S&S Cuts Back
Well “Trickle Down Economics” is starting to hit the motorcycle industry, hard. Just recently Harley-Davidson announced that it was laying off because of slumping sales. Well when the big boy starts slumping you know that sooner or later everyone else is going to feel it. And so it is at S&S Cycle. They’re downsizing.
S&S is one of the oldest Harley “after-market” parts producers. As you know they just recently celebrated their 50th anniversary. Just think of it, for almost half of Harley-Davidsons lifetime riders have been able to buy S&Ss high quality performance parts. In recent years S&S has offered retro looking motors for custom bike builders.
It’s not like S&S is going out of business, they’re not. But 20% of their work force is out on the street looking for another job. I know the feeling, after 21 years I lost my job last December. My brother has 33 years at the same company and he’s done in September. It’s people like us who buy the bikes and parts. When it’s a choice between paying your health insurance or buying a new bike, well the bike loses out, even with me.
All but two of the employees losing their jobs were at the Viola, Wisconsin facility. Twenty-seven were laid off while another thirty-three took voluntary separation packages offered by the company. One hundred and ninety-five people still remain working at the two S&S facilities.
I’ve been using an S&S carb on my bagger for twenty years and just had them put an 89″ stroker kit in it. If any of those who lost their jobs worked on it I’d like to say thanks! And I do know how you feel today. Maybe in a few months the new administration will get the economy turned around and we’ll all be back at work. Let’s hope.
Resource: LaCrosse Tribune www.lacrossetribune.com
19/08/2008 at 8:40 am Permalink
Maybe I’ll do a better job commenting here than on the Brass Balls post, that was a real mess.
S&S is a good company, but didn’t they know this was coming before they celebrated their 50th? They had to, and that has to sting a little more for those employees that got the boot. Sure, you can’t cancel a 50th Celebration for fear of how it would look, but doesn’t laying off 20% of your work force look bad as well?
19/08/2008 at 3:16 pm Permalink
50 years is a big mile stone in any company especially in todays environment. I don’t like to see any company doing layoffs but it is the reality today with everything slower than in times past. It doesn’t make it any easier for all of those involved.
20/08/2008 at 7:25 am Permalink
The reality of today being “slower than in times past” is getting a little too close to home for some. I hope things “speed up” around here.