KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Union workers at the Harley-Davidson plant in Kansas City approved a contract that the company says was needed to keep the plant in Missouri.
The seven-year contract approved Monday will mean the loss of about 145 full-time workers. The company will add about 145 positions for workers to fill in when needed.
The company had said it would consider moving the plant to Pennsylvania if the new contract was not approved. Company officials say the contract will save Harley $15 million a year.
The agreement with the International Association of Machinists Local 176 and the United Steelworkers Local 760 takes effect Aug. 1.
The Kansas City Star reports that Harley lost $46.8 million in the fourth quarter last year but for all of 2010 had a profit of $146.5 million.