Brian Bryant, International President of the 600,000-member International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), released the following statement on Harley-Davidson’s decision to move production of Sport Series and Pan America bikes to Thailand:
“Harley-Davidson’s recent announcement to ship our work and jobs to Thailand is a kick in the teeth to American workers and a betrayal of the company’s legacy as an American icon. In 2019, nearly 600 IAM members at Harley-Davidson and Syncreon in Kansas City lost their jobs when the company shuttered its facility, claiming that its Thailand plant would only serve the Asian and European markets.
“Harley-Davidson has backtracked on that promise, planning to manufacture these bikes abroad and send them back to the U.S. for American consumers.
“When Americans think of motorcycles, they think of Harley-Davidson—a brand that has long symbolized the spirit and strength of our country. To now see this self-proclaimed American icon ship our jobs to Asia is a disgrace. This decision undermines the hard work and dedication of IAM members in York, Pa., and Menomonee Falls, Wis., who have been the backbone of Harley-Davidson’s success.
“The IAM will employ every resource at our disposal to fight this outrageous move. Harley-Davidson needs to return to the drawing board and develop a solution that keeps the production of the Sport Series and Pan America bikes where they belong—in the United States.”
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, manufacturing, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries.
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