Harley Davidson York rewarding employees $1,000 who voted "yes" on the latest contract - legal?

[E-Z-B]

Recently, Harley Davidson in York, PA, threatened employees that this was the only contract they would offer, and if they didn't vote for it, they would leave and move to Kentucky. However, the contract included laying off about 750 employees out of 1,500, forces those in the electrical, mechanical, and tool & die makers to take a skills test (which may sound reasonable, until you think about the type of non-applicable theory questions that might get asked; also, who's administering the test - Harley? Are they trying to eliminate senior people to cut costs? Will they make sure the lower-paid ones don't get the answers ahead of time?). Also, it includes one of those health plans where you have a high deductible in the thousands of dollars before the company starts paying anything out of pocket, but then only at a percentage. Also, they now get 0 sick days.

The contract was approved by the union, mostly because people were afraid. Now the company is giving $1,000 bonuses ONLY to those that voted for it. Is this legal?

[MNDemNY]

1. Is that true?

source?

[E-Z-B]

2. My dad works there, and I just got word of the bonuses

The background story is here, though: http://ydr.inyork.com/ci_13836526?source=most_viewed

[ret5hd]

5. The linked article says nothing of bonuses that i saw.

[E-Z-B]

6. I just found out a few hours ago from my family. Not sure if something like this will get into the

news. After all, York is a red county, including its newspapers.

[ret5hd]

7. Then I call bullshit.

[E-Z-B]

8. I hope someone else who works there is on DU that can back this up or deny it

[ret5hd]

3. Explain how exactly and in detail, mgt knows who voted yes.

[The Straight Story]

11. One of the places I worked at the mgt knew who voted how

I saw it in their email (a spreadsheet, was working on their computer). I know a guy who is a union rep and asked him about it, he told me to just let it go.

I don't know HOW they know, but they did.

[Brickbat]

4. Where did you hear/see this?

As I understand from reading news reports, all employees as of Dec. 2 were to receive a $1,000 bonus before March 1. I wonder if the ones who voted yes are the ones who are getting it first? :shrug:

ETA: The vote was 1,500-some to 190-some. Oof.

[HopeHoops]

9. The Harrisburg Patriot-News has covered this extensively and I haven't seen anything of the sort.

The vote was also private. They wouldn't have a way to verify that even if it were true.

[Contrary1]

10. I found this:

"...Up to 572 employees who lost their jobs after Jan. 1, 2008, and before Dec. 2, 2009, will receive $1,000 each before March 1.

All active employees as of Dec. 2 also will receive a $1,000 payment before March 1."

More: http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2670610/

[LiberalFighter]

12. By federal law all union contract votes are secret ballot.

[Bluebear]

13. Total fabrication on somebody's part. How could they give bonuses to secret ballots?

Uh, yeah, I voted for it! Where's my thou?

[LiberalFighter]

14. From what I garner from the contract there are so many things wrong with it.

And if true and the local leadership approved this then I have grave concerns about the ethics of the bargaining committee.