Harley-Davidson workers endorse labour deal

Associated Press

Harrisburg, Pa. — Unionized workers at Harley-Davidson Inc.'s largest manufacturing plant overwhelmingly approved a new labour agreement Thursday, ending a strike that halted motorcycle production for three weeks.

Eighty-three per cent of those who voted endorsed the contract, which calls for a 12-per-cent wage increase over three years, keeps wage rates the same for new employees and will not require workers to pay health care premiums, the union said in a statement.

Nearly 2,800 workers at the plant in York, Pa., had been on strike since Feb. 2. The union rejected a company contract proposal that provided 4-per-cent annual raises but reduced pay for new hires and lowered health-insurance and pension benefits.

“This agreement is a significant improvement over the proposal rejected by workers earlier this month,” said Tom Boger, a union representative with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 175.

A company spokesman did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment.

Thursday's vote came nearly a week after the company and the union announced a tentative agreement.

The strike disrupted Harley-Davidson's national production and had ripple effects as far away as Wisconsin, where 440 employees were laid off Feb. 12. The walkout also forced many Harley suppliers to lay off workers.