Sticking It To The Man?

Plenty has been made about Harley-Davidson’s recent “Creed” video. Several of my fellow bloggers (here, here, here and here) have commented on Harley’s marketing efforts.

Earlier this week “The Motor Company” announced record revenue and earnings per share for its third quarter ended September 24, 2006. Revenue for the quarter was $1.64 billion compared to $1.43 billion in the year-ago quarter, a 14.3 percent increase. Net income for the quarter was $312.7 million compared to $265.0 million, an increase of 18.0 percent over the third quarter of 2005.

The marketing department must be doing something right, I guess. Things are looking rosy for H-D.

Also this week, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:

Harley-Davidson Inc. is calling on its workers to approve lower wages for new hires and reduced benefits for all employees in exchange for a $120 million expansion of the firm’s Milwaukee factories.

Harley will take the project elsewhere if members of United Steel Workers Local 2-209 reject the proposed cuts, company executive Rod Copes said Friday. He wouldn’t say how many jobs would be added if the concessions are granted.

The cuts would slash wages for workers hired beginning next year by as much as a third, peel back the current generous health plan and reduce pension benefits.

So who’s sticking it to who?

10/16:06: Follow Up - The union rejected H-D’s request for concessions. H-D says they plan to build outside of Wisconsin.