| Author | Message | ||
     Joshinga |
Harley-Davidson Employees Might Want to Start Updating Their Resumes Written by Kari DePhillips Sunday, 25 April 2010 12:52 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 altogether. 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." what a douche canoe Blue collar guys asked about his job and all he can come up with is (to me) a smart ass comment. IMHO if you cut and cut you eventually end up with nothing. If he keeps it up HD will go the way of the "NEW" Indian. one factory, and one small little boutique dealer. I feel sorry for the little guys. also maybe its just me but they way he talks I smell a strike coming...just saying. I know theres some Union guys on here what do you think?  | ||
| Spiderman |
"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." Eat a big wrinkled stick you anal intruder... | ||
| Iamike |
That reminds me of Lee Iaccoca's comment when some accountant was saying how much Chrysler could save by closing some plants. His reply "Look how much we'd save if we just closed all of our plants!" | ||
| Greg_e |
And let me guess... The a-holes on Wallstreet took this as positive and the stock went up, right? | ||
| Endoman33 |
Wandell is an F$%*ing idiot. First off you sale off Buell motorcycle company, second get ride of MV ASAP take a loss if need be, third take every Executive's pay and cut it by 90% and reinvest that capital into distrubution,production, and ask the union guys and hourly workers if we are going to take this huge a pay cut our selves we need some help from you guys do a temporary 10% pay cut to union and hourly staff invest that money into new product development. I know I'm just a dum&@ss high school grad. | ||
| Brumbear |
I see an AMF type takeover and a plant in Madrass India I have always seen that look at what there stock did in the last month. They know it and others know it who are in the club nothing and I mean nothing will change my mind that big biuz in screwing the pants off the American public and the Gov watchdogs are getting paid to turn the other cheek. | ||
| Just_ziptab |
Wandell's response? "I will come to work every day, roll up my sleeves, work next to you on the line I've heard a line very similar from EVERY employer I've ever worked for......usually something like "I won't ask you to do anything I wouldn't do myself".......... never seen it happen yet. | ||
| Two_buells |
>>>> I know theres some Union guys on here what do you think? It sucks! The labor union at its plant in York, grudgingly accepted a seven-year contract that eliminated more than half of 1,900 jobs but kept the York factory from being relocated to Kentucky. Work has been outsourced so that Harley can focus on its core competencies, such as making motorcycle frames and engines, and painting and assembling bikes. Harley CEO keeps Harley rolling through tough times http://www.inyork.com/business/ci_14960348 this is a real good story: "The following story was related to me by the wife of a Harley worker, the worker himself not willing to speak publicly, fearing retribution for speaking publicly about how he faced disciplinary action because his father had died" http://www.inyork.com/ci_14945568?source=most_emai led | ||
| Strato9r |
Useless. And I'd bet that the "Vindaloo Glide" isn't more than two years away. | ||
| Anonymous |
"Yeah, for 6.4 million a year I'll roll up my sleeves and work right next to you, bro." Does he think people are idiots? Never mind, of course he does. | ||
| Xb12xmike |
Brumbear,... Hindu's and Harleys? hmmmmrumblerumblehmmmm (thats an added hindu meditation type of hmmmmmm) I guess this would call for a new Southpark episode?  | ||
| Dennis_c |
For $6,400,000 I will come out of retirement for 8 mo. | ||
| Cyclonedon |
Harley-Davidson use to be a great American Motorcycle Company to work for but Keith Wandell changed all of that! | ||
| Glitch |
Does he think people are idiots? Not sure what he thinks, or even if he does. What a goober.  | ||
| Whatever |
He can shove his Millions up his arse... what a douche bag... it is people like him that make capitalism seem like a sinking ship... I am loving my job and if anyone told me I had to wait 15 months to get a decent gig I would have been happy to wait... it was so worth it... and it is unimaginably better than any job I had before... I actually work for people I believe in heart and soul... He needs to go back under the rock he crawled out from... this crap just makes my blood boil...  | ||
| Blake |
"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." You just did. | ||
| Spiderman |
Glitch, Don't you insult the Goob!  | ||
| Glitch |
Don't you insult the Goob! Oh $#!+, my bad. What a ••••••• Better? | ||
| Whatever |
I am so tempted to mail this guy a box of dog shit!!! | ||
| Elvis |
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| Two_buells |
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| Glitch |
Hey Elvis, would you believe that's a prototype?  Keith Wandell, who is in his first year as Harley-Davidson’s CEO, sits on a prototype bike in his office last week. It’s a tough time to be leading the motorcycle company. http://www.jsonline.com/business/92025399.html | ||
| Roadcouch98 |
Wandell was just mentioned in a post a couple of days ago for dumping stock, and of course, now we know why. | ||
| Two_buells |
its not a prototype, its a 2009 CVO Springer http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/harley-davidson/2009-harleydavidson-cvo-models-review-85418.html (Message edited by two_buells on April 26, 2010) | ||
| Spiderman |
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| Slaughter |
At least if he keeps it in his office, he's not going to hurt himself by actually RIDING. Hey - is he sporting... whiskers? He's so baaaaad! | ||
| Nevrenuf |
can we get one with a brapbrapbrapbrap. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
(Message edited by glitch on April 26, 2010) | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
What a turd. | ||
| Gunut75 |
.............funny, but edited. I can see why. (Message edited by gunut75 on April 26, 2010) |
