While it may appear that the only sports Harley-Davidson prefers are the various forms of motorcycle racing, some particular union members surely feel the famous manufacturer enjoys a little hardball as well.

For the Milwaukee motorcycle manufacturer much of the headlines over the last eighteen months have concerned the economic studies of relocating different factories. The studies and warnings that Harley-Davidson had an eye on its bottom line in these challenging times brought about protests and attempted political interventions at every level of government.

Claiming the labor costs were too high at its operations in Milwaukee and Tomahawk, Harley-Davidson had threatened to move production to Kansas City or another U.S. city if Wisconsin workers wouldn't agree to certain labor concessions.

Harley- Davidson has told union members it wants to slash about $54 million a year in production costs.

On the flipside of the rallies and political pleas were offers of tax incentives and a ferocious courting of Harley-Davidson by the states and cities being considered as possible future manufacturing homes for the legendary brand.

This was the backdrop for the announcement made on Friday that Harley-Davidson Motor Company and its union leaders had reached a proposed labor agreement. A vote on the proposal is needed by the union workers and scheduled for September 13^th.

What they are voting on however, is known only to Harley-Davidson and the unions. For some of the union workers, it will be a long Labor Day weekend, with union employees who work at the engine assembly plant in Menomonee Falls having to wait until Tuesday to get the contract details.

Tomahawk employees will get the details of their proposed contract on Wednesday.

But with the agreement keeping manufacturing operations and hundreds of jobs in Wisconsin, the vote is expected to favor the proposal.

"The proposed agreements provide a very competitive compensation package," Harley-Davidson spokesman Bob Klein said, "At the same time, they provide us with the flexibility and the cost competitiveness that we need to succeed in the future."

Although not confirmed, it has been widely reported the proposal would allow Harley-Davidson more flexibility to use part-time and seasonal workers. Under current work rules, it can take as long as three months to lay off unneeded workers or recall them, not including training time, according to the company.

Ultimately, the proposals affect more than 1,400 employees in the Milwaukee area and 325 in Tomahawk.

Unfortunately, this decision isn’t the destination of this particular bumpy and sometimes controversial road. Harley-Davidson’s spokesperson Bob Klein has left open the idea that there could still be job reductions, even if the contract is approved.

"I can't predict what the future will be or where the economy will be in another year," he said.