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The Twinkie Is Dead: Hostess to Close, 18K+ Layoffs Expected

Nov. 16, 2012 9:16am Becket Adams

No more Twinkies. No more Ho Ho’s. No more Wonder Bread. No more Ding Dongs.

Hostess is dead.

The company plans to go out of business, lay off its 18,500 workers, and sell its snack cake and bread brands. Hostess claims a nationwide strike crippled its ability to make and deliver its products.

“We deeply regret the necessity of today’s decision, but we do not have the financial resources to weather an extended nationwide strike,” said CEO Gregory Rayburn in a statement.

The Irving, Texas, company suspended bakery operations at all its factories and said its stores will remain open for several days to sell already-baked products.

The company had warned employees that it would file a motion in U.S. Bankruptcy Court to unwind its business and sell assets if plant operations didn’t return to normal levels by Thursday evening. The privately held company filed for Chapter 11 protection in January, its second trip through bankruptcy court in less than a decade.

“Many people have worked incredibly long and hard to keep this from happening, but now Hostess Brands has no other alternative than to begin the process of winding down and preparing for the sale of our iconic brands,” Rayburn said.

He added that all employees will eventually lose their jobs, “some sooner than others.”

Screen grab of Hostess’ website

“Unfortunately, because we are in bankruptcy, there are severe limits on the assistance the (company) can offer you at this time,” Rayburn wrote.

Thousands of members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union went on strike last week after rejecting in September a contract offer that cut wages and benefits. Hostess said Friday the company is unprofitable “under its current cost structure, much of which is determined by union wages and pension costs.”

Hostess has said that production at about a dozen of the company’s 33 plants has been seriously affected by the strike. Three plants were closed earlier this week.

Hostess had already reached a contract agreement with its largest union, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

The company, founded in 1930, was fighting battles beyond labor costs. Competition is increasing in the snack space and Americans are increasingly conscious about healthy eating. Hostess also makes Dolly Madison, Drake’s and, Nature’s Pride snacks.

In memoriam:

Final Thought: Cheer up, guys. The Twinkie isn’t dead just yet. As Hostess CEO Greg Rayburn told CNBC this morning, the company is looking to sell its assets to the highest bidder. Provided they find a buyer, the Twinkie, Ding Dongs, Sno Balls, etc., will survive — just with a different company.

Now as for those 18,500 jobs, well, that’s a different story.

URGENT WILL TRADE ENTIRE NUCLEAR ARSENAL FOR LAST EXISTING BOX OF TWINKIES CONTACT ME ON MYSPACE KTHXBYE

— KimJongNumberUn (@KimJongNumberUn) November 16, 2012

Follow Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) on Twitter

The Associated Press contributed to this story. This story has been updated.

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Comments (521)

Joyzee
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:32am
All part of the Master Plan’ right Moochie!

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- Small World
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:36am
  What’s the problem ….Twinkes are not healthy.
  
  Report this comment
- Cosmic Duck
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:48am
  Not eating, like 18,500 former Hostess workers, is less healthy.
  
  Report this comment
- The_Cabrito_Goat
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:49am
  Oh thank goodness they’re gone then, I never thought Hostess would stop sending their goons to my house to make me eat their little debbies.
  
  Report this comment
- searcher619
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:53am
  Small world:
  
  Are you one of those simple folks who thinks Twinkies were something you are expected to eat regularly? You silly billy! It’s a SNACK food. You are supposed to only eat them once in a while not all the time!
  
  Report this comment
- candymanal
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:53am
  Just wait.
  Obummer the savior, wll be along shortly, to help his unon cronies out.
  Hostess It’s too big to fail, isn’t it?
  A long list of unemployed people, after the election.
  NBC, Hostess, Pitney Bowes, Both major airplane manufacturers, and the list goes on.
  Obamanomics in action.
  Do you miss Bush, yet?
  Welcome to Greece!
  
  Report this comment
- dsd13130
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:53am
  You know what “Small World” (probably should be “SMALL MIND”, I’ll bet there are several things you do that aren’t healthy….hope a union worker isn’t providing it for you because the UNION helped this company go under.
  
  Report this comment
- drbage
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:05am
  I am sure that Nanny Bloomberg and Righteous Rahm are overjoyed with this. The headline should be “Union Wins, Company Dies.”
  
  Report this comment
- Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:18am
  You just gotta love this little irony too. Hostess was run by…wait for it…PRIVATE EQUITY. Oh boy, so it must be one of those evil Romney, Bain Capital dirtbags right? Ha! It was run by Ripplewood which is headed by Tim Collins….A DEMOCRAT with ties to Dick Gephardt. LOL. So country club liberal elites end up throwing the knuckle dragging useful idiot collectivists under the bus? Gee, never see that do ya?
  
  Report this comment
- AvengerK
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:21am
  Do you think unions will understand that broke means broke after this? My money is on “no”.
  
  Report this comment
- DeOppressoLiber
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:26am
  Small World these are the first signs of the John Galts taking their money and leaving.
  
  Question, when that happens on a large scale who has to bear the tax burden they used to full fill?
  
  Now what is a progressives answer to this?
  
  Report this comment
- Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:37am
  Hostess was run by Ripplewood. Ripplewood was run by Tim Collins. Tim Collins is a huge democrat.
  
  Look at his political contributions….
  http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/timothy-collins.asp?cycle=12
  
  DUDE IS NO JOHN GALT! Y’all gotta stop with that. Unions vs. Liberal elite…that’s the story.
  
  Report this comment
- sillyfreshness
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 12:06pm
  Another company bites the dust thanks to Obama and the unions.
  
  Report this comment
- Cavallo
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 12:21pm
  @Roth, looks like evil eats itself. Although that cliche is rather ironic considering the evil is junk food company.
  
  Report this comment
- freeasabird11
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 12:26pm
  Before the election I read Bar Stool Economics… so true. It’s Hostess’s decision, they earned the right to make it. Thank you Hostess for the yummy Ding Dong’s, they were such a treat when I was young. Much, much luck to you.
  
  Report this comment
- banjarmon
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 12:36pm
  The Killers of business….UNIONS and GOVERNMENT!!!!!
  
  Report this comment
- brother_ed
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 12:49pm
  @ROTHBARDIAN_IN_THE_CLEVE
  
  Right you are
  
  From the Daily Kos:
  
  “Our members know that the plans all along of the Wall Street investors currently in control of this company did not include the operation of Hostess Brands any longer than it takes to sell the company in whole—or in part—in a way that will maximize the profits of these vulture capitalists regardless of the impact on the workforce.
  
  Workers were being asked to accept cuts, but top executives had gotten massive raises as Hostess was about to enter bankruptcy. Investments in the company’s future that had been promised as part of restructuring after the previous bankruptcy were never made. And as for the management, put in place by the private equity companies that now own Hostess, Hurt says:
  Unfortunately however, for the past eight years management of the company has been in the hands of Wall Street investors, “restructuring experts”, third-tier managers from other non-baking food companies and currently a “liquidation specialist”. Six CEO’s in eight years, none of whom with any bread and cake baking industry experience, was the prescription for failure.
  
  This is a Mitt Romney-style deal. Throughout the campaign, we read about Romney’s past deals that went very much like what’s happening to Hostess. Now we’re watching it in real time—and seeing how when workers fight back, they’re targeted for blame.”
  
  Report this comment
- michaelmoron
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 1:58pm
  Just another Casualty in this silent WAR.
  
  America is being dominated by the Global Banksters (Globalists and U.N.’s Founders).
  
  Our forefathers warned us of a central bank being the master of our money.
  
  This psychopath gets a tingle up his leg when he talks about his masters – The U.N.’s Founders.
  The U.N.’s Founders are the owners of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
  They created the U.N. in 1945.
  He warned us of this global bankster scheme.
  
  The small percentage that heard his message were considered “Conspiracy Theorists”.
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc7i0wCFf8g
  
  For everyone who wants to know what happened to our Country, This extremely funny and entertaining cartoon explains it in 30 minutes.
  IT IS A CLASSIC !!!! THIS SHOULD BE VIRAL !!!!
  This is a WAR. You all are INFO warriors. DO YOUR PART !!!!!
  Help make this viral !!!!!!!
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPWH5TlbloU
  
  Report this comment
- yiska8
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 2:47pm
  Unions and greedy CEO’s killed the Twinkie,the Ho-Ho, and Wonder Bread!
  And we thought a twinkie could last 50 years???? Let the whiny unions take over and CEO’s inflate their bonuses and BAM! Three famous American snacks are finished. Why do I think Moochelle had something to do with this???? Well, kids, enjoy your dried piece of celery and nasty gogurt. Yuck.
  
  Maybe someday, when Americans want to WORK again, many, many, many years from now, the twinkie will be in production again. So conserve the ones you have!!!
  
  Report this comment
- LetUsReason
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 2:48pm
  No more Twinkies??! Tsk tsk tsk….signs of the times, signs of the times.
  
  Report this comment
- davisgarvey
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 3:12pm
  The end of the Twinkee can only mean we’ve entered Zombieland! (refer to move of same name….).
  
  Report this comment
- Popp40
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 3:14pm
  First the light bulb (American Icon), GM (American Icon) and now Twinkies (another American Icon) all closed……does anyone see the symbolism.
  
  But I heard that there is a petition (created by the White House) to have the government nationalize and bailout Hostess…….
  
  Report this comment
- Cavallo
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 3:16pm
  This is a perfect opportunity for an entrepreneur with some international contacts. Have the twinkies and such made in China or some other country at half the labor cost. Then our favorite snack foods will be that much cheaper. Buy the patent, show how it can be made without union labor!
  
  Report this comment
- RabidPatriot
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 3:23pm
  On a related note, unemployment will drop to 6.5% and all is well. Reap what you sow lefties.
  
  Report this comment
- oneshiner
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 3:23pm
  So, the unions pushed a strike and the company had enough, already. 18,000 have to go on unemployment and here we go again. More & more companies who’ve been pushed to the edge are going to do the same. DAM UNIONS.
  
  I remember in high school the last class before lunch was gym. On the way to the gym, I’d stop by school store to get a twinkie. Some gal recognized I did this every day and kept walking with me until I finally offered her one of the twinkies. After a few weeks, it pizzed me off that she’s never buy one but expected to have 1/2 of mine, so I finally quite buying it. Have never eaten one since.
  
  Report this comment
- AvengerK
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 3:24pm
  Actually BROTHER-ED..you shouldn’t believe Daily Kos.
  4 top execs at Hostess had their salaries cut to $1 for one year..that’s right ONE DOLLAR in trying to get the company on better fiscal footing by Greg Rayburn who initially had come in to do the restructuring then became CEO.
  The teamsters actually broke picket lines to return to work there but were stopped by other unions.
  The unions imposed such ridiculous costs on the already embattled company as having to pay benefits to people who were not even Hostess employees simply because they came under agreements from other companies.
  This is an entirely union made mess and I’m thrilled to see over 18000 unionistas reap what they’ve sown.
  What part of “we’re broke” is too d@mn difficult for you and your union buddies to understand BRO?
  
  Report this comment
- Tom K
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 3:30pm
  @ JOYZEE : Moochelle probably has a bunker full of Twinkies, just in case.
  @ SMALL WORLD : ( Small Mind ) Being a Dem-Lib-Prog-Soc-Comm is not Healthy either. Just once, I dare you to just sit down, be quiet, unwrap a Twinkie and eat it, slowly, and savor the pure delight of being alive. So what if it took 3 seconds out of your total life expectancy. Live a little – if Not, what’s the point ? @ Hostess : Fire the Union parasites and emerge a success ! If not, I sure will miss my Creme Filled Cupcake ! Dang !
  
  Report this comment
- CobraBill
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 4:03pm
  Now what are all the people in Washington and Colorado going to eat when they are stoned?
  
  Report this comment
- brother_ed
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 4:35pm
  @AVENGER
  
  I don’t believe them – I was pointing out that the Keft will blame it on Wall St & venture capitalists.
  
  Report this comment
- brother_ed
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 4:38pm
  *Left
  
  Report this comment
- Mulder1
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 5:00pm
  Unions killed another company, and the US taxpayers will have to pay hundreds of millons of dollars in unemployment pay. The only good think about this is that union employees lost their jobs. That dries up funding for Dimocrats.
  
  Report this comment
- Vaktpost
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 5:20pm
  I bet those union folks are sure proud they got their chumpion re-elected.
  
  Report this comment
- yiska8
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 6:32pm
  @cobrabill
  Ha!!!!
  Good one!!
  And one of the best questions asked on this topic.
  
  Report this comment
- Wolfgang the Gray
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 6:36pm
  This will forever be in my mind whenever I think of unions. The lousy, stinking, greedy unions killed the Twinkie! Glad I live in a right to work state. If I didn’t, I think I would drive by striking workers with a sign that says “You killed the Twinkie! Go To Hell!”
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 8:28pm
  The day of these have been long gone anyway. Hey, youse guys, enjoy your time off on unemployment.
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyfCxrKW3XY
  Hehehe, Doodieville.
  
  Report this comment
- oldguy49
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:26pm
  first the unions destroy the auto industry …now ntwinkies………..whats next, the government
  
  Report this comment
- binge_thinker
  Posted on November 17, 2012 at 12:52am
  Obama’s America.
  
  Report this comment
- Lamarr01
  Posted on November 17, 2012 at 2:16am
  The two food items that most symbolize Caucasian racial superiority are the Twinkie and White Bread. The word “Twinkie” is often used to disparage a gay man and should be relegated to the politically incorrect unwords. White racists will no longer be able to flaunt their racial purity by eating sandwiches of bologna, mayonnaise on two slices of white Wonder Bread.
  
  Report this comment
- turkey13
  Posted on November 17, 2012 at 10:06am
  In 1992 the president of Johnson & Johnson addressed the 550 wage employees at the Sherman, Texas plant and told them the stockholders wern’t happy with profits. All were informed that J&J had to compete with the same products Proctor & Gamble made and had moved all operations to produce in Mexico. He also told them and 90 salery folks that the building would be the biggest hay barn around. The Union worked with them untill 2004 when we, us and you turned back to us & them when a new union president was voted in by the AFLCIO members. The Sherman, Texas plant survived untill 1999 when they terminated all and moved the operations to Mexico.
  
  Report this comment
- dmerwin
  Posted on November 17, 2012 at 10:36am
  I guess the union view was that all of nothing is better than some of something.
  
  Report this comment
- recklessapathy
  Posted on November 17, 2012 at 2:12pm
  Small World. Maybe you missed the part where 18 THOUSAND people are going to lose their jobs.
  
  Report this comment
BlackCrow
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:32am
Soil your own bed and that’s what you get. The company was already in bankruptcy and the union strikes. Not smart! How long is it going to take for people to learn the hard lesson business exist to make money not provide jobs retirements or health insurance? Dear Leader never learned that lesson and he is suppose to be the smartest man to ever occupy the office.

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- JeffMT
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:46am
  Union leaders would rather take the rank and file out on strike and risk job loss due to failure of the company than to lose control of the rank and file by allowing the rank and file to accept the deal they need in order to remain employed and for the company to remain viable.
  
  As is always the case in these situations, the rank and file loses their jobs while the union leadership continues to draw their nice big paychecks and benefits packages. The union leadership then comes out publicly and tells the rank and file, and anyone else who they can get to listen (e.g. mainstream media) that the whole situation is the fault of ownership/management. And the minions believe it.
  
  When people in this country wake up and realize who is paying the bills here, then this mindset will disappear and we can get back to being a productive nation. As long as the minions allow themselves to be played emotionally by the ‘powers-that-be’, things will continue on their current path.
  
  It’s that simple.
  
  Report this comment
- kvan
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 3:59pm
  blackcrow and jeffmt, finally 2 people who can unemotionally explain the facts of business life to anyone smart enough to read and really try to understand.
  
  Report this comment
- Acena
  Posted on November 17, 2012 at 12:31am
  The employees are so stupid they are stilling outside the first plant that closed with picket signs.
  They were interviewed by local media and said “this didn’t turn out like we planned”, “its a relief it’s over,” and “we are picketing in solidarity with other unions .”
  
  A similar thing happened with a manufacturer of Winchester ammo. The union went so far as to tell the company they’d shut them down. Then the company threatened to shut down.
  They settled the contract for 1 year and the company built a plant in a right to work state and will shut down when their NATO contract runs out.
  
  Report this comment
Paulhgreenbay
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:31am
This O reelection has given his supporters a dangerous level of empowerment.

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- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:37am
  That’s OK because ultimately Reality always wins when in contests with Fools.
  
  Report this comment
- OhioRifleman
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:20am
  Pride goes before the fall, but only after the impact breaks your ass-bone.
  
  Report this comment
- Zwolle
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:25am
  @ Ohiorifleman
  
  Now that’s funny right th’r, I don’t care who ya ‘r!
  
  Z
  
  Report this comment
- hayesstephen
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:48am
  The Union leadership thought they knew how to play poker. The Company made a low call and the Union thought they were bluffing, Union went all in and uh oh Company was sitting with a royal flush. How many thousands of people are going to suffer because of the Socialist union leaches had their heads in the wonderful world of Karl Marx? I bet that over a hundred thousand people will be adversely affected by this company closing it doors. Nice going you idiots, try and find another job with the pay you were offered, with medical benefits. You will go the rest of your lives looking for what you fools threw away. Hey idiots, its cold out here, get used to working on minimum wage, and pray that NoBama Care goes through, cause you ain’t never have medical again. Morons. Every working person has to realize that the good old days are gone. Its too late for you, oh hey go ask your Commie Union bosses to provide doctors and dentist to your kids. Oh I almost passed out laughing. Welcome to the hell of NoBama Land. You voted your selves here, now prepare to suffer with the rest of us. One last thing, resumes are a waste of time and start selling off the extra care, boat, motor cycle, time share, you are going to need every sticking nickel you can get to dumb ass’s hands on. Its really, really, really, REALLY COLD OUT HERE!!!! This is just my opinion, I could be wrong about it all. I pray for you families.
  
  Report this comment
- oneshiner
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 6:54pm
  BUT: Can’t we all just get along? NO, not when the takers want it all their own way giving us workers nothing…….we only JUST get along when we do everything THEIR way, never our way.
  This is a good lesson about what obama expects from the House. I’d say let’s all rebel until they make it FAIR for all of us, not just them.
  
  Report this comment
SerenityPlease
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:30am
Its all Bush’s fault

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- Chromo200
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:58am
  I agree ..
  
  Report this comment
- Inlandmar2
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 1:14pm
  That damn George Bush didn’t eat enough Twinkies!
  
  Report this comment
- mikem1969
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 3:24pm
  Heck, little hiler and his ilk would blame bush for it if little hitler was pres for 50 years. As libs and progressives have proven time and time again they blame others for their failings and take credit for other peoples’ successes.
  
  Report this comment
cemerius
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:30am
“Most employees who lose their jobs should be eligible for government-provided unemployment benefits,” Hostess said.

This was left off from the above story…..

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/national-international/NATL-Twinkies-Maker-Hostess-Going-Out-of-Business-179643161.html

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- underhispinions
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:58am
  Only as long as we can pay for them.Once the ball starts really rolling on all that Obamas great palns entail,we will be seeing many more on food stamps and collecting unemployment.
  That means we can’t afford to extend unemployment as long as we have been and that means those that voted for Obama will soon feel the pain of their choices.
  My guess is that they will say the problems Obama got when he took office were so severe that even his great “help” couldn’t save us.It’s all Bush’s fault.
  Some people will never admit they are wrong.
  
  Report this comment
- Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:58am
  A new batch of 99′ers.
  
  Report this comment
louise
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:29am
“Unfortunately, because we are in bankruptcy, there are severe limits on the assistance the (company) can offer you at this time,” Rayburn wrote.
_______________________

The union would rather put 18K+ people (more if you count family members) out of work in this economy than take a pay cut. ??? WOW
I pray all those people can find work.
Speechless here

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- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:38am
  Unions have no power to strike, if the membership recognizes reality and says “No, this is suicide”. Additionally, the membership usually always votes en masse to strike. They have nobody to blame but themselves and their own brutish lumpen stupidity.
  
  Report this comment
- mrunner
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:39am
  You are a better person than me right now. I am trying to care for those who just lost their jobs, but those who supported the strike and the unions obstenence- Part of me hopes they deeply and fully suffer the consequences of their choices. I am sick of the war on personal accountability.
  
  Report this comment
- louise
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:06am
  Ghost, You’re right. It is the membership that votes to strike. The union can be very persuasive, though.
  
  Report this comment
- BODYBAG
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:08am
  @LOUISE
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:29am
  I pray all those people can find work.
  ———————————————————–
  Why? Union isnt mandatory. Those people chose stupidity. Let them wallow in poverty.
  Oh sorry I forgot we’ll pick up the tab now. 47% just became 52%.
  
  Report this comment
- Cavallo
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:17am
  The entire workforce wasn’t Union. Feel pity for those who were not on strike but are going to suffer because of the Union anyway. There were just enough Union members to cause critical work stoppages and sink the company.
  
  USA RIP
  
  Report this comment
- louise
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:18am
  Bodybag,
  you said,………
  
  “Why? Union isnt mandatory. Those people chose stupidity. Let them wallow in poverty.”
  ____
  Why? Because it does not give me joy knowing that the most innocent will suffer. Children.
  I can be pretty stoic about a lot of things, but not that.
  
  Report this comment
- 00gabooga
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:53am
  God Bless you Louise, you care more about their children then they did!
  
  Report this comment
- searcher619
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:59am
  ihave zero sympathy for these people. they did this to themselves. Hostess told them what was coming and they thought Hostess was bluffing. Now they have all the time in the world to regret listening to their union bosses and enjoy the rotten fruit they are getting from voting for Obama. I hope they have it extra rough so that the lesson is tattooed in their minds.
  
  Report this comment
- Dismayed Veteran
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 12:03pm
  You don’t have to be smart to belong to a union. You just have to pay your dues. I wonder how long the folks will be out of work. I hope it is not the 25 years is takes for a Twinkie to go stale.
  
  Report this comment
- Cavallo
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 12:19pm
  Nope, looks like I spoke too soon. Looks that the vast majority of the workforce was Union, just belonging to different Unions. It was the Baker’s union that was striking this time rather than the Teamsters, who had already come to an agreement with Hostess.
  
  Report this comment
- recklessapathy
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 12:20pm
  Actually, Body bag, in some companies you must join the union to be employed with them.
  
  Report this comment
- Stu D. Baker-Hawk
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 12:23pm
  You spit in the face of your employer because of union loyalty and solidarity? If you ask me, you all can scrape the inside of a garbage can for your next meal for all I care. Follow-the-crowd idiots like these ‘union members’ are what destroyed this once-great nation. A pox on all of you… and have a Merry Christmas!
  
  Report this comment
Paulhgreenbay
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:29am
Think about how many jobs this affects downrange. What is the real number?

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- SimpleTruths
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:59am
  Think about the reduction in healthcare costs by not eating this crap.
  
  Report this comment
- MarineBrat
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:08am
  to simple truths, Michelle must be euphoric this morning! One down and so many remain to destroy. Hope the employees can survive on their foodstamps. Think about all the workers who supply this junk to create such an obeses nation. We would be better off if all of them lost their jobs! Then they could enjoy the strict diet controls of the government and celebrate their new found utopia!
  
  Report this comment
- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:09am
  As always, we’re glad to see your utter lack of concern for your brothers in arms, the union workers.
  
  The Left really does eat its own. They are a self consuming mental illness.
  
  I really think Rand was onto something in suggesting that producers step back and let the societal illness take its course.
  
  Report this comment
- Cavallo
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:28am
  You’d have to consider the lost revenue to the grocery stores who will at the very least see an interruption in merchandise, the delivery drivers and over the road truckers (not all I assume where wholly employed by hostess), machine repair and manufacturing crews who will see an interruption at the very least in demand. I am assuming that not all the packaging materials used by hostess were manufactured by hostess, so the packaging and cellophane companies will suffer an economic loss. There are other maintenance crews that will see a loss of business as I am assuming that Hostess did not service all their own delivery trucks (no new mufflers, oil changes, tires… etc).
  
  Dominoes .. CLICK CLICK CLACK CLICK CLACK…
  
  USA RIP
  
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- naughtycal
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:43am
  Simpletruth,
  These snacks have been around long before Americas fata55 epidemic every existed. And they had alot more transfats in the past. Food isn’t the problem it never was it’s the lifestyle of todays society that is the cause of obesity. The sittary existance created by the saturation of media(i.e. entertainment) coupled with the liability the civil judical system as place on society have seperated actual inneraction between people. To the point where kids text more than they even speak.
  
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- starview
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 12:39pm
  This will be a downturn for all involved in these plants, from the people who mill the flour, and process the sugar, to the local economy where these plants are located. Going to affect many people.
  
  Report this comment
- AvengerK
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 3:25pm
  Yeah that’s right SIMPLETON..stick to hotpockets and dorritos your chosen “healthy” repast after a good bong session.
  
  Report this comment
- Eastinfection
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 4:13pm
  SIMPLEFRUIT…
  
  These foods aren’t going away. They’re just selling the brands and recipes to the highest bidders.
  
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nzkiwi
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:29am
I wonder how the union executives will explain that to the families of all those now out of work.

And unfortunately it won’t end there. This will effect the the companies who supplied raw materials and services to Hostess.

Those who voted for Mr Obama did not have to wait long to see the result of their actions, did they…

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- biohazard23
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:42am
  They will still blame the “greedy” corp execs for trying to harm the workers. They just don’t get it and they never will.
  
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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:47am
  NZKIWI, Wow. And, I don’t mean this in way offensively. It is obvious that you have never dealt with our union mentality. About fourteen years or longer ago, a company that my wife worked for had to allow union leaders in to meet with their employees. During these meetings she was floored at how these reps bragged about putting other businesses out of business in a similar manner. During employee discussions afterwards she and some others spoke out against voting the union in. She and others were immediately threatened. I wrapped the back of the drivers seat in her Blazer with a PASGT vest that I had purchased earlier, and later inserted a heavy steel plate inside it to the rear of the seat. It wasn’t her truck, but somebody else’s vehicle had a shot fired through the rear to the front windshield.
  
  Report this comment
- Cavallo
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:13am
  ALWAYS carry a gun if you have to deal with the Unions.
  
  Report this comment
- 00gabooga
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:51am
  The company my father worked for went on strike when I was a kid and we had to stay in a hotel for a few weeks because they were passing out flyers with the addresses of those they considered to be management. My father was no executive, but he worked in the drafting room and happened to wear a tie to work, therefore he was THE ENEMY. Homes and cars were pelted with eggs. The union got what they wanted out of the strike, for the moment. Ten years later the company moved all manufacturing to Mexico.
  
  Report this comment
- nzkiwi
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:03am
  @ RJ
  
  I am stunned. I was going to ask how they could possibly get away with that, but then I realised that it was a stupid question.
  
  Report this comment
- Chromo200
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:13am
  99 weeks of unemployment .. .. Almost two years and you don’t have to look for work .. The sad part about this is not just the loss of income, but the toil it takes on family relationships .. I wonder how many divorces will come out of this. I wonder what the economic loss to the towns..
  
  Maybe Romney can get Bain CO. to buy Twinkies and turn it around.
  
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- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:20am
  @Cavallo
  
  Quite true. And wear steel toed work boots, with thick leather (perhaps reinforced) to deal with their shoe side-sole razors that they like to try and hobble non-compliants with when they surround him.
  
  In fact, don’t even let them get that close. If they come at you with bats and fists bared, draw down on them.
  
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- smv803
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 2:07pm
  Someday, they’ll wish they had a tweekie to eat.
  
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- nzkiwi
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 6:57pm
  @ Chromo
  
  That’s a nice idea. Almost poetic…
  
  Report this comment
denispaul
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:29am
Don’t you just love unions?

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- 00gabooga
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:12am
  Yup, I sure don’t!
  
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- SCREW-WINDOWS
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 2:01pm
  Unions eat their own !!! I salute Hostess for putting the company in charge and dictating terms instead of the union dictating terms.
  
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rickc34
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:28am
The union refused to compromise and look what happened, 18500 + people lost their jobs, their families will also suffer because of the union. The brand will be sold eventually and will be hopefully non-union so this will never happen again.

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- TMOverbeck
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:58am
  I’m sure Grupo Bimbo (makers of Mrs. Baird’s among other brands) would love to start making Twinkies and Ding Dongs. I don’t know how labor relations work in Mexico, but before Mrs. Baird’s got bought out they were based in wonderful right-to-work Texas. :)
  
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- kettererbg
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:58am
  McKee’s will scarf it up and it will be non-union with much lower wages. Oh, and the quality will go down as well. There is a bright side. No union dues.
  
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- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:06am
  @Ketter
  
  Oh come now. Union products are notoriously low quality. Remember American cars in the 1970′s? Yeah, real quality there.
  
  The quality from non-union shops is quite high. I’m not saying that union shops can’t put out a good product, but to assume quality will go down because of unionization requires a leap of faith so grand as to require that one engage in slavish cultishness in order to make the span.
  
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RIGS
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:28am
You can thank the heads of the TWINKIES UNIONS for there special labor relations again. WHAT A JOKE!!!!!!!

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Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:28am
Decades from now, when they look back at the fall of the USA, historians will say, “They lost their will to go on, when they lost the Twinkie”. Remember, “Look for the Union label…..”

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:55am
  DARMOK, Its getting to be more like “Beware of the union label!”
  
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- Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:49am
  RJJ
  You got that right.
  
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- checkingbothsides
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 2:07pm
  Hey Darmok, did you ever think about how the world in Star Trek TNG is basically a Communist society? Any thoughts on that?
  
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- TeslanEdison
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 4:12pm
  Star Trek was not communist, that’s a total fallacy representatives were voted upon, there were councils and courts, communist states don’t have those things, just look at Cuba, Even China isn’t fully communist although they still like to keep the the title to popular with the other communists on the block.
  The people need to get real Marxism is a type of Utopia as we all know utopia’s can’t exist they are defined by ideals not logic, nature or prefaced by reality, in the instance of Marxism many horrific ideals. The reality is autocratic dictatorship, One or very few at the top outside elections deciding the fate of others while living well beyond the standard of living of the populace. They are just trying to create the modern day equivalent of Kings and Pharaohs and see if they can make an educated populace think it’s okay.
  
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- Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 7:26pm
  Rodenberry’s vision wasn’t a socialist society, and even in the 25th century, the military provided a role, but there was vision that mankind would put down his waring ways and instead look to science. Money did become obsolete, but there was still capitalism, representative governments and law, which was respected. If you watched the series, the totalitarians always tried to take over and force their view of what society should be and force “Perfection” on the whole. If you want to look at communism in Star Trek, just look at the Borg, they are all equal, except he Queen, they are a collective and they are one. Anyone that won’t be assimiated, is simply wiped out. The republic society is the one always trying to not interfer. So, if I were you, I would rewatch the series.
  
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shogun459
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:27am
This is only the first, and Thank God they closed.

May the Union workers starve in the dark.

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- Gonzo
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:03am
  Yep, the unions won…the workers lost.
  
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- recklessapathy
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 12:17pm
  Not everyone in a union is a mindless drone. What unions are today is a bad version of a good idea. Protect workers rights. But the union has become the company. It’s time to move on.
  
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- Gonzo
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 12:29pm
  I think the O.P. meant these union workers who preferred closing the company over coming to an agreement.
  
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ABO
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:27am
Unions…instead of agreeing to lower wages you end up with ZERO wages….what a deal…

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- MarineBrat
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:03am
  Not only wages, but their pensions and healthcare! Looks like they killed the golden goose. Expect more of the same in the near future.
  
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- SCREW-WINDOWS
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 2:07pm
  Yep real solidarity for the brother worker.
  
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chucksue351
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:27am
unions seem to not understand the story of the goose that lays the golden egg, idiots

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- ginger100
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:33am
  Or the grasshopper and the ant
  
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- shogun459
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:33am
  That and fairy tale was banned because it made ” gimme’s ” look bad.
  
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- ginger100
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:40am
  or the one with all the pigs in charge of all the other animals
  
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- antann
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 12:59pm
  Or the Little Red Hen who did bake the corn cakes that all the non-working farm animals wanted a share.
  
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- Eastinfection
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 4:26pm
  Or “The Farmer and the Snake”…
  
  ” you knew I was a snake when you picked me up……”
  
  http://findingthefaithway.blogspot.com/2009/09/you-knew-i-was-snake.html
  
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Cavallo
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:26am
Gotta love those Unions, right? Less than half the workforce was Union but that minority caused all the rest to lose their jobs. This is just the beginning. Expect more companies to go belly up. I hope they are glad they voted for Obama. This will also cause the public assistance programs to sink faster, unemployment insurance, medicaid, etc. Not to mention the job market just got 18,000 more competitors for the few remaining jobs left in the market. Have fun.

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- 1proud_Texan
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:11am
  I can’t wait to see the jobs report. This administration is going to get more creative with their numbers. Anybody with half a brain and keeping up with these layoff stories will be able to see the truth.
  
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- BOWRSTEVR
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:27am
  There in lies the problem, just based on the results of this past past election most people are STUPID!
  
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- starview
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 12:55pm
  Not sure if this link has been posted here or not……. Dailyjobcuts com
  
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- Tom K
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 4:14pm
  @ CAVALLO : Looks like Obama’s ” Forward – over the edge of the cliff ” plan is working just fine. Don’t worry America, it will only get worse. By 2016, will you take responsibility for your vote, or your choice NOT to vote, in 2012 ?
  
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Paulhgreenbay
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:26am
Think about all the poor that got their snack on in the Hostess thrift stores with ebt cards.

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GhostOfJefferson
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:25am
Thousands of members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union went on strike last week after rejecting in September a contract offer that cut wages and benefits.
____________________________________________________________________________________

Well now union idiots, now you have no wages and no benefits. And it’s not like the world is clamoring for 18k new bakers and wrapping machine operators. Congratulations, your absolute lack of intelligence has cost you your careers. Welcome to the unemployment statistics, you deserve to be there more than anybody I can think of at this moment.

And remember, when you’re broke and foreclosed on, to blame those “evil capitalists”, as you will. At no point let the lesson be driven home about trying to squeeze blood from a turnip.

Fools. The lot of them. They deserve what is coming to them.

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- Pantloadian
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:23am
  It ain’t like the world is clamoring for more Twinkies either. There’s a reason they were in bankruptcy.
  
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- Flashydave
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 10:32am
  Yep, with the fiscal cliff debate look for unemployment benefits to be reduced back to 26 weeks. I’ve seen some great signs you guys can use to beg by the hiway. “WILL WATCH U WORK 4 FOOD” or maybe ” HIRE ME I”M A PROVEN GREEDY DUMBASS” or how about ” I WILL DO WHATEVER YOU SAYS AND THE UNION OKS” til debt do we part…so sad…
  
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- Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:00am
  @Wango,
  
  Not like the world was begging for Chevy’s, Solyndra solar panels, or Chrysler’s either. Guess the difference is that we didn’t throw a gazillion taxpayer dollars at them. Just saying.
  
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- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:22am
  Actually, the bankruptcy filing notes high benefits packages and retirement packages as the primary reason. Just like you’ll find in the auto plants before they were nationalized, the union “benefits” are and always have been unsustainable.
  
  But don’t let reality enter your closed mind, Wango.
  
  Slainte
  
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- i_believe
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 12:26pm
  Unions tried to do the same thing to UPS years ago. Took them on an extended strike and when they did finally settle, 15,000 of the union workers never got their job back. That is not something you will find published. Idiots!
  
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Timberline
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:24am
Kill the Unions before they kill America!

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underhispinions
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:24am
Just one step closer to the destrution of a nation.
One business and one family and one military leader at a time.
I hope those that get terminated voted for Obama!
At some point all the free stuff runs out and they are going to wish they had those jobs.

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JESSEBEGATDAVID
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:23am
Unions are a good thing, right?

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Paulhgreenbay
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:22am
Twinkies and Zingers in one shoot….oh the humanity!

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- MAULEMALL
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:29am
  whata doosh
  
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NHwinter
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:21am
It must be because of hurricane Sandy. Not because of anything Obama has done.

The number of unemployed is going to skyrocket. All because of Sandy, how sad.

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- NHwinter
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:26am
  Thank you big union thugs who are members of the Obama administration.
  
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- shogun459
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:29am
  If I didn’t think you were being sarcastic, I would say you’re an Obama slave.
  
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- JustPeachy
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:29am
  NWWinter, I suggest you read the article to learn why they are closing!
  
  Wow. Articles (not a long one at that!) presented with the facts–and people are too lazy to read it (or maybe some can’t?). And instead–simply guess as to why events are happening. You don’t need to guess–the article gives the reasons why the company is closing!
  
  In this case, sounds like legit competition–they were losing ground anyway–and then a strike by a union was the final financial straw for the company.
  
  Sad, but in THIS case (I did NOT vote for Obama) – it’s not his fault.
  
  However, with the general economy being the way it is–despite what O says–it’s on him–at least in great part!
  
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- JustPeachy
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:32am
  Sorry, NH – posted before I read your follow-up comment! I see now you were using sarcasm. . . ;-)
  
  But fair is yet fair . . O isn’t completely to blame for this one – just in great part. ;-)
  
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- Rockapine
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 11:16am
  Oh, I don’t know that I would go that far….I’m fairly certain that Ocare and its implications were a factor in determining profitability.
  
  The business climate in the US is not simply favorable to any but the strongest. All those liberals love evolution, here it is in practice. Survival of the fittest, Monopoly edition.
  
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Paulhgreenbay
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:21am
Hostess also makes Dolly Madison…….NOOOOOOOO! Zingers will be gone also? CHOCOLATE ZINGERS ALSO????

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- Cavallo
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:28am
  Some brands will disappear, but maybe some other companies might see an economic opportunity in buying the brand. Maybe not.. maybe the buyer will be non-Union and can actually turn a profit. Unions kill businesses. Unions and Union members are parasites that poison, sicken, and murder the host organization.
  
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- Leslie Anne
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:33am
  No more zingerssssss for YOU!
  
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- JustPeachy
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:34am
  Maybe a non union company will start up to “fill in the gap” ;-).
  
  Competition, baby! If the market WANTS it, a company could succeed–that is if Big Brother stays out of its way (which sadly is less likely now O is in for another LONG FOUR YEARS. . . Sigh. . .)
  
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- KidCharlemagne
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:55am
  If that’s the final end of Zingers, then I’m gonna’ have to go on suicide watch immediately (LOL) ..
  
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- DIR
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:55am
  I know a lot of robust liberals who’ll be upset with the Hostess decision. No more Twikies for them..
  
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- ConservativeMomofFour
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:52pm
  There are alot of unemployed people in this Country, I wonder what would happen if non-union workers showed up to take over the jobs of the striking union workers? Can the owner of Twinkies tell the unions to f off an hire non union workers?
  Get ready people The Unions are trying this employee walk-out tactic with Wal-mart on black friday to force them to go union.
  http://finance.yahoo.com/news/wal-mart-workers-black-friday-110048819.html
  
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Vickie Dhaene
Posted on November 16, 2012 at 9:19am
A sad day indeed.

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- Mr.Fitnah
  Posted on November 16, 2012 at 8:34pm
  Im still making cream filled partners.
  
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