Lack Of Presidential Ads Signals Pennsylvania Less Of A Swinger

Not so long ago, Pennsylvania stood unquestionably as a swing state, one presidential candidates of both major parties thought they could win.

Democratic candidates knew they had to win the state to get elected. Republican candidates knew that if they won it, they would likely be president.

Maybe Republican nominee Mitt Romney still really believes he can win Pennsylvania, but with the decision by the presidential campaigns and their affiliated super PACs to stop advertising on television in Pennsylvania after Labor Day, the state is President Barack Obama’s to lose.

As a result, the Keystone State is second-tier in importance behind states such as Florida, Ohio, Colorado, Virginia and even Wisconsin, which hasn’t voted for a Republican for president in even longer (1984) than Pennsylvania (1988).

Read more:

http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/lack-of-presidential-ads-signals-pa-less-of-a-swinger-1.1374266

New Allegheny County Executive Lures Frontier Airlines Back To Pittsburgh International Airport

Editor’s note:  Mr. Fitzgerald replaces Don Onorato who unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Pennsylvania against Tom Corbett.

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald

Image via Wikipedia

has spent the early days of his administration beating the bushes trying to bring more flights to Pittsburgh International Airport. On Friday, his hard work paid some early dividends.

Mr. Fitzgerald announced that Frontier Airlines will restart nonstop service to Milwaukee, with two flights a day beginning Thursday, May 17. Frontier will fly into its hub at Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport.

The decision comes less than two months after Frontier ended the flights, leaving Pittsburgh without nonstop service to the Wisconsin market. The new flights can be booked at www.frontierairlines.com.

Milwaukee was one of the cities Mr. Fitzgerald — and others in the region — targeted for nonstop service after he took office in January. He has vowed to work to bring more service to Pittsburgh International, which has lost hundreds of flights over the last decade as a result of US Airways cutbacks.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12056/1212520-28.stm#ixzz1nPvAwlHQ

Harley-Davidson Keeping Kansas City Plant Open – Surprise!

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This has become so predictable.  Harley-Davidson has used the same strategy again to get what they want from workers.  Cut permanent employees; add casual workers and then we will stay put.  First York, then Wisconsin, now Missouri.  They are cutting 145 union workers and adding 145 casual workers to replace them in order to be competitive in Missouri.  And of course “other restructuring moves” are thrown in for good measure.

It was either agree to Harley’s terms or they would shut down the plant in question each time.  Seriously, workers are left with no option other than to agree or face a plant closing.  Not much or a choice.

Harley-Davidson Looking At Kansas City Operations – Possibly Moving Work To York

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Looks like Harley-Davidson is entering round three of the “get what we want” trifecta.  First York got the squeeze, then Wisconsin and now Kansas City.

Harley is “reviewing its operations” in Kansas City and has determined they need to make some big changes if they are going to continue operations there in the future.  Sound familiar?  So unless Kansas City follows York’s and Wisconsin’s lead, they could be losing their jobs.  York is being eyed as a possible site to move that manufacturing if Kansas City gets closed.  York says capacity is no problem and they would welcome the additional work. 

The workforce in York will be reduced by more than 50% till all is said and done.

We’ll have to keep an eye on the situation in Kansas City to see if they fall in line or try to play hardball.

Harley-Davidson To Stay In Wisconsin

Harley-Davidson got its way again.  Just as in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin offered Harley-Davidson millions in tax credit to stay in Wisconsin.  Workers there accepted the new contract, much the same as the one recently accepted in York.

Click on this link to read to Governor’s statement:

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site515/2010/0917/20100917_034732_copier@ydr.com_20100917_160941.pdf

Harley-Davidson – Same “Stuff” Different State

Harley-Davidson is at it again, only this time the focus is on Wisconsin not York!  Harley has decided their operation in WI is costing too much money so they are going to make the same contact offer they did in York.

You can read my post about the York contract here for details.  Sources are saying Harley intends to persuade their WI workers to accept this contract or they will close WI and move the work to York.

 https://roysrants.wordpress.com/2010/06/22/harley-davidson-whittles-away-at-its-workforce/

Here is as link to a Milwaukee newspaper with more information on the contact specifics there:

http://www.jsonline.com/business/102351189.html