Rick Barrett

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Steelworkers at Harley-Davidson plants in Menomonee Falls and Tomahawk have voted to approve a new contract that includes a 14% wage increase over five years.

Other terms of the deal approved Monday by United Steelworkers Local 2-209 and USW Local 460 include a signing bonus, no changes to health care, significant pension enhancements for current employees and a retirement incentive for those who are eligible to retire.

The contract also includes job security measures sought by the Steelworkers, and the union said Harley-Davidson has pledged to invest $65 million in its Menomonee Falls plant and $10 million in Tomahawk.

"These investments should ensure the long-term viability of our facilities. We look forward to working with Harley over the next five years to continue our shared success," said Local 2-209 President Mark Eilers in Milwaukee.

Earlier, the company said the average wage for current, regular full-time bargaining unit employees under the first year of the proposed contract would be more than $33 an hour in the Milwaukee area and more than $25 at the plant in Tomahawk.

The current seven-year contract was set to expire April 1, but the Steelworkers agreed to extend it until midnight April 14.

The contract is the same offer that was ratified two weeks ago by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, according to Harley.

“We believe the new contracts will enable us to compete in a challenging business environment and advance our strategy to build the next generation of riders globally," Harley-Davidson Chief Operating Officer Michelle Kumbier said in a statement.

Local union officials said one of their biggest issues has been Harley’s use of temporary workers who are paid a lower wage than regular full-time employees and don’t get the same benefits.

Some of the temporary workers have been in the Menomonee Falls plant for years, according to Local 2-209.

“Another concern that was brought up was the amount of work that is being moved out of the plants,” Eilers said.

There are 637 regular full-time employees at the Milwaukee-area locations, he said, down from 1,250 nine years ago. There are now 270 employees at the Tomahawk plant, down from 370.

Harley and the Steelworkers reached a tentative agreement April 10 after twice agreeing to extend the previous contract and continue bargaining.

"It's certainly a positive step to see a pay increase, but this contract was always about more than just economic issues," said Steelworkers District 2 Director Michael Bolton, who led the negotiations for the union.