships with my residents. i was just making a comparison...I've had many of my "harley" family members say thats its crazy how much they make compared to me. Just hope you never end up in a retirement home and have people quitting because they dont get paid enough and no one is going to be there to take care of you :X

You did in a sense say that you feel someone in your occupation should make more than I do. I agree that your job is extrememly important! As a matter of fact both of my sisters work in your industry and have for years.They over the years had many oppertinities presented to them in that indusrty for advancement through employer sponsored education so I don't believe you are stuck making 8.50 an hour. I very much appreciate the care you give to so many who need it and if tommorrow someone decided to pay you 100 dollars per hour I would say Horray for you! and be happy for you. Never would I say that your pay was ridculous! As my need for a retirement home-I just would hope that none of the employees who CHOSE to work there would be bitter toward me for working hard and earning a good living!