Harley-Davidson to cut jobs

WAUWATOSA, Wis., Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Harley-Davidson Inc. has announced it will close its Wauwatosa, Wis., plant in 2010, eliminating several hundred jobs.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported the plant's closure is part of a restructuring plan that includes the elimination of 1,100 jobs in the next two years.

Plans call for 640 jobs to be cut at the company's facilities in Wisconsin, Harley President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Ziemer told the newspaper. He said 230 of the job cuts will be in non-production positions -- mostly involving salaried personnel, including engineering, administrative and finance departments.

The newspaper reported that about 70 percent of the job reductions will occur this year, with the remainder to be made in 2010.

"These are all very tough decisions, but sometimes we have to go through some pain" to ensure the company's long-term viability, Ziemer said.