Harley-Davidson Workers OK New Pact

YORK, PA – Workers at the Harley-Davidson factory here today approved a new contract with the company that will be effective Feb. 1, 2016 and will run through Oct. 15, 2022. It covers approximately 970 employees.

The existing contract with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local 175 had been scheduled to expire in February 2017. The new agreement includes wage increases and maintains the company’s flexible manufacturing model.

“Our York employees play an important role in ensuring the strength of our manufacturing operations and our ability to be responsive to our customers globally, and we appreciate their many contributions,” said Michelle Kumbier, Harley-Davidson Senior Vice President, Motor Company Product and Operations.

“We believe the new contract is competitive while continuing to provide a stable production environment as we focus on managing the business for long-term success.”

Quoted in the “York Daily Record,” Local 175 president Brian Zarilla said, “It’s not a great deal, but a good deal, and that was our point to the membership.” He said the seven-year pact with Harley-Davidson “puts the confidence back that we have job security.”

The newspaper reports that workers will receive two percent wage increases in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, and 2.5 percent increases in 2017 and 2022.

The contract requires Harley-Davidson to give workers at least a day’s notice before imposing mandatory overtime. The company will no longer be able to impose back-to-back weekends of overtime under the new contract, Zarilla said.

The full newspaper story may be found here.