Breaking News. Polaris To Move Some Manufacturing Operations To Mexico.

Be ready for this kind of news to repeated in the next months for other motorcycle companies. To cut its production costs, Polaris Industries plans to relocate the manufacturing operations of its Osceola, Wis., plant to a new facility in Monterrey, Mexico. The move should be completed in 18 to 24 months. The Osceola operation includes three buildings totaling more than 300,000 square feet. About 500 people are now employed at the Wisconsin plant and will be affected by this decision.

Engine manufacturing operations will now be in 3 sites: in Minnesota, Iowa and Mexico. Snowmobile assembly will remain in the Roseau facility and Victory motorcycle assembly will remain in the Company’s Spirit Lake facility. Economically, it’s a sensible move to employ a cheaper labor force. In terms of image and sales, what will be the reaction of bikers whose preference for Polaris/Victory was often motivated by the fact that it was the most “pure” American motorcycles/ATV’s/Snowmobiles manufacturer? Until now, all Polaris/Victory manufacturing is located in the northern part of the USA. In addition to must cheaper Mexican wages, the company is stating that it will be much more efficient by cutting tremendously its shipping costs to dealers in the southern half of the United States and Mexico. Restructuring charges and capital expenditures are estimated at US $60 million. Your reactions?

Added 05/20/10 at 5 pm EST: Polaris said it will operate the Osceola factory during the transition. Afterward, the company will provide the affected employees severance benefits and work with the Wisconsin Department of Labor and other state and local agencies to offer employment assistance and other services.

Added 05/20/10 at 7.35 pm EST: Robert Pandya, External Relation Manager for Victory Motorcycles sent me the following email. “Cyril. Victory is in fact moving the Freedom V-Twin operation to Spirit Lake . Polaris is shuffling some ORV operation to Spirit Lake and Rosseau, while indeed moving some operations to Mexico. Unfortunately the Polaris press release was not completely clear in regards to the Victory Operational changes. However in 2011, the line will have moved and both Victory engines and final assembly will be at the one facility. Thanks for helping clarify that. As you can imagine there is lots of misinformation out there and we have spent the better part of the day chasing it down. We certainly appreciate your outreach and assistance in accurately letting your readers know the situation”

67 Responses to “Breaking News. Polaris To Move Some Manufacturing Operations To Mexico.”


  1. 1 BC May 21st, 2010 at 1:01 pm

    Every business, and every citizen of the United States needs to take a good hard look at situations like this. How can we expect the USA to prosper if our companies move operations out of the country, and our citizens buy foreign made products over USA made products?

    The bike I’m building will have an S&S engine, Rampage wheels, Baker transmission, Jaybrake controls, and Rivera primary, because I support American companies and put my money where my mouth is.

    Enough lip service people. Show us your commitment to America.

  2. 2 grayhawk May 21st, 2010 at 1:03 pm

    I must be reading it wrong if their still assemblied in Spirit Lake then how does that save on shipping units to the Southern States is Victory P&A and Merchandise that big a part of their sales and how many units are shipped to buyers in Mexico wouldn’t see that percenatge of sales having an effect on cogs? Labor most definelty, Calderon should be a happy camper. Am I to assume the savings will be past on to the customers or margins adjusted porportionally? Just kidding know that answer share holders rejoice.

  3. 3 J May 21st, 2010 at 1:10 pm

    LOL- yeah, good luck with Mexico….. Can chase a cheaper labor cost all over the globe, but in the end, it won’t matter much- you get what you pay for;

    Is it the foundry works that they are moving? Gotta love those legendary Mexican castings! (cough)

    Harley, no doubt, is about to follow this plan- Polaris gives them the model to follow here.

    Way to go, Wisconsin- nice job of retaining businesses- what? You offer to raise their taxes to keep them from leaving?

    Freaking brilliant……..

  4. 4 v-1000 May 21st, 2010 at 1:20 pm

    This sounds like the same move that GM made in the 1980s. Doesn’t seem to have worked for them since they had to have the US gov’t financial support.
    Seems like a cheapskate thing to do.

  5. 5 just my opinion May 21st, 2010 at 1:55 pm

    If Victory is to remain in the Company’s Spirit Lake facility then what is moving to Mexico? Is it the ATV’s or Snowmobiles? Polaris is the Mother company of Victory and is a huge manufacture of both snow machines and ATV’s. ATV’s are huge in Mexico so it would make sense to manufacture some of those models there, but I don’t think the motorcycles ie. Victory’s will be made in Mexico.

    Cyril maybe you could explain this one a little better and let us know exactly what is going to be made in Mexico. If I am reading this right it sounds like the ATV’s will be moved but the Victory motorcycles will remain in Wisconsin.

  6. 6 Dylan May 21st, 2010 at 1:59 pm

    Can we trade 12 million ILLEGAL mexicans for motorcycles? Maybe they could move to AZ and take all the protesting ILLEGALS and use them as labor. Bad move. Boycott VICTORY!

  7. 7 The Producer May 21st, 2010 at 2:01 pm

    One more company doing what a number of other large MFG companies have been doing for years. Boeing in our neck of the woods farms out various parts, as do most car manufacturers. Save a penny here and another there and soon you have saved a billion pennies.

    If any of you watch Star Trek or most Sci Fi shows soon we will live in a world federation and we wont be just American centric anymore. Of course I’m for American being America but we do live in a global econ which affects every single one of us. Check out where your fruit and veggies come from at the super market.

    I’m all for keeping things local if at all possible but when push comes to shove business is business and as a business owner you have to do whatever it takes to keep the doors open for the long haul.

    One other thing – I have purchased a number of clothing items over the years and have found the zippers go bad after a couple months of wearing. Cheap zippers on a not so cheap pair of pants – I hate cheap. Save a penny loose me as a customer for life! Now if Polaris builds parts that begin to break they will loose customers. Time will only tell.

    The Producer

  8. 8 Cyril Huze May 21st, 2010 at 2:10 pm

    Osceola, Wis plant (all 3 buildings) is going to close. This manufacturing & associated parts activity is going in part to Mexico. Other Polaris plant manufacturing will remain there in the US. For how long? Motorcycle assembly remains where it is now. In addition it seems that some parts done in-house by Polaris are going now to be subcontracted to current existing vendors in the US. Lowering costs by going abroad and transferring some manufacturing activity to outside companies is the dual strategy to keep the company viable.

  9. 9 Jeff Nicklus May 21st, 2010 at 2:32 pm

    From a shareholders perspective this is a good move to lower costs and increase margins ….. from an image perspective this is not a wise move, especially now.

    Over & Out,

    Jeff

  10. 10 Roadside Marty May 21st, 2010 at 3:24 pm

    I guess now I will NEVER buy a a Victory like I was planning to..thanks Polaris for proving to this AMERICAN where your true support really is!!!

  11. 11 Lyle May 21st, 2010 at 3:33 pm

    Las Polaros!

  12. 12 Seymour May 21st, 2010 at 4:03 pm

    Transference of wealth from USA to Mexico. Damn. What did Ross Perot say about the giant sucking sound..? Just think how destitute we will have to be to once again offer competitive manufacturing in the global economy. Frightening. Our politicians make a lot of money though, maybe we should all be politicians.

  13. 13 Barron May 21st, 2010 at 4:18 pm

    Give them jobs in Mexico and maybe that will keep them out of our country. Of course obama is going to give them all citizenship anyway so him and his other democrat cronies can get all the latino vote. 12 million more on welfare.

  14. 14 Wellter May 21st, 2010 at 4:22 pm

    Harley Davidson is broke and they are demanding huge concessions from the unions and others or they have threatened to move there manufacturing facilities. Only thing about HD is they did not say where they would move to. Probably just a move to screw the union workers but harley is in deep shit. Without there HDFS division handing out free loans to anyone who could crawl in the door there sales have crapped out. HDFS owes Warren Buffet 650 million at 15% interest……ouch…..

  15. 15 bub May 21st, 2010 at 4:23 pm

    How would you like to be a Victory dealer with a bunch of bikes on your floor? With the current Mexico USA feelings right now, it makes me wonder how many people it took to make this decision. I bet not the 500 or so that will loose their job!!!!

    bub

  16. 16 Rex J Covington May 21st, 2010 at 4:24 pm

    You may want to check your sources, Victory Motorcycles and the Freedom V-Twin engine will continue to be manufactured in Spirit Lake, Iowa

  17. 17 John May 21st, 2010 at 4:25 pm

    Don’t blame the companies for leaving, blame the politicians that are making it impossible for companies to stay in business and are forcing them to leave:

    Companies are already announcing that their healthcare premium costs are going through the roof. Some are responding by firing people. Some are cutting benefits. And some are presumably eating it.

    But costs they are a-rising.

    A few examples from the WSJ:
    Caterpillar said it would cost the company at least $100 million more in the first year alone.
    Medical device maker Medtronic warned that new taxes on its products could force it to lay off a thousand workers.
    Verizon announced to employees that it will likely have to cut healthcare benefits to offset the new costs
    So, people who like your employer-provided health insurance, get ready to pay more or get less.

    Section 9006 of the health care bill — just a few lines buried in the 2,409-page document — mandates that beginning in 2012 all companies will have to issue 1099 tax forms not just to contract workers but to any individual or corporation from which they buy more than $600 in goods or services in a tax year.

    The stealth change radically alters the nature of 1099s and means businesses will have to issue millions of new tax documents each year.

    Right now, the IRS Form 1099 is used to document income for individual workers other than wages and salaries. Freelancers receive them each year from their clients, and businesses issue them to the independent contractors they hire.

    But under the new rules, if a freelance designer buys a new iMac from the Apple Store, they’ll have to send Apple a 1099. A laundromat that buys soap each week from a local distributor will have to send the supplier a 1099 at the end of the year tallying up their purchases.

    The bill makes two key changes to how 1099s are used. First, it expands their scope by using them to track payments not only for services but also for tangible goods. Plus, it requires that 1099s be issued not just to individuals, but also to corporations.

  18. 18 busfreak May 21st, 2010 at 5:02 pm

    Has anyone been to Monterrey lately you would think that you are in the good old USA. The problem with the American companys there is that they dont pay there workers squat. My cousin works for American Standard making toilets and sinks. He works 40 to 48 hours a week and makes 100 bucks a week. IF you think I am kidding I am not, I saw his check because I to thought he was full of shit.
    There is no way to compete with wages like that here. Why do you think that all the Mexican people that are here are happy to get 4 or 5 bucks an hour.
    But don’t blame the Mexican people, It’s those piece of shit politicians that could care less as long as they get a vote. They were all giving Calderon a standing ovation while he was trashing our beloved America but hey we all wanted free health care, extended unemployment, more bank regulations, cheap everything. It is like everything else you get what you pay for.

  19. 19 Uruz May 21st, 2010 at 5:05 pm

    I love American but come on! If you people out there are so pro-America, then throw away your appliances, watches, kids toys, televisions, DVD players, xboxes, iPods, iPads, and everything else that makes you you. Good for them. Helps their bottom line and probably busts up an Obama-loving union… good for them I say. If it helps them compete and stay alive in this down-trodden economy then I say go for it. It will be better for them in the long run. Jesus, buy American outwardly and buy Chinese shit on the inside. Hypocrites!

  20. 20 John May 21st, 2010 at 8:15 pm

    If people don’t like the wages, they shouldn’t take the job. Ideally everyone would love to be making more money, but that just isn’t possible. Don’t blame the companies, they are just trying to survive in this horrible economy. If the companies pay more, so will the costs of the goods they make. Just remember, when you raise the minimum wage, you will also raise unemployment. For every action, there is a reaction. The May 2007 law raising the minimum wage in three stages to $7.25 an hour from $5.15 was a huge hit for most companies to take. Everyone would love to get paid more, but nobody wants to see their costs go up. Imagine having to pass on increases in costs to your customers. A higher minimum wage has the biggest impact on those with the least experience or the fewest skills. That means in particular those looking for entry-level jobs, especially teenagers. Put your yourselves in the shoes of an employer. Imagine you have employ about 50 employees & you know the Federal or State government is going to raise the minimum wage. You are going to look to streamline your business & possibly layoff an employee or 2 if you have to especially with all the new changes that Obamacare will bring. As the National Federation of Independent Business explains: “Businesses with 50 or more workers will now have to pay a penalty of $2,000 per worker if they do not offer healthcare coverage and have workers who access the exchanges. This penalty has nothing to do with affordability and everything to do with punishing businesses for something the government has decided businesses should be forced to provide. Worse, with new mandates like these, what incentive is there for a firm to grow any bigger than 49 employees when it means employers may face such stiff fines? This approach is the exact opposite of a recipe for incentivizing job growth.”

    If the company already offers a health insurance program to their current workers, who knows if that program meets the new requirements of ObamaCare, or if it will meet the requirements of future upgrades that might be mandated by politicians who enjoy playing Santa Claus with other people’s money. But none of that matters if we forget about expansion and stay under 50 workers.

  21. 21 Fredp May 21st, 2010 at 8:51 pm

    So, the only true American OEM motorcycle company with its only proprietary engine and designs will be Viper Motorcycle Company in Minnesota?

  22. 22 David May 21st, 2010 at 10:35 pm

    Hey Jeff
    I can remember your foresight on Polaris before. I wonder did you see this one coming also. Why couldn’t they just move the plant to Tucson that way it’s still in USA and they could have all the illegal cheap labor it wants but wait if they move to California It would be less political . They would provide a sanctuary city ( maybe San Diego?).
    I say it’s time to dump your Polaris stock and boycott their products and everyone elses who does business in Mexico. IS it the work they want here or just all the free Handouts seems Co,’s just keep sending jobs their way and they just keep running north( SO THEY CAN WORK?) Who knows if we all get together we just might get this country turned around and headed back the right way. Less govt control and oversite and a more business friendly attiude. I’m not saying just give everyone carte blanche but encourage business and growth.Put people back to work,does everybody think we can just keep printing up money and sending our hard earned tax dollars to bale out the lazy Greeksand the rest of the world(who really needs 14 months of pay for 12 months of loitering around and hiding your swimming pools with camo from the eyes in the sky) that won’t pay their own taxes or get off their asses and work and produce something the rest of the world wants to buy!!!

    SSDD;David

  23. 23 David May 21st, 2010 at 10:39 pm

    But wait a minute I had another thought. Maybe it just the LABOR UNIONS that are forcing everyone out !!!

    SSDD; David

  24. 24 Bubba May 21st, 2010 at 11:40 pm

    DIE POLARIS DIE ! Your products sucked any way. Over priced junk. Give a good old American Chevy…. oh um i mean Ford ……. whoops yeah ummmmmm ……Well Nissin calipers, Showa forks, hmmmm Well at least Harley’s are assembled in the US….for now.

  25. 25 Bubba May 21st, 2010 at 11:45 pm

    HAAAAA just thought of it I WILL buy a BAKER transmission ALL AMERICAN.. but for this my kid will have to for go a college education

  26. 26 Johnny Collins May 22nd, 2010 at 4:48 am

    Give it up. I am a savvy consumer. I know quality when I see it, for the most part. This is a global economy. If Polaris can pull it off, I would buy a bike from them. Unfortunately, if I wanted a cruiser, I would buy a car, maybe a station wagon. The future of cruiser’s is set in stone, and that future is not short enough and not nearly as sweet. I don’t think that Polaris can compete with Japan on any market and to think so would be ludicrous. Listen to your consumer, Mr American motorcycle manuvacturer. We don’t want a Teutle bike, we don’t want a Hardly Ableson, We want the best we can get for our money. Get your head out of your collective asses and build us a bike we don’t have to be ashamed of. I even admit I bought a Ducati (which was a piece of dung) before I bought an American made bike.

    Eric Buell had the right idea. It’s a crying shame he didn’t get hooked up with Polaris because I personally think they would have made beautiul music together. Face it. Nobody in their right mind is willing to pay hard earned money for a brand name anymore. If you have a few bucks to blow, you want the best you can get for the money. Until American workers can figure that out, you are sunk.

  27. 27 Tom May 22nd, 2010 at 7:53 am

    I recently bought a 2010 victory crossroads and before that had a 2006 victory ness series jackpot. I was proud that I owned a 100% american made motorycycle. If this announcement would have been made before my purchase I would not have done it. Unfortunately giving the bike back to the bank would permanently damage my credit. Needless to say I am beyond disappointed.

  28. 28 Gerry M. May 22nd, 2010 at 8:41 am

    Outrage. Polaris is destroying the life of 500 families and going support the Mexican economy. Problem is that boycotting all ATV’s & motorcycles made by the company is going to destroy many more American lives.

  29. 29 Woody May 22nd, 2010 at 9:54 am

    I wonder if the savings will overcome the potential loss in sales volume from disgusted people no longer considering purchasing them. In my circles the “Made in USA” was huge selling point. With that gone they’ll be just another bike.

  30. 30 fuji May 22nd, 2010 at 9:55 am

    Tom
    Out of curiosity what would you buy ?
    What would be the alternative ?
    ————————————————————————————
    Johnny Collins :
    States , Eric Buell had the right idea.

    Eric Buell decided a long time ago to fly his name under the Harley Davidson Banner .
    Eric chose a path / good portion of his life to try to develop a sport motorcycle that would compete with foreign competition and Harley Davidson was his chosen partner. Why I will never understand.

    Why would another Company take Eric on when there are so many other taps to open in the sport bike arena.
    Harley owns Buell the name brand. Plain and simple.
    I do know that he ended with a comfortable life with job security. Not all bad.

  31. 31 fuji May 22nd, 2010 at 10:10 am

    So what’s left, does this mean that a high percentage of riders will no longer be riding. Looks like the us government made the import / export decision for you.

    Custom builders ramp up I’m sending business your way.

  32. 32 grayhawk May 22nd, 2010 at 11:53 am

    There may be an out to all this.
    1. Annex Mexico’s 31 States into the United States, approximatelty 100 million tax payers of which probably 30 million plus are already here as the US working Latinos sending 21 billion yearly not counting drug money back to the Mexican economy.
    2. New US would get the benefit of the Mexican oil resources now their biggest income source next to drugs. Noting a major reduction in our dependance of/on Arabian Gulf oil with major increase in New US oil producing states.
    3. We would have a larger tax base to pay off the national debt.
    4. California would be de-annexed and become the new Mexico, i.e., Mexicali; Its own country its own state soley responsible for the ramifications of its own idealogy/mess; Noting as of 2006 it was already 31 % legal latino.
    5. We could place charges along the San Andreas Fault line and set off which would separate the new Mexicali from the US by making it an Island Country. Much easier western border to protect.
    6. The new southern border would be half or less to protect from Guatemala/Belize, etc.
    7. The Yucatan would be a US resort area.
    8. All present legacy states that have businesses driven down by union burdens to the extent of failing business models would be included and said businesses relocated to the New Mexicali country, they will be missed but we can probably survive the shock.
    9. The New US would go to a flat tax rate for all.
    10. Pelosi will become the new first lady of Mexicali.
    11. US Congress reduced to 1 representative per state elected by popular vote only every 8 years/term limit.
    12. No private funding and/or corporate donations nor lobbying for electorial candidates.
    13. All import/export goods traded, bought, and sold by standardized trading rules with balanced duties, etc. or their imports are not allowed into the new US.
    14. All International trading partners must be free of any involvement in business dealings by governments to eliminate currency value devaluing, fraud and government manipulation of trading between countries/businesses and fair trade practices.
    15. Foreign ownerships of New US entities is capped with same abroad restraints for US ownership in foreign ventures on foreign soil.
    16. UN is desolved and/or moved from US soil to any paper tiger country maybe the new Mexicali with equal participation and funding from all countries.

    What am I missing?

  33. 33 Pepe May 22nd, 2010 at 12:18 pm

    I’m Spaniard and i will NEVER buy a mexican Harley Davidson or Victory

  34. 34 just my opinion May 22nd, 2010 at 1:20 pm

    I don’t know why so many people are getting so upset over this. If you read the words they state

    Victory motorcycle assembly will remain in the Company’s Spirit Lake facility.

    The artical is not very claer as to what is moving but it is clear that Victory is to remain at the Spitit Lake Facility.

  35. 35 CA May 22nd, 2010 at 1:30 pm

    Mexico is part of the America (North America). So technically it will still be 100% AMERICAN!!!!!!!!!!

  36. 36 David May 23rd, 2010 at 12:01 am

    CA–Whoops your wrong
    JMO-You should concerned that its just Victory bikes are still made here. Soon it will go south too
    Fuji- I thought maybe you were the one guy here that would understand- You dont buy anything that isn’t absolutly necessary ! Then in 20 years we will all have savings built up and can start lending back to China and even things back out.

    SSDD; David

  37. 37 LCFab May 23rd, 2010 at 4:01 am

    BASTARDS!

  38. 38 MDSPHOTO May 23rd, 2010 at 9:43 am

    Companies and people are doing what they need to do to survive in this economy. Let’s face it we all got fat and happy in the ’80’s and now we feel sense of entitlement. Look I want to make the same salary that made before I got laid off, but I would rather work for a lower salary than not work at all. So I took a job that requires a 2 hour commute and I make 20K less than I made at my last job. Does it suck,yeah. But hell we have to adapt and recognize that if you won’t work for a certain hourly wage or salary someone else will. This includes workers in other countries. We need to stop hanging on to the glory days and recognize its a lean new world. Get in the game or stay on the sidelines and complain.

  39. 39 Pool Q May 23rd, 2010 at 10:48 am

    This is a move that many other companies including Harley Davidson will be going to in the near future. The unions are bankrupting this economy and the manufacturing companies are moving south to avoid the union labor. Harley Davidson has told the unions it wants huge concessions or they will move there manufacturing plants. I really doubt that there is a 100% American made anything anymore. Besides, you better get used to mexico as they are slowly taking over our country.

  40. 40 Woody May 23rd, 2010 at 1:28 pm

    “Doing what they need to to survive.” is the same mantra used by pieces of crap that are shooting, robbing, cheating, each other on the street. Selling out your country isn’t surviving, it’s delaying and destroying. I see folks bitching about the price of a bike and then spending another grand or two the first month or so on chromed doo-dads and what-evers. Polaris market share was shooting upwards, that market WAS willing to pay whatever it took to get the bike in their garage. I’m getting really tired of all the “what can we do-get used to it” defeatism.

  41. 41 golfish May 23rd, 2010 at 8:19 pm

    It cracks me up to see all these people blaiming the unions.

  42. 42 John May 23rd, 2010 at 8:45 pm

    Most people don’t know just how many crimes are committed every year through which union officials hurt their own members. The number of reputed and verified crimes is staggering. Nothing illustrates this more clearly than the hundreds of indictments of union officials for violations of the Labor Management and Reporting Disclosure Act. According to the Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS), those crimes include “embezzlement, filing false reports, keeping false records, destruction of records, extortionate picketing and deprivation of rights by violence.” The OLMS notes:

    In fiscal year 2005, OLMS completed 325 criminal cases. Indictments increased to 114, a 16 percent increase from FY 2001. The number of convictions dropped to 97. In addition, in FY 2005 court-ordered restitution amounted to $23,244,979.

    That’s $23 million in restitution ordered for victimizing union members and others.

    The Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General oversees, among other things, cases of labor racketeering — and it stays busy. Union officials have continued to earn their reputation for greed, corruption, and mismanagement of union dues.

    In 2005, criminal charges and fines resulting from racketeering investigations hit five-year highs. During that time, more than 1,100 indictments have been issued, and more than $400 million in fines and restitution has been awarded. Many of these cases involve union officials failing to protect their members from unethical pension scams, but the OIG also reports that it saw a three-fold increase in the number of convictions in internal union racketeering cases between 1998 and 2004.

    According to a 2004 Zogby International poll, 71% of union members said the government ought to do more to protect union members from corrupt union officials, and that unions should be required to give detailed reporting of union finances to discourage abuse.

    According to the FBI, four of the last eight Teamsters presidents have been criminally indicted.

    Nearly 50% of the U.S. Department of Labor Inspector General’s labor racketeering investigations involve pensions and employee welfare benefit plans.

    According to the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, “Schemes involving bribery, extortion, deprivation of union rights by violence, and embezzlement used by early racketeers are still employed to abuse the power of unions.”

    Every day, millions of union members have money taken from their paychecks to support some union presidents’ political agenda. In 1996, Rutgers economics professor Leo Troy estimated that union political expenditures totaled about $500 million in each election cycle. More recently, the National Institute for Labor Relations Research estimated that total union political expenditures reached $925 million in the 2004 cycle. Over time, this has added up: According to The Center for Responsive Politics, eight of the top ten all-time political contributors are labor unions.

    Labor leaders have made the use of employee money for political causes a popular practice — but it’s far less popular among the public and the members themselves.

    “When most people think of violations of labor law, they think first of “Big Business.” But employees, employers, and labor organizations file thousands of charges each year – called Unfair Labor Practices – alleging violations of labor law by union officials.

    The National Labor Relations Board’s annual report for fiscal year 2005 included the number of Unfair Labor Practices alleged against employers and unions. Once again, union officials faced a disproportionately high number of allegations of wrongdoing, when compared to employers. The worst part: The vast majority of allegations said that members were the ones hurt by the union officials that are supposed to protect them.

    The NLRB reported in 2005 that:
    Unions faced a total of 6,381 allegations

    82% of charges against unions alleged illegal restraint and coercion of employees (by comparison, the leading allegation against employers — at 53% — was for refusal to bargain)

    594 charges were for illegal union discrimination against employees

    The NLRB reported in 2004 that:
    Unions faced a total of 6,917 allegations of wrongdoing

    80% of those charges were filed by individuals

    Unions filed more than 100 charges against other unions

    81% of charges alleged illegal restraint and coercion of employees
    More than 600 charges alleged illegal discrimination against employees, an increase of about 6 percent from 2003.

    A History Of Violations
    Virtually every U.S. labor union faces allegations of violating labor law. Consider the number of charges filed against these unions between 1998 and 2004:

    United Food and Commercial Workers 2,161
    Teamsters 6,909
    Service Employees International Union 3,910
    Steelworkers 1,912

    Source: data supplied by the Bureau of National Affairs

  43. 43 David May 24th, 2010 at 12:08 am

    OK golfish who’s fault is it? You could be like everyone else (including Obama) and blame George Bush. Or you can give us your enlighten opinion? It’s your turn !

    SSDD; David

  44. 44 David May 24th, 2010 at 12:14 am

    What did Hoover, Truman, and Eisenhower have in common?

    Here is something that should be of great interest for you to pass around.
    I didn’t know of this until it was pointed out to me.

    Back during The Great Depression, President Herbert Hoover ordered the
    deportation of ALL illegal aliens in order to make jobs available to American
    citizens that desperately needed work..

    Harry Truman deported over two million Illegal’s after

    WWII to create jobs for returning veterans.

    And then again in 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower

    deported 13 million Mexican Nationals!

    The program was called ‘Operation Wetback’.

    It was done so WWII and Korean Veterans

    would have a better chance at jobs.

    It took 2 Years, but they deported them !

    Now…if they could deport the illegal’s back then –

    they could sure do it today.

    lf you have doubts about the veracity of this

    information, enter Operation Wetback

    into your favorite search engine

    and confirm it for yourself.

    Reminder:

    Don’t forget to pay your taxes…
    12 million Illegal Aliens are depending on you!

  45. 45 jatinder pal May 24th, 2010 at 1:45 am

    Blame the politics, they are making hard for companies to survive.

    Every stuff came directly or indirectly from outside USA. U can’t stop Importing.

    If VICTORY is doing it, No surprises cause they have to compete and have to gave products at fair prices.

  46. 46 Darin Maltsberger- Instructor@MTI May 24th, 2010 at 8:27 am

    I spent 25 years directly involved in the John Deere agricultural equipment business. I saw them move manufacturing to Monteray,Mexico and then bring parts and product back into the U.S. The quality was questionable at best. Polaris is hoping to do what Deere did in the 80s. Move manufacturing south to cut costs and still maintain a wholesome “American ” image. If marketing is on top of things they may be able to pull this off. Polaris has had some great products as far as snowmobiles and ATVs go. I train my students on several of their machines. They do however have some less than desireable inovations that require more attention or maintenance than certain other brands out there. Not that this creates an issue as long as the current quality in manufacturing is maintained. These designs offer some awesome performance, and I am in no way trying to take away from that with the above statement. I wish Polaris would have rethought this and stayed in Wisconsin. But I’m just one guy who teaches the next generation of technicians and future customers………..

  47. 47 J May 24th, 2010 at 8:29 am

    Pretty interesting date, John- thanks.

    Labor unions had a place in history, but like everything else, if you let them go unchecked too long, they wind up corrupt and ultimately hurting what they were designed to protect;

    Hmm- actually, can say the same thing about Congress and the Senate about now……

    Would be interesting to see what sort of concessions Polaris received for moving this deal- and more importantly, what- if any- concessions were offered domestically to retain Polaris. These deals are NEVER just about “labor costs”; They’re also about tax concessions.

    I’m thinking that our politicians were too busy jerking off with “health care reform” and “banking reform” to actually pay attention to anything that Polaris was asking for…..

    Of course what Polaris hasn’t factored in is that, in a strong dollar environment- which we haven’t seen for 20 years, but looks like we’re starting to- all these genius plans to save money via foreign labor costs get mitigated by a rising dollar…… But hey, good luck to spending those pesos five years from now, Sven-

    This is what happens when a company manages based on the past, rather than looking at the future…….

  48. 48 Bigwoody May 24th, 2010 at 9:20 am

    My Harley is moRe American than when Harley made it .Front end,Showa, trashed,American Suspension replacement. Much more stable now at high speeds Battery Yusa, Replaced with Big Boar. High Compression,starts better now.
    Retired autoworker. Know value of a dollar,but countries unemployed have no dollars. the Administrations immigration and ecological polices make it difficult to do business here.
    We should not take a back seat to any foreign country. Served in military,honorably discharged. Try to get VA benefits. Under employed illegal immigrants can Re medical care,I can’t
    Build it here,buy it here.

  49. 49 American-V magazine May 24th, 2010 at 9:40 am

    Sorry guys, but the bubble has burst: took a long time coming but a high standard of living requires high wages, which add up to high costs for high quality hardware, which needs more money to buy it, requiring a higher standard of living: vicious circle.

    We bought ourselves out of it for the last couple of decades with the credit boom, and congratulations to the money market for selling us money we couldn’t afford to buy so that we could continue to maintain our high standard of living, but at some point the chickens always come home to roost …

    There are massive additional forces trying to dig everyone out of the crap, with the government trying to balance the books, unions trying to protect the standard of living of their members, and companies trying to save the jobs of the many sometimes by sacrificing those of the few – and each of them open to accusations of self-preservation. Anyone who reckons they can see how it will all end is an idiot. Short of pay parity across the globe and a single uniform currency, this is self perpetuating, and parity won’t exist because we, the ‘haves’, will preserve our position at all costs, and we need the ‘have nots’ to exist so we can have the things we want at prices we’re prepared to pay.

    Yes, deport all the illegals and try to find nationals who will work for the same money – they will come, through necessity rather than choice, eventually, when they realise there is no alternative. That low wage economy keeps small businesses afloat, in turn supporting bigger business and some of the social fabric of society, but there is only one real scapegoat in this: greed.

    Our greed in wanting everything – which previous parents generation never had. Up to the last market crash, we’d never had it so good, and there’s a chance we’ll never have it so good ever again unless we knuckle down and accept that change is inevitable.

    It will be worse for our children’s generation: they’ve grown up believing they’ve got a right to expect everything, and that’s gonna be a real shock to the system. or maybe that’s where you are currently: possibly a few generations behind us Brits who had this kicked out of us in the seventies, although that hasn’t stopped modern British youth embracing the optimism inherent in American culture and lining up for another kicking. When the next Punk Rock explosion breaks, you’ll know its happened.

    On the bright side, there aren’t massed jobless gangs on street corners or soup kitchens yet,

    back to the plot, though: Polaris are only moving some elements of production to Mexico , and are focussing main production at the existing facilities of the various divisions within the US. Yes, they might move other stuff later, but condemn them then, not now for what you think they might do. They might go to China, or Canada – they could colonise the moon: zero gravity could ease handling.

    Harley might move from Milwaukee, and are playing a political game with Wisconsin state, but what if they move?

    To say you’d never buy another bike from either manufacturer, is bullshit: what else are you going to do? Buy a Jap bike? Okay, so maybe an American-assembled Jap? Or maybe stop riding bikes altogether? I admire your principles, but I don’t share your views.

    Thankfully I’ve already got a Milwaukee built Shovel, an East Troy Buell and a Spirit Lake Victory so I’m sorted, but that’s not going to help the beleaguered companies building new ones because that means I’m not in the market for a new bike: I’m broke too. But then, looking at that inventory, I was greedy too … still am for a Springfield Indian, but that’s not going to happen for a long, long time I suspect.

  50. 50 GRIP ACE - DIGITAL SWITCHES May 24th, 2010 at 10:34 am

    Bottom line.

  51. 51 Jim May 24th, 2010 at 11:33 am

    Damn. I was serious considering a Victory Vision 8-ball. Well I might as well keep my Yamaha Stratoliner then. It’s going to be just as American as the Vic now.

    I left HD years ago after being hung out to dry on several warranty issues. One being on a 2002 V-rod I bought new the year they came out. The frame started to look like skim milk had been poured all over it and dried. HD used an aluminum compound on the frame (instead of reg powdercoat) that would oxidize when exposed to the elements. I complained to HD and was told by their customer service that I needed to keep my bike from getting wet. Honest to God that was what they told me. Even my dealer couldn’t get them to do anything about it. They acknowledged the problem, but basically said TUFF SHIT! Then in 2004 they clear coated the frames. Look at them both and you will see 02-03’s are dull and from ’04-up they are all nice and shiny. I was hoping with the new platform (Vision, Xroads, Xcountry) that I wouldn’t have to compromise build quality to own an American. Looks like I will be a Yamaha Rider for a while longer.

    Jim

  52. 52 grayhawk May 24th, 2010 at 11:52 am

    Jim I still have a 02 that has seen the elements, etc. and no skim milk look. If memory serves me when it came out all dealers and owners at time of purchase received a write up on do’s and don’ts in regards to the frames coating suggested waxes/polishing material etc. and defined for example what you do not use to avoid discoloration, I think one was harley gloss but don’t quote me, (x) type sprays or? Probably the discolorazation was resultant of something that was applied. Dealer should have known and points should have been noted at delivery of unit. Water should not be a problem unless its acid rain.

  53. 53 choppertom May 24th, 2010 at 1:44 pm

    i’m kinda with grayhawk.

    why doesn’t “usa” just by “mexico”? can’t keep ’em out, can’t afford to send business their way, just buy the whole fucked up mess and change the border……

    i got an idea——dallas/fort worth the new capital.

    add a star to the flag?

  54. 54 golfish May 24th, 2010 at 5:16 pm

    Come on David, we can’t blaim W, he’s a puppet.

  55. 55 Jim May 24th, 2010 at 5:56 pm

    Hey Gray,

    HD customer service admitted to the problem that they had with the frames. They were the ones that told me what the heck it was as neither I nor the dealer had a clue. So apparently I wasn’t the only one having this problem. Also they changed the coating in ’04 for a reason. My bike was garaged 100% of the time when it wasn’t being ridden. I eventually got the oxidation off with a LOT of elbow grease and brake cleaner. It was the only thing I could find that would take off the milky white streaks. None of the aluminum polishes would phase it. Once I got it off, I sold the bike and bought my first Yamaha Road Star. Been in the Yamaha family ever since. I had eight Harley’s and had re-curing issues with 4 of them. I’ve owned 6 Yami’s and nada on the problems.

    I know there are some that have great track records with their HD. That’s great, but I didn’t with mine. I want to ride American and was THRILLED when I saw the new X-country and Vision 8-ball. Now… not so much.

    Everyone Ride Safe,

    Jim

  56. 56 grayhawk May 24th, 2010 at 6:08 pm

    As long as your in the wind Jim

  57. 57 heavy-duty May 25th, 2010 at 12:08 am

    Can’t wait to see the Harley’s from India. It’s just a matter of time.

  58. 58 MDK May 25th, 2010 at 9:29 am

    It’s sad to see it happen to yet another company and our fine government is mostly to blame mainly for not governing! If you deport all the illegals who will vote for obama next time?

  59. 59 Patrick Jansen May 25th, 2010 at 1:00 pm

    I really don’t care who makes ATVs and snowmobiles because I don’t buy them. I saw at least two posts confirm that the Victory motorcycle production was staying in the United States. I love Victorys. Great product and up to now more American than any other bike including most customs. Before I swear off an entire company I’d like to know what exactly is moving.

  60. 60 BenR May 25th, 2010 at 3:58 pm

    When are all you Union blaming people going to start grabbing the pitchforks and torches to go after the boardroom? When CEO’s, COO’s and C are making 10, 20 or 50 million dollars a year and yet then are sending the little $70k a year jobs to Mexico, India and China to be done for $2 an hour .. when are you going to get angry with them? We have this retarded notion in this country that ” some day that could be me ” so we NEVER, EVER want to screw with suits.

    In 2000 I heard friends say they were voting for Bush because Clinton lied .. about a blowjob. In 2004 I had friends say they AGAIN voted for the red side of the house because they were going to ” protect us from gay marriage and stop abortion ” but did they .. nope. It’s lip service. The only thing they did was spending us into oblivion and let their cronies run wild. Now we have the Disneycrats in office DOING THE SAME DAMN thing. They give money to those who don’t need it. They give lip service to those who need help and still allow business as usual. It’s not ONE party or another doing this to US. It’s US doing it to the U.S. and we’re voting these morons onto office and giving them free reign to DO it.

    And it’s not the Mexican cleaning the toilet for minimum wage killing our economy because if you think OUR spoiled children would even take one of those jobs then you’re smoking some AWESOME sh**. They are paying taxes via purchases and paying taxes into our social programs with fake social security numbers that LOOK real to the computers who check those algorithms … but they never collect on the cash. It’s much like those fake serial numbers when installing a pirated copy of Windows .. the algorithm works .. same with fake social security numbers.

    It’s time to stop blaming the same targets we’ve blamed for 50+ years .. and to go after the REAL culprits .. we need restrictive term limits, caps on what can be spent on elections so it’s not restricted to overly educated morons and it’s time that we HAVE that argument in public with those screwing the little guy. And it ain’t Jose.

  61. 61 live2rideaglide May 25th, 2010 at 4:15 pm

    hey guys, Wouldnt it be great if we could buttonhole one thing to blame for these situations. The unions,goverment and we the people. American V magazine tells the tough truth even though we dont want to hear it. We, everybody have fed the baby and now he is full grown and we dont know what to do with him. Any company has the right and somewhat the obligation to take whatever steps it must to survive and thrive. ( ethical and legal of course ). I personally try to buy American any time I can , but you will find as I have it is almost impossible. Even if you buy an American brand, there are no guarantees that all the components and raw materials are good ol red , white and blue. The economies of the world are so interconnected that practicing nationalism is an
    excercise in frustration. If we are to be true nationalists we must not only buy American but we must sell only to Americans , lest we be found guilty of profiting from the very foreign entities that
    we seek to isolate. I dont like the situation but I am glad I am not the one who is in charge of fixing it.
    Although I am not responsible for fixing this I do think we need an immigration policy that puts taxpaying Americans first . It’s all so depressing , I need to go for a ride and try to forget about it.
    Americanglide. Be safe people.

  62. 62 fuji May 25th, 2010 at 5:07 pm

    Make sure that your offspring receives a good education to survive.

  63. 63 John May 29th, 2010 at 7:14 pm

    America’s corporate tax rate is among the highest in the world. The federal tax rate is 35 percent and state corporate tax systems push the overall tax rate up to about 40 percent. With numbers like this, no wonder some American companies have decided to move to other nations.

  64. 64 papamike69 May 31st, 2010 at 11:12 am

    This is what gripes my but. These so called American standard motorcycles pressing the hype of made in America while all the while they are ready to sell out and ship labor over seas or to a third world country to save a few pennies. This is wrong on so many levels. It takes jobs from Americans and it cheapens the quality of the product. Ill bet that even though they are getting the parts manufactured for way less, the savings to Polaris won’t in any way be passed down ti the consumer.

    BTW, here’s a shock to all of you Harley riders. Not everything on a Harley is American made either. Hey two wheels are two wheels. Get over the ride American syndrome cause there ain’t no such thing anymore.

    Hey Polaris, you don’t really need to have parts manufactured in Mexico. With all of the illegals in this country all you need to do is just oust your good ol American fork force and hire them.

  65. 65 Maverick Jun 4th, 2010 at 2:27 am

    Argue all you want. I ride a Harley. I also have relatives who work for Polaris and this sucks. The USA should not let our jobs go away, to Mexico, India, China, South Korea, Japan, etc.

  66. 66 Snow Blind Jun 29th, 2010 at 12:31 am

    If this is the quality, we can expect from Polaris in the future maybe it is time to send our business to our good neighbors to the north and buy Skidoo. This is just to spite these American companies that care for nothing but profit. Is not a 2.4billion dollar company large enough with a loyal American customer base? This really makes us true believers in America made. American’s are the majority stockholders but are powerless to the CEOs. Maybe it’s time we sent a message to these loyal American companies. I will not buy another Polaris anything until it says made in America.

  67. 67 Snow Blind Jun 29th, 2010 at 12:39 am

    John’s comments about our tax rate is in accurate according to web site http://www.worldwide-tax.com/ . Mexico is 28% and the USA is 15-35%. From the listing we are not the best but we are in the middle of the pack.

Comments are currently closed.
Cyril Huze