Harley-Davidson president and CEO Keith Wandell highlighted the need for work rule concessions from its union workforce as a key factor in deciding whether to move manufacturing out of state.
Wandell said the concessions are needed to give Harley more flexibility and cut costs in what he described as a cyclical business.
“I personally believe that we’re going to find a way to work with our folks here and find a way to stay,” Wandell on Sunday’s “UpFront with Mike Gousha,” a TV news magazine produced in conjunction with WisPolitics.com. “Certainly that’s our hope.”
Asked if combined reporting, which will likely mean higher taxes for the company, plays a factor in the company’s decision whether to relocate, Wandell said, “No, it really doesn’t.”
“This is us looking internally at what we have to do differently,” he said.
He noted, however, that reports show Wisconsin taxes are greater than some other states, and the company is working with state and local officials for ways they could help to reduce the company’s costs.
Wandell said other states have been wooing it to relocate and that an outside consultant is reviewing alternative sites.
Watch the program: http://www.wisn.com/upfront/23971286/detail.html#video
-WisPolitics.com
