| Author | Message | ||
     Electraglider_1997 |
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/ 09/07/daily22.html | ||
| Svh |
Well that sucks for the Elves. I suppose on the bright side they do have jobs but still crappy. Sad news for sure. | ||
| Firstbatch |
and the KC HD plant is getting hit real hard and is now down to half the employees prior to this most recent recession. EG you will have to let us know the mood at the open house......me thinks it will be quite some time before those jobs are replenished.... | ||
| Thetable |
While financially it may be the right thing to do for the company, man it sucks for the employees. Maybe I can help out, and push my planned 1125 purchase forward. | ||
| Baydog |
Well, that's is truly unfortunate, but not totally a surprise given the current market conditions. Good on Buell that they are still providing holiday pay, medical benefits and aren't actually terminating employees. It looks like the HD employees are having a rougher go than Buell. I hope this doesn't cause any problems with spare part supply. That would not be a good situation for current owners. If my own job was more secure I'd consider upgrading to a '10 to help. How cool would it be if the customer base rallied to help the company and employees weather the storm? Buell is the first company I've ever had enough loyalty to to even consider this. | ||
| Dennis_c |
Will you be able to get parts ??? | ||
| Chadhargis |
Some European companies close for a month each year. I know the Ducati plan does. It's a bad time of the year to shut down, but I guess it beats the alternative. I've done my part. Just bought a new Buell last month.  | ||
| Itileman |
Not good news - hate to see anybody out of work. My guess is that most parts should be available since they're most likely outsourced anyway. But, what do I know? | ||
| Crusty |
According to the article, Buell isn't shutting down completely; they are temporarily laying off 50 employees. It's a two month layoff, but the company is picking up the health insurance during the layoff. The employees will also be eligible for Unemployment Compensation. They won't be rolling in dough, but they will be able to get by. I wish the company I work for would give me a two month layoff. I could use a break. | ||
| Galloper |
I used to work for a company in Belgium that closed for 3 weeks in August. It was our annual vacation. At that same company I was layed off simular as the Buell employees. Due to no work I got fired a few months later. All work was later moved to Poland. (this was in the early 90's) (Message edited by Galloper on September 09, 2009) | ||
| Babired |
Last night I was reading the Motorcycle Consumer News in the MC bulletin section and there was a spot on HD and an 88% loss in the second quarter this year. They wrote HD lost 48% in revenue but still out sold the others. | ||
| Court |
Smart move. | ||
| Firstbatch |
Hey Crusty if you want two months off each year you join up and be a roofer.....  , the men in the WI market and northern climes routinely have a couple of the winter months off every year. Of course they end up working 80 hr weeks in the summer. Interesting that HD is pinning there future top line growth on the India market. Even though it is a two-wheel country I'm not believing HD can sell very many there. http://online.barrons.com/article/SB12524188762519 2447.html?mod=googlenews_barrons Next shoe to drop is whether HD will pull the plug on the York facility..... "Harley is considering relocating its Springettsbury Township facility after determining it is inefficient and uncompetitive in terms of both its use of workforce and its facilities. A final decision is expected between September and the end of the year.Under consideration as possible relocation sites are Shelbyville, Ind., Shelbyville, Ky., and Murfreesboro, Tenn. Kansas City, Mo., at one point was under consideration but was ruled out." | ||
| Glen |
most of the auto factorys here in michigan shut down for a bit each year also. no big deal. employees use it as a kind of vacation, i look forward to the shut downs, theres always somone to ride with at that time | ||
| Court |
These are tough times. You can bet that whatever Buell is doing has been discussed with ALL the employees and is not a reaction, but a plan. I feel quite fortunate to have seen Buell endure much more difficult times than what we are presently experiencing. I'm sure the choices were/are difficult but, as a business owner, I can attest to the fact that doing nothing and hoping for the best does not work. Kudos to the folks at Buell. | ||
| Dano_12s |
After seeing+hearing the over-all passion of the employees at Buell on a few visits,I'm sure they know this is for the better for all involved.They seem VERY AWARE of the company hurdles to get past.Enjoy your time off-then get ready to work on your return! | ||
| Lightstick |
Firstbatch; I used to work construction. Then my ankle got crushed when a Jersey Barrier fell over on it. Now, I walk with a bit of a limp, and sometimes have to use a cane. I won't be climbing any ladders for a living. I have trouble walking over broken ground. Now, I work indoors building cutting edge three dimensional X-Ray machines that are portable enough to be used in an Operating Room. It's interesting work, but I miss my old lifestyle. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Lightstick and Crusty. One and the same? | ||
| Chadhargis |
Court, after reading your book, it's amazing that Buell is where it is today. A real testament to all of the folks who work there. I enjoyed reading the stories about how in the early years the small crew worked in a shop wearing parkas because the small heater wouldn't keep the shop warm. In my company, people complain if they don't have a fast computer with a 24" LCD monitor, 3 weeks vacation, and a big bonus at the end of the year. Sheesh! I'd love to be part of an organization where everyone believed in the good of the company, not just their own personal needs. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Chad, I'm sorry to say that we live in a very pussified world. We claim to live in freedom yet we live by rules for every niddling little thing we do. We need to step back to when the pilgrims came over to this country and instead to building cites they should have joined local native tribes because the natives new how to live free. I doubt they'd have complained about much of anything. | ||
| Crusty |
Lightstick and Crusty. One and the same? Not quite. I work with him, and we share the same computer along with three other guys. When I logged on, I forgot to change the username, and didn't notice whose handle was up. Sorry for the confusion. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Any way to coordinate a "buy an elf a family pizza" deal? Or an "elven benevolent fund"? Maybe somebody at the factory, or a local trustworthy food place that would take paypal. I don't need a full and heavy accounting process... I'd take Court or Dave G's word that a person is trustworthy. I'm sure various elves spent many a late night making my 05 XB9SX such a wonderful bike, I'd love to send them a thank you in the form of a dinner for the family, and now is no doubt a good time for it. Not charity, just neighborliness. | ||
| Froggy |
You can thank them by going to your local dealer and causing a shortage of in stock Buells I have owned 4 Buells, and will keep buying more! (After I get a Ural) | ||
| Tginnh |
I'm sorry to say that we live in a very pussified world. Ha! Bet you like your flush toilet, running water, cold beer, HVAC, lights, medicine, etc., etc., etc. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
We are still a bunch of pussies compared to people that lived without all those niceties. Electricity goes out for a few hours and you'd think it was the end of the world as we know it. I'm just saying that we are getting further and further from the natural world. Just look at some big cities like New York and LA. Like hell on earth and we like to call ourselves civilized. | ||
| Tginnh |
Yep. We are, myself included. Some would call it civilization, but I like pussified better. Makes me chuckle. Good to know one thing hasn't changed throughout the eons - we are still adept at making war! | ||
| Ourdee |
Electricity goes out and I start the Jeep and plug into it. Elves get a 2 month vacation in the north in the winter. Cold riding up there. Reflect on the blessings. | ||
| Chadhargis |
Electricity goes out, I'm starting up the generator. I bought it to run tire warmers, but told the wife it will preserve all the food in the fridge during a power outage. | ||
| Johnboy777 |
""We are still a bunch of pussies compared to people that lived without all those niceties. Electricity goes out for a few hours and you'd think it was the end of the world as we know it. I'm just saying that we are getting further and further from the natural world. Just look at some big cities like New York and LA. Like hell on earth and we like to call ourselves civilized."" . | ||
| Xb12xmike |
I wonder... if that could be done but instead of yelling out the window... everyone just flushes their toilet. Just something I think that should be done whenever Obama speaks. Imagine the flushing. |
