R.I.P Hostess

[Boba Ben]

I worked third shift stocking at a Wal-Mart during the summer back when I was just out of high school. I was charged with stocking the pet supply area. Lifting giant bags of dog food all night was tough sometimes, but the worst part was being in the break room with the other workers. They were a miserable, depressing lot.

 

[Solidus]

A bit late to the game, but I just heard that the Twinkie has gone into extinction. Good lord, the humanity! Someone should quickly donate a Twinkie to the American Museum of Natural History, in order to ensure that this once magestic food item that freely roamed the opened plains of grocery stores everywhere, is remembered by future generations. May we never forget the Twinkie. My children won't (when I have kids), and neither will their children, or their children's children.

 

[highwayman57]

So let me get this right... (I'm not in the US, so bear with me...)

The workers of Hostess are (automatically?) members of this Union. The Union says they have to go on strike, because Hostess made changes in their wages and pension plans.

The workers go on strike, causing Hostess to not be able to produce any of their products, while fixed costs and everything just keep being charged.
Hostess pleas to the workers to come back, otherwise they have to close and file for bankruptcy.

The Union says, "you can't go back to work, or we'll fine you."
Some workers go back to work, most aren't, and Hostess has to close down and filed for bankruptcy.

So now all the workers of Hostess are being layed off and all are out of jobs. Just because this Union said they can't go to work. How is that even possible? It sounds like freaking insanity.

We have unions over here too, but I've never heard anything like this before. I always thought a union was there to care for employees rights, not to get them fired?

And is it one Union for the entire US or is this a Hostess bound one? Do the employees have to pay money to be a member? Are they funded by Hostess? Will they pay the wages for the employees when they are striking?


It may be because I'm not from the US, but this just sounds like one major cluster**** of insanity... How can it be better to get yourself fired than to keep your job? Especially in these times of economic distress? I don't get it...

Here's some info you might find enlightening:

Hostess had been trying to get an agreement from their unionized labor pool of approximately 18,000, in order to stay in business and remain competitive. Operations at their plants had been paralyzed due to strikes and pickets. Last minute negotiations had brought some of the unions to agreement, but the bakers union voted 92% to turn down requests for scale backs on pay. As a result Hostess is shutting its doors and the 18,000 employees are all out of work.

The company had 372 collective bargaining agreements with a dozen unions and had roughly $2 billion in unfunded pension liabilities to its various unions’ workers.
Hostess work rules based on labor contracts included separate drivers for deliveries of different Hostess products, vastly increasing labor costs to the company.

As for your other questions; the unions weren't exclusive to Hostess, the union members paid dues to the unions, and now that they are out of work, the union won't do anything to financially support them!

David

 

[Darth Snoopy]

A friend of mine, who works for Kellogg, said that rumors are flying that Kellogg may buy Hostess.

I saw this article after I talked with her.

Analyst sees Kellogg as candidate to buy Hostess

 

[VS1976]

Here's some info you might find enlightening:

Hostess had been trying to get an agreement from their unionized labor pool of approximately 18,000, in order to stay in business and remain competitive. Operations at their plants had been paralyzed due to strikes and pickets. Last minute negotiations had brought some of the unions to agreement, but the bakers union voted 92% to turn down requests for scale backs on pay. As a result Hostess is shutting its doors and the 18,000 employees are all out of work.

The company had 372 collective bargaining agreements with a dozen unions and had roughly $2 billion in unfunded pension liabilities to its various unions’ workers.
Hostess work rules based on labor contracts included separate drivers for deliveries of different Hostess products, vastly increasing labor costs to the company.

As for your other questions; the unions weren't exclusive to Hostess, the union members paid dues to the unions, and now that they are out of work, the union won't do anything to financially support them!

David

In another's words, don't join unions because in the long run, your going to get screwed. Unions were good back a decade or more ago. Now they are a major issue with businesses.

Just a couple weeks ago, I was working at another location where the college had union workers. Our company are not unionize. One of the union had tried to bribe several of our employees to support them by offering $100 each. One of the workers wanted to join them because when there is a strike, our business are effected and then we have to close (just a note, we pay our employees that day). I told them if you cross that picket line, you are inviting the union into our business. I stress to them that this might effect our company in a negative way.

IMO, unions do more damages then good to their workers. Yes employees are important, but unions have an agenda which is all about the money. Money not to the workers but to themselves. When you go on strike, you are paid jack (yet the employees pay union dues). The longer they go on strike, the more they lose. They will never get that money back even if the employers settle with the union.

 

[blue_rogue]

I think I need to run to the grocery store. 3 boxes of Twinkies just went for $310 on ebay

 

[Darth Snoopy]

I think I need to run to the grocery store. 3 boxes of Twinkies just went for $310 on ebay

Someone paid $310 for a box of Twinkies?!?

P.T. Barnum was right...“There's a sucker born every minute.”

 

[Nuka Cola Kidd]

and here we go.....

Wal-Mart Workers' Black Friday Strike:
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/wal-mart-workers-black-friday-110048819.html

My question is unemployment is at 7. something...almost 8 right? And it will probably cross 10 by mid next year. The economy is no where close to the rising shape he lead his brainwashed followers to believe. Thousands are without work and hurting...BE HAPPY YOU HAVE A DAMN JOB.

I don't understand why people would want to ***** at this time. I'm glad I live in a Right To Work State, but I hate the industry I'm in is run by Unions. And everything is just going to get much much worse with the Affordable Care Act (not to make it political).

 

[turbo.VS.ozone]

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1vYj0E2Hr0&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/ame]

 

[Darth Madden]

In another's words, don't join unions because in the long run, your going to get screwed. Unions were good back a decade or more ago. Now they are a major issue with businesses.

Just a couple weeks ago, I was working at another location where the college had union workers. Our company are not unionize. One of the union had tried to bribe several of our employees to support them by offering $100 each. One of the workers wanted to join them because when there is a strike, our business are effected and then we have to close (just a note, we pay our employees that day). I told them if you cross that picket line, you are inviting the union into our business. I stress to them that this might effect our company in a negative way.

IMO, unions do more damages then good to their workers. Yes employees are important, but unions have an agenda which is all about the money. Money not to the workers but to themselves. When you go on strike, you are paid jack (yet the employees pay union dues). The longer they go on strike, the more they lose. They will never get that money back even if the employers settle with the union.

Boeing built a factory in South Carolina (that agreed to be a non union plant) because of the problems they have had with the unions here in Washington. Too many strikes and outragous demands.

 

[The Ween]

Yet, Hostess management gave themeselves raises while filing for bankrupcy numerous times and asking for concessions from their workers. That's okay though.

They were on their way out some time ago and they're going to blame it on their workers rather than their missmanaging of their business for years. Try reading on Forbes.com about them.

 

[Crimsonbob]

I have never eaten any of that stuff, but it sucks as they are so iconic worldwide.

 

[The Ween]

I have never eaten any of that stuff, but it sucks as they are so iconic worldwide.

I haven't eaten it in years. I prefer Little Debbie brownies over just about all of it. Hostess hasn't really been popular around here for a long time.

And why does the individual packaged items always seem to taste better than the ones in the multi-packs?

 

[Niltusk]

Poor management and piss poor union = 15K + ****ed workers. Happy X-Mas.

Could care less about the sugary crap they sling being gone, but I will miss my annual deep fried Twinkie from the State Fair I guess. Just feel bad about all those displaced workers.

 

[BuffyGirl]

The good news is that they are selling the products. We will see twinkies again, so don't worry.

I ate them about 1x every 4 years. So I don't think I'll miss them during their down time.

 

[Kamandi]

General Mills, Con-Agra, Nabisco... There's buyers out there. You might see some of the lesser products die off, but Twinkies and Ho-Hos will return somehow.

 

[The Ween]

General Mills, Con-Agra, Nabisco... There's buyers out there. You might see some of the lesser products die off, but Twinkies and Ho-Hos will return somehow.

Kellogg's is interested.

If Nabisco gets them, there's no way I'd eat any of it.

 

[Kamandi]

If any of these large companies buy the product brands and recipes they'll move production to one of their plants. These 18000 people will still be SOL unless they want to move.

 

[The Ween]

If any of these large companies buy the product brands and recipes they'll move production to one of their plants. These 18000 people will still be SOL unless they want to move.

Probably wouldn't be worth the move. These people were going to be out their jobs soon anyway. That company filed bankrupcy 3 times since 2004 and made some really bad business decisions. It was doomed.

Anyone remember banana flips?

 

[Sweet Rabbit]

General Mills, Con-Agra, Nabisco... There's buyers out there. You might see some of the lesser products die off, but Twinkies and Ho-Hos will return somehow.

Those 3 aren't in any discussions to buy