As a 7-year union contract expires Monday, concerns are growing for Harley-Davidson workers at the Menomonee Falls manufacturing plant.
Workers are rallying together this week, taking their unpaid lunch break to demonstrate and ask the company to bargain in good faith.
” The union contract is expiring April 1, ” a long-time employee told WTMJ. ” We have no offer and as of right now we have no vote date. They’re also requesting anybody of retiring age to inform them by March 29. ”
Other workers are likely to stay on as negotiations play out, but older employees are worried they’ll have to take a gamble to either to protect retirement benefits, or risk accepting the unknown contract terms.
” For someone like me, who is of that age, I’m going to have to tell them regardless if I see the contract or not, if I’m leaving, ” the employee said. ” I don’t think it’s fair for [Harley-Davidson] to push people to retire without them having the information and being able to decide on their own. ”
Workers taking part in the demonstrations say they are peaceful protests, hoping the company recognizes the bind some workers are in.
In a statement to WTMJ, a Harley-Davidson spokesperson confirmed contract negotiations are ongoing, but is unable to elaborate on specifics.