HD Cutting 700 Jobs

[Sully]

Harley-Davidson Inc. says it is eliminating 700 jobs this year as part of its comprehensive effort to rebuild the company.

Chief Financial Officer John Olin, who has been with Harley 17 years, has left the company. His duties are being assumed on an interim basis by Treasurer Darrell Thomas, the company said in a news release.

"Significant changes are necessary and we must move in new directions," Jochen Zeitz, chairman, president and CEO said in the release.

The changes are part of Harley’s efforts called “Rewire.” About 200 of the 700 positions being eliminated are already vacant, the company said, and the remaining 500 will be eliminated by the end of the year.

Worldwide, Harley has 6,000 employees. It does not make public the number of people who work at the company's headquarters in Milwaukee, but the Pilgrim Road factory in Menomonee Falls employs roughly 1,000 people.

Harley says initial Rewire actions are expected to result in $42 million in restructuring costs in the company's second fiscal quarter which ended June 30, and earlier said planned spending cuts would preserve approximately $250 million in cash in 2020.

In a significant cost-savings measure, Harley is now producing motorcycles at its new plant in Thailand and shipping those bikes to the European Union and China.

Earlier this year, Zeitz replaced CEO Matt Levatich, who left the company after 26 years. Before taking over the CEO position, Zeitz was credited for a dramatic turnaround of the Puma sporting goods brand.

Harley spokeswoman Jenni Coats said Zeitz would not do an interview for this article.

[tourman]

Just the start

[trike lady]

I guess its a sign of the times. The 'Baby Boomers' have moved onto trikes and the younger generation isn't interested. No matter how you slice it and dice it when the price of a motorcycle is the price of a small car people aren't going to spend the money on a 'Luxury' item. They really need to look at prices and making them more reasonable and reduce the models offered.

I feel sorry for the people who will be out of work because the higher ups make poor decisions.

[MikeyTX]

This is what happens when they kill off an icon like the dyna ................

[trike lady]

They need to restructure what they offer. Do you actually need 4 different Sportster models, 11 versions of the Softail and 13 touring (does not include trikes)? All that's necessary is a plain jane, a full decked out and a middle of the road model. Prices should be reasonable and affordable. Too many in upper management packing their 'Golden Parachute' for the day they can retire. Then they waste effort on an off road adventure bike, another sport bike and an electric model. Discontinue something people wanted and offer bikes no one wants. The 'Hallmark' of great management and leadership. Might as well hire Eddie Lampert to run the company, look at the banged up job he did on Sears/Kmart.

[Jack Klarich]

They need to restructure what they offer. Do you actually need 4 different Sportster models, 11 versions of the Softail and 13 touring (does not include trikes)? All that's necessary is a plain jane, a full decked out and a middle of the road model. Prices should be reasonable and affordable. Too many in upper management packing their 'Golden Parachute' for the day they can retire. Then they waste effort on an off road adventure bike, another sport bike and an electric model. Discontinue something people wanted and offer bikes no one wants. The 'Hallmark' of great management and leadership. Might as well hire Eddie Lampert to run the company, look at the banged up job he did on Sears/Kmart.

Yeah, speaking of dead beat Eddie Lampert I wonder why the bankruptcy court allowed him to skate out on the pension fund. I am for one am glad that my pension checks are still coming

[rhino 2]

Yeah, speaking of dead beat Eddie Lampert I wonder why the bankruptcy court allowed him to skate out on the pension fund. I am for one am glad that my pension checks are still coming

I consider bankruptcy legalize thievery.............

[MikeyTX]

So ............ I said to my attorney, if others can do it, how come I can't ? He said, you can't 'cause you just can't ..............

[rhino 2]

So ............ I said to my attorney, if others can do it, how come I can't ? He said, you can't 'cause you just can't ..............

That’s because just before you go bankrupt you got to borrow enough money so it’s impossible to pay it back then you make yourself a golden parachute so you will come out smelling like a rose but the salaried workers and suppliers will get screwed...

[Sidecarbill]

Morally bankrupt goes hand and hand with financial bankruptcy.

[MikeyTX]

That’s because just before you go bankrupt you got to borrow enough money so it’s impossible to pay it back then you make yourself a golden parachute so you will come out smelling like a rose but the salaried workers and suppliers will get screwed...

Works for me ...........