Management of Harley-Davidson Inc. said it has been advised by the two unions representing its Milwaukee-area employees that both proposed labor agreements have been approved in membership votes Monday morning.

“Today’s outcome in Milwaukee is a significant step toward creating the competitive, flexible operations that are essential to the company’s future,” the company said in a statement.

Hourly workers represented by the United Steelworkers Local 2-209 in Milwaukee and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Lodge 78 in Milwaukee, have voted in favor of the agreement, according to the company.

The two unions represent about 1,000 active employees at Harley-Davidson’s powertrain production facility in Menomonee Falls.

The company said it doesn’t expect to have the results of a contract vote by employees in Tomahawk until later in the day. The United Steelworkers Local 460 represents about 275 active employees in Tomahawk.

Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson’s board of directors is scheduled to meet Tuesday for a final review and decision on its Wisconsin production operations, at which time the company said it will provide further information.

Harley-Davidson management has said that approval of the new agreement would be required for the company to keep jobs in the state.

“We thank the union leadership for their hard work in getting to this point and we appreciate the efforts and dedication of all our employees in building Harley-Davidson’s ongoing success as an American manufacturer in a global economy,” the company said in its statement.

Read more: Harley-Davidson confirms votes by two local unions – The Business Journal of Milwaukee

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Source The Business Journal

Harley-Davidson Inc. and its union leaders have reached a proposed labor agreement that would keep manufacturing operations and about 1,340 jobs in Wisconsin.

The motorcycle company declined Friday to reveal the terms of the proposed contract. Spokesman Bob Klein said it includes “competitive” compensation, and it gives the company the flexibility it needs to remain competitive.

Mike Masik, who represents Harley’s largest union, declined to comment until he could discuss the contract with his members next week.

“My membership will make their choice and they’ll let me know what they want me to do,” said Masik, president of the Milwaukee-area chapter of the United Steelworkers International Union.

Workers are expected to vote on the proposed contract Sept. 13.

Harley has previously said its labor costs in Milwaukee and in Tomahawk, Wis., were too high. The company threatened to move production to Kansas City or another U.S. city if Wisconsin workers wouldn’t agree to concessions.

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The Harley Davidson “dealer to the stars” in Marina Del Rey, California, recently announced it will host the unveiling of a million dollar Harley on October 21, 2010. Priced at $1,000,000, artist Jack Armstrong’s “Cosmic Starship” Harley Davidson reportedly is the only motorcycle the artist will ever paint.

“John Travolta rode a Bartels Harley in the film Hogs, but Armstrong’s million dollar Harley is a movie in itself,“ a statement from Bartels Harley Davidson reads.

Creator of the unique painting style called “Cosmic Extensionalism”, Armstrong’s trademark art combines extreme colors and textures. Words magically appear throughout his paintings when viewed at different angles with his bold signature JACK, often in the center. Armstrong’s “Cosmic Extensionalism,” along with his three first edition art books titled: “Cosmic Dream Museum”, “The Last Wizard” and “Star Trip” can be seen at JackArmstrongArtist.com.

“Andy Warhol would have loved it,” states Armstrong. “He started with soup cans and worked up to Elizabeth Taylor! For me as an artist,” he explains, “Harley is James Dean, Brando, Elvis and Steve McQueen, and is more American than ice cream. To paint a million dollar Harley is legendary, like the bike!”

…Full Story…

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Harley-Davidson unveiled three new bikes in its 2011 lineup, including the XR1200X, the 883 Sportster SuperLow and the Road Glide Ultra, Harley-Davidson stated in a press release.

The XR1200X replaces the XR750, but still uses the same 1,203 cc 45-degree air-cooled engine. The suspension and brakes are now upgraded along with nitrogen-charged piggyback shocks. The XR1200X is available in black or white.

The 883 Sportster SuperLow replaces the 883 Low in the H-D Sportster range and is a model “aimed squarely at people who are new to motorcycling,” Paul James, Harley-Davidson spokesperson, stated in the release. The SuperLow features near to the ground seat height, with improved tire size and front fork angle. The Sportster Superlow is available in black, blue and two-tone.

The Road Glide Ultra is a tourer, and features a Harmon/Kardon sound system and a Twin Cam 1,690 cc engine, along with ABS, cruise control and H-D’s security system.

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Following the enormous success of previous campaigns featuring Victoria Secret supermodel Marisa Miller, American motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson chose this fit bird to star in the company’s 2010 promotional calendar once again.

The Californian model, who was recently voted the ‘sexiest woman on the planet’ gaining more than 1 million votes in a worldwide poll for FHM magazine, is seen posing with a variety of the company’s best-selling models in the 2010 photoshoot.

The photos have all the ingredients to become a success: a sexy girl and two-wheeled mean machines. Miller got a bit dirty in denim, put on a leather jacket and tall boots and jumped on a few Harleys, messing with the guys minds (and not only).

Source: Autoevolution

already has begun examining out-of-state locations as it moves deeper into the process of deciding whether to keep manufacturing in Wisconsin.

Harley-Davidson spokesman Bob Klein said the Milwaukee-based motorcycle manufacturer would prefer to remain in Wisconsin but, nonetheless, has begun an “in-depth analysis” of alternate sites in the event the company isn’t able to achieve the necessary solutions needed to improve the efficiency and cost-competitiveness of its Wisconsin operations.

“We are early in the process, but we are starting to do a deeper dive,” Klein said.

Harley-Davidson management would like to have a decision by fall on whether it will be necessary to move manufacturing out of Wisconsin. At stake are nearly 1,700 jobs, including more than 1,300 in the Milwaukee area.

Harley-Davidson began an intensive examination earlier this year of its operations in Menomonee Falls and Tomahawk.

The $4 billion-plus company already is consolidating its powertrain production operations at the Menomonee Falls factory. The move will lead to the closure of the company’s factory in Wauwatosa.

Despite the consolidation, there are “significant gaps” that remain in the competitiveness of Harley-Davidson’s local operations, Klein said.

Harley-Davidson has implemented several major changes over the past year in an effort to remain competitive and profitable in the face of one of the worst economic recessions in U.S. history. The company has cut hundreds of jobs, closed its Buell Motorcycle Co. subsidiary in East Troy and is attempting to sell MV Agusta, its Italian sport motorcycle subsidiary.

The company also undertook a major restructuring of its motorcycle assembly operations in York, Pa., which it launched after conducting an analysis similar to the one now being conducted in Wisconsin.

After a seven-month process, Harley-Davidson decided to remain in Pennsylvania, but only after reaching an agreement with union-represented workers that will slash the work force from 1,950 employees to about 1,000 hourly workers. Several buildings at the York complex are being shuttered as a result of the outsourcing of nonessential operations.

Harley-Davidson initially had considered four alternate locations: Kansas City, Mo.; Shelbyville, Ind., near Indianapolis; Murfreesboro, Tenn., in suburban Nashville; and Shelbyville, Ky., near Lexington. Harley-Davidson eventually narrowed its focus to the Kentucky location before deciding to remain in Pennsylvania.

Klein declined to say whether the Kentucky site, or any of the other communities previously examined, will be considered as viable alternatives for Harley-Davidson’s manufacturing operations in Wisconsin.

Calls to the offices of Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear and Shelbyville Mayor Thomas Hardesty were not returned.

Already meeting

News of Harley-Davidson’s plans has local political and business leaders scrambling to keep Harley-Davidson from moving manufacturing out of the region where the company was founded in 1903.

“We have been communicating with the company,” said Pat O’Brien, executive director of Milwaukee 7, an economic development group for the seven counties in southeast Wisconsin.

O’Brien declined to reveal details of the discussion with Harley-Davidson management, but he said it’s important to the local economy that the company keep its good, high-paying jobs in southeast Wisconsin.

Harley-Davidson also is vitally important to the area because it has its headquarters here.

“We like to take care of our own,” he said.

O’Brien pointed out that the prolonged weak economy has created financial woes for Harley-Davidson and has forced the company to make difficult decisions about its future.

“We’re sensitive to their manufacturing needs,” O’Brien said. “We’re trying to respond to that, but ultimately it’s their decision.”

It was announced today by MSN that Harley Davidson, arguably one of the most popular motorcycle manufacturers, was named as having one of the most poorly run corporate boards in the US. Frankly, it’s not a huge surprise that H-D landed on the list, just look at the company’s numbers over the past year. They’ve been struggling to reach the younger demographic, losing money hand-over-fist, and no one really knows what to do about it. Well, I do have one piece of advice H-D, sure as hell don’t have a meeting about it. That seems to be the losing formula that has driven marketing into the toilet, failing to capture a new audience of buyers. So, what actually makes you one of the worst boards in the US?

• Allowing directors to do too much business with the companies they are supposed to oversee.

• Letting the CEO chair the board, which is supposed to oversee the CEO.

• Overpaying board members and keeping them on too long.

• Allowing directors to miss too many meetings to do an effective job.

At the end of the day, these corporate slackers are affecting the future of one of the biggest motorcycle names around. H-D is set to release Q1 financials on April 20th, hopefully rebounding from their dismal Q4 of 2009, where they managed to post a loss of 147 million dollars. Now, can we blame the crappy board for 147 million dollar loss? Absolutely not. But when your brand is struggling, the last thing you need is an overpaid, lazy legion of suits compounding the problem. It all starts at the top, and the proverbial crap continues to roll down hill. Harley Davidson, wake up.

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American motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson kicked-off the Super Ride 2010 yesterday, giving all motorcycle riders the chance to twist throttle of a new Harley- Davidson motorcycle out on the open road. The 2010 event will last until June 30, at all participating HD dealerships.

Riders who take part in the Super Ride 2010 will be entered in a drawing to win a Harley-Davidson motorcycle of their choice and an exclusive trip to Milwaukee to customize their new ride at the Willie G. Davidson Design Studio.

The custom bike will be signed by Willie G. and certified as one-of-a-kind by the Harley-Davidson Museum Archives.

“To make it even more exciting, we are adding elements that only Harley-Davidson can pull off, such as scheduling test rides online that will make it even easier to get on a bike, and the chance to win the ultimate Super Ride,” Dino Bernacchi, Harley-Davidson Director, Advertising and Promotion, said in a release.

Harley-Davidson Super Ride promotion highlights for 2010 include:

• Licensed riders can visit participating Harley-Davidson dealers or sign-up online to ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles between April 1, 2010 and June 30, 2010.
• Anyone taking a test ride during that time will be able to enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to Milwaukee to customize the 2010 Harley-Davidson motorcycle of their choice at the Willie G. Davidson Design Studio, along with a VIP tour of the Harley-Davidson Museum.
• A $500 Harley-Davidson gift card will be awarded each day during the promotion to Super Ride participants around the country.
• Test rides are generally available for all licensed riders at participating Harley-Davidson dealerships anytime during the riding season.

While being located along the historic and scenic Route 66, Bellemont offers the ultimate biker bar. Route 66 Roadhouse Bar & Grill features cook-it-yourself entrees. That is right; you order your choice of meat and then cook it up on the spacious indoor grill. Next door, the closed Pine Breeze Motel offers free camping for visitors. This area is loaded with tight, winding dirt roads that pass along remains of the once prosperous town that existed here.

You will see the former Atlantic-Pacific Railroad and Camp Navajo, which is currently used as a training facility for the Arizona Army National Guard. At an elevation of 7,500 feet, Brannigan Park features some pretty amazing views of the area as you ride through the woodlands, grassy meadows, and historic homes.

For all you Harley enthusiasts out there, Route 66 Roadhouse Bar and Grill is a tribute to everything HD. The table tops are glass-covered motorcycle wheels, along with a Harley Davidson jukebox…We know how you Harley guys love to dance. And to boot, a motorcycle from World War II sits in a museum-like room with a “Harley Parking Only” sign. In a stoic throwback to the town’s hayday, the “No Vacancy” sign from “Easy Rider” hangs from the ceiling.

Bellemont is located on the original Route 66, just off I-40.

Is Harley-Davidson possibly up for bids? Well it seems early Tuesday morning the shares for the struggling company were up almost 7 percent at $28.35. Rumors ran rampant that Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, a private equity firm, was potentially entertaining the thought of bidding on the iconic company.

KKR never declined the possibility of the bid when asked, but wouldn’t say anything further.

KKR was established in 1976, and now is considered a leading global alternative asset manager with offices across 4 continents. They specialize in large complex buyouts of struggling companies. KKR is no stranger of huge buyouts with leading the industry with one of the first $ 1 billion plus buyout.

Harley-Davidson has commented it’s not for sale and that the rumors of the sale are highly unlikely. Would Harley-Davidson ever sell? Harley-Davison has taken huge hits in the market lately. Closing plants and production of Buell Motorcycles. This company has been scrambling it seems to catch their bearings. They have taken what they call “positive action” by layoffs, factory closures, and selling unwanted brands they were carrying.

We talked to a few Harley-Davidson owners and they shared with us their frustration on a consumer level. Frustrations ranged anywhere from the pricing of Harley-Davidson trademarked T-shirts, to service departments treating the customer poorly, and the customer service hotline not being as helpful as they should. Whatever it may be, Harley-Davidson reported it’s first quarterly shortfall in 16 years. I personally can’t see Harley-Davidson selling the company but in today’s economy, who knows? We’ll keep you posted with any other developments.