Harley-Davidson has outraged its employees after moving more motorcycle production to Thailand, as the company faces boycotts for “becoming more conscious”.
Angry riders have turned their backs on the iconic motorcycle brand, blaming CEO Jochen Zeitz’s support for hardline policies on transgender childcare, critical race theory, climate change and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
Amid the backlash, the company recently announced it will move some of its parts production to its factory in Thailand.
The move has put workers at Harley-Davidson’s Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, on edge, with many fearing they could soon be out of work.
“We think jobs are going away, but they won’t say how many,” said an anonymous worker at the plant. ATM4.
Harley-Davidson recently announced that it will be moving some of its parts production to its factory in Thailand.
Workers at the Harley-Davidson plant in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin (pictured) are nervous, with many fearing they may soon be out of a job.
“It’s coming. We can already see what’s coming,” said another employee.
The motorcycle manufacturer insists the move is a “temporary transition” and “for model year 25 only.”
“Harley-Davidson will temporarily move production of its non-core models equipped with the Revolution Max engine (Pan America, Sportster S, Nightster) to its existing manufacturing facilities in Thailand,” a company spokesperson said.
‘This move optimizes production capacity for Grand American Touring and other core product segments such as Softail and Trike motorcycles at its York, Pennsylvania facility.
“This has no impact on employment at U.S. facilities.”
But one of the plant’s unions, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Union, called the move a stab in the back.
Angry bikers have turned their backs on the iconic motorcycle brand, blaming CEO Jochen Zeitz’s support for hardline DEI policies.
“Harley-Davidson has broken that promise and plans to manufacture these motorcycles overseas and ship them back to the United States for American consumers,” the union said.
‘Harley-Davidson’s recent announcement to ship our labor 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.’
The iconic motorcycle maker is the latest brand to come under fire from conservatives over its “inclusion” policies, including supporting Pride events for children.
The $6 billion-a-year company, known for its macho and rebellious image, is facing backlash after activists exposed its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts and urged passengers to stay away.
Robby Starbuck, an online influencer, posted about Harley-Davidson’s support for hardline policies on trans childcare, critical race theory, and the marginalization of white people in business.
Starbuck, 35, is now demanding the company fire its chief executive and is rallying motorcycle enthusiasts to support his cause at the world’s largest motorcycle event, the 84th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota.
Robby Starbuck, an online influencer, posted about Harley-Davidson’s support for hardline policies and is rallying motorcycle enthusiasts to his cause at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
The rally cry seemed to work: One rally-goer told him, “I rolled into South Dakota in my 2003 pre-woke centennial edition Electra Glide.”
“I heard the (Harley-Davidson) Sturgis headquarters will be like the Bud Light tent last year,” the rally-goer wrote, referencing the conservative boycott of the beer maker following an ad featuring transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, according to USA Today.
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight champion and longtime Harley enthusiast Sean Strickland also shared a video on X-rated saying he no longer supports the company.
“I’ve owned Harleys most of my life, but I’ll never own a Harley again,” he said in the video, calling Zeitz a “fanatic.”
“If you love America, you’re not going to own a Harley,” he said.
