Brent Burkey

Jun. 17, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Harley-Davidson spokesman Bob Klein said Monday the company is sharing details of an early retirement package with production employees in Springettsbury Township.

But he is unaware whether any early retirement offers have been made.

The company is looking for volunteers to take early retirement to begin cutting the overall production workforce in Springettsbury Township by about 300 workers.

If and when the company cannot find 300 workers to retire, it will resort to permanent layoffs at its Eden Road facility to make up the difference.

Klein said it could be a few weeks to a few months before all workers know where they stand.

Production employees with the least experience would be the first to go during permanent layoffs, Tom Boger, business representative for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 175, said earlier this spring.

Boger could not be reached for comment today.

Harley said in April it plans 730 total job cuts companywide this year because of poor domestic motorcycle sales.

About 370 of those workers are hourly production employees. About 300 of the cuts are coming from the company's York operations, Harley's largest manufacturing facility.

Klein said the process of reducing Harley's production workforce is running behind Harley's plans to eliminate about 360 nonproduction employees.

Most nonproduction employees are being cut from the Milwaukee operation, where volunteer retirees have been identified,

Klein said. The remainder of employees are expected to find out soon whether they will lose their jobs.

Klein said he did not know whether Harley was making any of the nonproduction cuts in Springettsbury Township.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0229-26050449