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“We strongly urge you to give serious consideration to any option that will protect the thousands of jobs at stake and preserve Harley-Davidson’s presence in the region.”

Washington, D.C. – Today Senators Arlen Specter and Bob Casey sent a letter to the President and CEO of Harley Davidson, Inc. following news that the York plant may face major restructuring: 

Mr. Keith E. Wandell
President and Chief Executive Officer
Harley-Davidson, Inc.
Milwaukee, WI 53201

Dear Mr. Wandell:

We are writing regarding the recent news reports that the future of the Harley-Davidson plant in York, Pennsylvania, is threatened.  This facility, which we have visited, has been a landmark for locals and visiting tourists, and provides well-paying jobs to thousands of local workers.

As you know, the York plant is the company’s largest assembly facility, employing over 2,000 workers and supporting many more at Harley-Davidson dealerships throughout the region.  Last year, Harley-Davidson dealers contributed nearly half a billion dollars to the state economy.

It is our understanding that various options are being considered in order to improve the long-term competitiveness of Harley-Davidson, including a closure or scale-back of the operations in York.  We strongly urge you to give serious consideration to any option that will protect the thousands of jobs at stake and preserve Harley-Davidson’s presence in the region.  We want to work with you as you develop options, especially those that would be relevant to federal programs.

We appreciate your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

Arlen Specter and Bob Casey