P.M. BRIEFING : Union Strikes Harley-Davidson

More than 1,400 union employees at Harley-Davidson Inc. went on strike today for the first time in 22 years, shutting down the motorcycle assembly plant.

The International Assn. of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 175 voted at 9:30 p.m. Sunday to strike. Pickets went up at midnight.

Harry Smith, a member of the union’s negotiating committee, said the main stumbling block in negotiations is contract language.

Smith said management wants to award raises based on merit but the union wants across-the-board cost-of-living increases. “We gave them concessions for seven years and they’re making good money and we deserve to have a hunk of it,” Smith said. The average union employee makes $13.30 an hour, or $27,664 a year.

The York County plant, which employs 1,462 machinist union workers, assembles the motorcycles from start to finish.