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The price of a toolmakerThe price of a toolmaker

May 1, 1997

1 Min Read
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When Harley-Davidson Co., the motorcycle manufacturer in Milwaukee, put a want ad in the local newspaper for tool and die people, it also advertised the starting hourly wage: $23.60. That raised the hackles of some members of a tool and die industry trade association. According to Andy Lehner at Omega Tool Inc. in Menomonee Falls, WI, "It's an unwritten understanding in this industry that you never advertise your hourly wage scale. It's unprofessional, and creates fear in the shop that your employees will leave."

In a tight employment market where demand for toolmakers is high and shops scramble to find skilled workers, this fear is well-founded. With fire in its eyes, the trade group went to talk with Harley-Davidson about the adverse effect its ad might have on the local industry.

As it turned out, Harley-Davidson told the group that since the large, front-page ad appeared, it has been swamped with calls from high school counselors wanting to know more about this job that paid so well. The interest came as a result of high schools receiving pressure from parents who read the ad and saw a career opportunity for their children.

Now, Lehner and the trade group feel that it was shortsighted of them to get up in arms over the issue of publishing the hourly wage scale. Long term, Lehner says, it will open doors for the industry.

"It's the best thing that has ever happened to the moldmaking industry in Milwaukee," says Lehner. "We're all clamoring to get people into the trade, and dollars talk. That's the good news in what we thought was a bad news thing."

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