York, Pa. - Harley Davidson workers at the York plant are going over the details of a new contract, and most are not happy with it.

The plant already laid off hundreds of workers this year. The new deal would cut more jobs if the union accepts it.

Officials say the labor agreement could cut the workforce in half at the York plant, and that's not the only change. Officials say there are changes to just about every part of the labor agreement, including vacations, health care, and overtime. Most workers say those changes are not for the better.

"There's always a better plan, but what do you do, you know?" said Van Lewis a 34-year Harley employee.

Higher health care deductibles, restricting overtime, and even eliminating holidays like Veterans Day are just a few of the things union workers don't like about the proposed contract that could keep the Harley plant in Springettsbury Township.

Keith Coffman, an 18-year employee, says the new agreement would require him to take a written test to prove he can do his job. He says nothing about the contract is good. "It's all worse than the old contract," he said.

But what is the alternative? "If they don't accept it, we're going to Kentucky," said local union representative Tom Santone.

Harley officials say their preference is to stay in York County if the company can become sustainable and cost competitive.

The community doesn't want Harley to leave either. "As far as I'm concerned, let Kentucky steal jobs from someplace else, not from Harley Davidson employees, not from the members of our union, and not from York County," Santone said.

Union leaders says the new agreement calls for 1,000 employees or less. About half of the 1,900 employees would lose their jobs over the next two years.

"A smaller, leaner, more flexible operation that would focus primarily on motorcycle assembly, metal fabrication and paint," Harley spokeswoman Pat Sweeney said. "So the workforce size will be different."

"What do you want to do? Do you want to lose some of the jobs or do you want to lose all of the jobs?" Santone said.

"Having a job or no job, what do you take? You are taking the job," Lewis said.

The union will vote on the seven-year agreement December 2. Lewis said he believes the union body will vote it in, but Coffman says he'll vote against it. "All I know is how it's going to affect me, and I don't like it. So I can't in good conscious vote for it. That's just the way it is," he said.

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