Summary of the Tentative Agreement between USW and Harley-Davidson

After six weeks of tough bargaining we reached a tentative agreement with Harley-Davidson that aims to make up for years of stagnant wages, makes significant progress in closing the two-tier gap and improves benefits.

Our goal throughout these negotiations has been to fight for a contract that honors your skill, dedication, hard work and the sacrifices we’ve all made to keep this company afloat.

The proposed, tentative agreement includes:

Compensation

• 20% wage increases for Tier 1, over length of contract (5 years)
• 29% wage increases for Tier 2, over length of contract (5 years)
• Doubles the shift differential
• $1.50 added to a new flexible resource group with protective language to reduce movement and mandatory OT
• $4,000 signing bonus

Benefits

• HSA option instead of HRA for Performance Plan
• Increase in 401(k) match to 75% (from 50%) up to 6% contribution
• Pension multiplier increased to 65 from 57, back to 2012
• Early retirement packages negotiated for members of both Locals 209 and 460

Key Language Improvements

• Additional 10-hour Personal Time and all time can be used in 2-hour increments; no same day restriction except on overtime and around holiday pay
• MLK day added to our contract and no mandates around Easter, Labor Day and Thanksgiving weekends
• More vacation time sooner - additional weeks at 5 years and 10 years (instead of 7 years and 12 years) and added 5^th week of vacation after 23 years
• Better language that will help restrict abuses of mandatory OT
• Additional money for safety shoes and glasses      
• Increase in Short Term Disability to $575 (from $525)

Look out for additional details on the proposed agreement, informational meetings and ratification votes in the coming days. Local Union leaders will be available to answer questions.