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Is This Really the End? Hostess Says Talks to Prevent Shutdown Have Failed

Nov. 20, 2012 9:43pm
Hostess Says Talks to Prevent Shutdown Have Failed

MIAMI, FL – NOVEMBER 16: In this photo illustration, Hostess Brands Twinkies products are shown on November 16, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Hostess Brands Inc. decided to liquidate its business after striking workers with the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union didn’t return to normal work levels as the company managment had demanded. (Credit: Getty Images)

NEW YORK (AP) — Hostess Brands Inc. lived to die another day.

The maker of Twinkies and Ding Dongs said late Tuesday that it failed to reach an agreement with its second-biggest union. As a result, Hostess plans to continue with a hearing on Wednesday in which a bankruptcy court judge in White Plains, N.Y., will decide if the company can shutter its operations.

The renewed talks between Hostess and The Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union came after the company declared last week that it would move to wind down its business and start selling off its assets in bankruptcy court. The company cited a crippling strike that was started on Nov. 9 by the union, which represents 30 percent of Hostess workers.

After making its case to liquidate on Monday, the bankruptcy court judge noted that the two sides hadn’t yet tried resolving their differences through private mediation. The judge noted that 18,000 jobs were on the line and urged the company and union to try to resolve their differences. Both sides agreed to hold mediation proceedings on Tuesday.

In a statement late Tuesday, Hostess said it would not comment on the breakdown in talks other than to say that mediation “was unsuccessful.” There was no immediate comment from the bakers union.

Hostess shut down its three dozen plants late last week after it said the strike by the bakers union hurt its ability to maintain normal production. The union says the company’s demise was the result of years of mismanagement, however, and that workers have already given steep concessions over the years.

Hostess, weighed down by management turmoil, rising labor costs and Americans’ changing tastes, is making its second trip through Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring. The company, based in Irving, Texas, had brought on CEO Gregory Rayburn as a restructuring expert in part to renegotiate its contract with labor unions.

The company reached an agreement with its biggest union, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, on a contract that dramatically reduced pension contributions, as well as slashing wages and health benefits. But the company said the bakers union stopped returning its calls about a month ago.

Hostess Says Talks to Prevent Shutdown Have Failed

OAKLAND, CA – NOVEMBER 16: Striking bakery workers stand near a truck outside of the Hostess baking facility on November 16, 2012 in Oakland, California. Hostess Brands, the maker of Twinkies, Ding Dongs and Wonder Bread, announced plans to liquidate its assets and lay off nearly 18,500 employees due to a workers strike brought on by an imposed contract that would cut workers’ wages by 8 percent. (Credit: Getty Images)

Hostess Says Talks to Prevent Shutdown Have Failed

OAKLAND, CA – NOVEMBER 16: Trucks sit idle at the Hostess baking facility on November 16, 2012 in Oakland, California. Hostess Brands, the maker of Twinkies, Ding Dongs and Wonder Bread, announced plans to liquidate its assets and lay off nearly 18,500 employees due to a workers strike brought on by an imposed contract that would cut workers’ wages by 8 percent. (Credit: Getty Images)

The Teamsters urged the smaller union to hold a secret ballot on whether members wanted to continue striking. Many workers in the bakers union decided to cross picket lines last week but Hostess said it wasn’t enough to keep operations at normal levels.

Teamsters General Secretary Ken Hall said the failure of the mediation talks Tuesday and the likely shuttering of the company was a “tragic outcome” for Hostess workers.

Rayburn said that Hostess was already operating on razor thin margins and that the strike was the final blow. The bakers union meanwhile pointed to the steep raises executives were given last year as the company was spiraling down toward bankruptcy.

The company’s announcement last week that it would move to liquidate prompted a rush on Hostess treats across the country, with many businesses selling out of Twinkies within hours.

Even if Hostess goes out of business, its popular brands will likely find a second life after being snapped up by buyers. The company says several potential buyers have expressed interest in the brands. Although Hostess’ sales have been declining in recent years, the company still does about $2.5 billion in business each year. Twinkies alone brought in $68 million so far this year.

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Comments (122)

1 2 3
  • Speaking_my_mind
    Posted on November 21, 2012 at 12:09am

    Two questions.
    1. Why the company was able to increase the salaries to upper management if profit margins were so thin?
    2. Why the company needs judge’s permission to close? What if judge decides that they need to continue their operation. What then?

    Not trying to be a smart azz – just really trying to figure those things out.

    Report this comment

    Speaking_my_mind  
    • Raging_Waters
      Posted on November 21, 2012 at 1:04am

      Oh no, it looks like the Obama worshipers will have to buy Little Debbies cakes with their foodstamps instead! :-o

      Report this comment

      Raging_Waters  
    • sacwoodpusher
      Posted on November 21, 2012 at 2:15am

      Because they need smart management to restore the company to profitability. Whether it seems right or not, management salaries are a drop in the bucket compared to the salaries of 18,000 workers.

      These people in this type of union are virtually unskilled anyway. Why aren’t they minimum wage? They generally don’t have anything but a diploma from high school, if that.

      It doesn’t mattter anyway…….These jobs are going to Mexico, the Americans didn’t want them. They should be ineligible for unemployment.

      Report this comment

      sacwoodpusher  
    • Lordcsmith
      Posted on November 21, 2012 at 2:18am

      1. The previous CEO raised salaries, got it approved by the judge and left the company for Diamond. The current CEO is a restructuring Officer placed in the interim CEO position until the bankruptcy is over. He reversed the salary raises and dropped the top four executives to one dollar a year until Dec. 31st or the bankruptcy is over.

      2. A business as sizeable as hostess cannot make dramatic changes without arbitration by a judge during a bankruptcy debt restructure. Too many people are owed money by Hostess to just walk away without a judge’s permission. Their largest unsecured debt, of many, is 732 million. You don’t get to run without a judge figuring out how to get these folks their money. They can’t be forced to stay open if they don’t have the money to pay anyone. It would be forcing them to go further into debt without a means of getting out.

      Report this comment

      Lordcsmith  
    • Rowgue
      Posted on November 21, 2012 at 2:53am

      1) Because they didn’t.

      2) They don’t need permission to go out of business, that’s not really accurate. The judge can’t tell them they have to stay in business.

      The hearing is about the bankruptcy filing. It’s a bit more complicated than this but for simplicity’s sake bankruptcy protection essentially writes off whatever debts the business doesn’t have the means to pay either directly or by liquidating it’s assets. The hearing is mostly to determine each creditors place in line to get paid with whatever the business has left. It’s a big deal because usually unless you’re one of the first couple in line you’re never going to see a dime.

      Report this comment

      Rowgue  
    • Chi_Chi
      Posted on November 21, 2012 at 5:43am

      The unions killed Twinkie. Read fresh political commentary at: http://smallcraftadvisorychronicles.blogspot.com/

      Report this comment

      Chi_Chi  
    • Baerlin
      Posted on November 21, 2012 at 6:19am

      Someone should talk about union officials salaries. They make millions off of their members. These are the real parasites. I was in a union for 17 years and saw this 1st hand. They don’t care about the worker. They care in as much as this is about money in their koffers and strength at the polls.

      Report this comment

      Baerlin  
    • DEMOCRATS.ARE.EVIL
      Posted on November 21, 2012 at 7:41am

      The happiest person in America today: Little Debbie.

      Report this comment

      DEMOCRATS.ARE.EVIL  
    • Evil Bert
      Posted on November 21, 2012 at 8:28am

      Hostess needs to file Chapter 11. If hostess was debt free, had no contract with Unions, etc, then they would not need a judge. However, if you are debt free you don’t file for bankruptcy. Also even if they were debt free, they have a contract with a Union, to which they cannot break without being in breach. So only a court can resolve the contract if the two parties do not mutually agree to do so.

      On a side note to all of you trying to politicizes this – Liberals, Conservatives, Obama, Bush, Palin, Muslim Brotherhood, et al, have nothing to do with this.

      Report this comment

      Evil Bert  
    • turkey13
      Posted on November 21, 2012 at 9:27am

      How would you like to be the 70% that’s not in the union. I bet they would take a $2.00 an hour pay cut to keep their jobs. Any company has to have salery employes to pay the bills and make the decisions. It is the stockholders that make the final decision to shut down a company. If there is no profit they will sell everything including the building and property to recoup their investments.

      Report this comment

      turkey13  
    • The Jewish Avenger
      Posted on November 21, 2012 at 9:42am

      4800 people =30%

      Their stubborness and faith towards their union = 25% cut in and a 26 week vacation….

      then their fired and most likely let go by the union by then.

      United States: Percent of athiests, agnostic, anti-Christian moral people in the US = 30%

      Nuff Said.

      Report this comment

      The Jewish Avenger  
    • pap pap
      Posted on November 21, 2012 at 9:44am

      I had a problem with that judges permission to shutter issue also.

      Hostess needs to do an organized bankruptcy and then move to right to work states and do it without the stupid union work rules which are just to bring in more union dues. If the unions cared about the workers this strike would never have happened. Hostess will never survive with the union monkey on it’s back.

      Report this comment

      pap pap  
    • turkey13
      Posted on November 21, 2012 at 9:52am

      What a shame the unions spent $300 million on Obamas re-election. They could go down to the auction and and compete with all the other bidders and buy the company. That’s about 6,000 union jobs and then they could have required the other 12,000 non union memebers to sign up to keep their jobs. This is why you have wage & salery employees. Those 12,000 non-union folks have been saving $100.00 a month over the 30% union that pat dues to go to the Democratic party.

      Report this comment

      turkey13  
    • JRook
      Posted on November 21, 2012 at 10:48am

      How about some real reporting and real information regarding the wage and benefit concessions already provided to the company rather than the expected anti-union slant. Information regarding salary increases, executive bonuses, stock dividends and the like would also provide a clearer picture on where proportional blame belongs. The products they make are garbage, but obviously some people eat them.

      Report this comment

      JRook  
    • LEON1952
      Posted on November 21, 2012 at 12:18pm

      Supply and demand requires paying more to manage a failing company. These managers likely saw their jobs as temporary jobs. Their backs were to the wall with the unions and failure was imminent. I run a small business and I need to be flexible so I can adjust to the market. Unions eliminates flexibility. For years you may be able to afford the added expenses but one day, when times are different you may be toast.

      Report this comment

      LEON1952  
    • naughtycal
      Posted on November 21, 2012 at 2:52pm

      their highest paid CEO made 2,000,000 last year…..Those 18000 workers made 720,000,000 that means the CEO made less than 1/3 of 1% of the what the employee made.
      These union workers quit their jobs they should be able to collect unemployment as they quit….and took the comapny down with them…..for their inability to even remotely grasp the concept of graditude I hope they get a true life lesson via a nice long stretch in poverty.

      Report this comment

      naughtycal  
    • Cavallo
      Posted on November 21, 2012 at 3:05pm

      Ding Dong the Twinkies’ dead!
      Killed by the Unions
      Shot in the Head
      Ding Dong the Union Twinkies dead!
      Hi ho, oh merry oh,
      The Twinkies headed south,
      Down to Mexico!

      Does anyone have any video links to the Union members crying about being unemployed. That would make my weekend a very happy one.

      Report this comment

      Cavallo  
    • skullbuster
      Posted on November 21, 2012 at 3:25pm

      Why on earth would a Judge rule that a private business stay in business if they don’t want to. That’s like saying you should sell lemonade in the front of your house cause the poor people are thirsty.

      Report this comment

      skullbuster  
    • GetOuttaMyPocket
      Posted on November 21, 2012 at 3:49pm

      at Raging_Waters: Very good point! Unfortunately they are already spending their food stamp money on Little Debbies and wash it down with tons of soda. Then they complain they don’t get enough money for food and that it costs too much to eat healthy. Have they ever checked the price on a bag of apples or carrots? Of course we are also paying for their diabetes and cholesterol meds. Later we get to pay for their open heart surgery or nursing home stay after a stroke. Time for personal responsibility.

      Report this comment

      GetOuttaMyPocket  
    • TheGrove
      Posted on November 22, 2012 at 9:01am

      This video of an Indianapolis employee confronting the Hostess strikers in Indianapolis gets me every time!
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJwd-u7vpzw

      Report this comment

      TheGrove  
  • JUSTANOTHEROPINION
    Posted on November 21, 2012 at 12:02am

    This is fine as long as I have Dunkin Donuts & Krispy Cream I’ll survive!!!!

    Report this comment

    JUSTANOTHEROPINION  
  • Chancellor
    Posted on November 20, 2012 at 11:56pm

    What reason do Unions members have to settle any dispute?

    If they win they get outragous stuff………Go on strike and shut the company down for good you get Unemployment forever……

    Then the tax rate in this country for businesses is second to none……..and they wonder why there are no jobs……

    Report this comment

    Chancellor  
    • Quandary
      Posted on November 21, 2012 at 12:05am

      Incorrect as we saw with the autoworkers. Obama steps in using taxpayer money to renegotiate the debt. Give the shareholders and investors $.05 on the dollar with no option to refuse, then give the unions 60% control of the company.

      Report this comment

      Quandary  
    • longknifed
      Posted on November 21, 2012 at 3:36am

      i can’t take this pos website seriously anymore. They constantly post this crap and constantly delete your comments. i guess the “truth” only vacations here.

      longknifed  
    • barber2
      Posted on November 21, 2012 at 7:34am

      LONG: Have a suggestion : why don’t you leave and not come back with a new name this time ?

      Report this comment

      barber2  
    • Jenny Lind
      Posted on November 21, 2012 at 8:22am

      Everytime I hear about “saving GM” I go nuts, I lost my stock as a widow, 25% of my income went down the drain. Bond holders got screwed too. The bankruptcy (I have the papers to prove they went bankrupt), was only good for the union, but Obama and gang lied and lied about it and no one came back at them for it. GM isen’t a good risk today either and is moving much to China. So many people in this country are still fat, dumb and happy, but soon they will find out the hard way, when it is too late. Scuse me, it’s time for blood pressure meds.

      Report this comment

      Jenny Lind  
  • MrKnowItAll
    Posted on November 20, 2012 at 11:24pm

    I have seen Twinky’s going for $15.00 a Box and more on E Bay All Day.

    Report this comment

    MrKnowItAll  
  • sparkyrules
    Posted on November 20, 2012 at 11:08pm

    The old trusted American names in many products are not what they used to be,or made in the USA anymore.Its a ‘global market’. Get used to it.
    I remember back in the late 60′s to mid 70′s when I first heard about the ‘global economy’. No such a thing anymore as brand loyalty,it was easy to see coming.What Joe or Jane could make in the USA,it could be made cheaper by Jamal or Arcelia somewhere else.That Maytag washer or that Twinkie is just as easily produced elsewhere in the ‘global economy’.

    Report this comment

    sparkyrules  
    • sparkyrules
      Posted on November 20, 2012 at 11:52pm

      No reason to be too sad though.Reminiscing about he past.AMERICAN INGENUITY still rocks the World.Always has.

      Report this comment

      sparkyrules  
    • DEFCON4
      Posted on November 21, 2012 at 12:30am

      And, crown thy good, with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.
      To crown, is to honor, respect, and to hold in highest esteem….
      reminiscing with, Dr Martin Luther King jr.
      @Sparky “keep on truck’in”…

      Report this comment

      DEFCON4  
  • JUSTANOTHEROPINION
    Posted on November 20, 2012 at 11:07pm

    I can not feel sorry for morons. These peoplr had a job that even with the requested cuts would have still fed them and paid their bills. I say, let them starve, let there cars be reposessed, let there houses go into forclosure and they can go live under a bridge. The Unions are just as stupid as these people because after all out of work people don’t pay dues. The Unions are doing the work for us and soon we will be rid of them if they keep this up. I guess the new Union slogan is “join a Union so you can starve”.

    Report this comment

    JUSTANOTHEROPINION  
    • ONLY4UANDME
      Posted on November 21, 2012 at 6:38am

      Union employee’s depend on their union heads to think for them just like they depend on the government EMPLOYEES to think for them. They are way too stupid and or lazy to understand that THEY ARE THE UNION AND THE EMPLOYER OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS. They have been and will continue to be herded like sheep. America is done as we knew it.

      Report this comment

      ONLY4UANDME  
  • NeoMouser
    Posted on November 20, 2012 at 11:05pm

    this will be the end of more than 18000 jobs…now that they will no longer be ordering ingredients
    those drivers will have to be routed elsewhere or loose their jobs as well
    the ingredient makers make the ingredients specifically for hostess with strict quality guidelines
    the people who make those ingredients will now find their hours cut at worst.
    i used to work for a potatoe factory making fries and tots as well as battered wedges for KFC
    when they cut a order it cuts into workers hours….there will be more layoffs and businesses closing because of this IF they dont sell the rights to another company.

    Report this comment

    NeoMouser  
  • wordsofwisdom
    Posted on November 20, 2012 at 10:57pm

    The company is going down in flames & the union cry’s give us more, give us more But nobody realized they were already out the door. What a bad decision this union has made. How dumb do you half to be to call a strike when a co. is in bankruptcy trying to survive. They went for the jugular & the co. is now finished. Boy that union is a good one. Right? We need more unions like this in the country. I bet all 18,000 of you like your union still. Most will never change their opinions about unions. Over the cliff we go but we love our unions. Sad but true this song is a reflection of you “Diversity” http://www.reverbnation.com/open_graph/song/11826046
    I hope you wake up soon.

    Report this comment

    wordsofwisdom  
    • chicago76
      Posted on November 20, 2012 at 11:05pm

      If they lose their jobs, Obama has promised them unemployment compensation forever. Win win situation. They get paid and don’t have to work.

      Report this comment

      chicago76  
    • Cavallo
      Posted on November 21, 2012 at 12:45am

      Unemployment insurance pays 50-75% of their normal salary. 8% cut or a 25%. Not to mention any medical benefits will be going away, unless they are willing to cover the employers side of the costs as well.. I love it when Union members cry.

      Report this comment

      Cavallo  
  • spfoam1
    Posted on November 20, 2012 at 10:49pm

    Negotiating with a union is like negotiating with Hamas. They always want more, and more, and more……

    Report this comment

    spfoam1  
    • 70S_KIDS_FIGHTING_SOCIALISM
      Posted on November 20, 2012 at 11:06pm

      Your absolutely right. Notice the Obama administration also acts exactly like the terrorist groups like Hamas. They will lie every time to cover up their corruption. They tell the people they are for them while hurting Americans making life harder for them in every way they can.

      Report this comment

      70S_KIDS_FIGHTING_SOCIALISM  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on November 20, 2012 at 11:38pm

      That is an excellent example, trade away more from a company only makes the unions demand yet more and more until the company shuts down or collapses…then blame ‘vulture capitalism’ and the free market system…

      And them demand that the government Nationalize it for the ‘good of the unions, by the unions and for the unions…and forget the people and owners.’

      Report this comment

      Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • HKS
    Posted on November 20, 2012 at 10:49pm

    All the deals have already been made to purchase this company, this negotiation was just for show. They wouldn’t survive with any union deals that could be done. Like a lot of companies here, their too big to succeed.

    Report this comment

    HKS  
  • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
    Posted on November 20, 2012 at 10:39pm

    The union has nobody to blame, but itself. They didn’t say how MUCH of a raise the executives got. Who knows, they may have agreed to a decrease inpay to help keep the compnay going.
    Maybe Keebler, Sarah Lee, or a right to work company will buy them.
    I hope they can keep them in the states.

    Report this comment

    Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
  • bigjason
    Posted on November 20, 2012 at 10:34pm

    I wouldn’t be surprised if Obama interjects himself into this dispute and tries to force Hostess into accepting some sort of deal with the unions. Perhaps some sort of disguised bailout? Indirect pressure applied through the judges, etc. After all, this situation is a prime opportunity to enhance union power and bring some more “greedy corporate execs” under increased control. He did say something to the effect that he wanted to do to the rest of the economy what he did with GM. Plus this doesn’t look good so close to his re-historic election. Of course, Moochelle might not want Hostess to survive anyway, so it’s a toss up, I suppose.

    Report this comment

    bigjason  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on November 20, 2012 at 10:44pm

      Obama is out of the country, I don’t think he will get involved, the election is over, he has no one to impress anymore.

      Report this comment

      Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on November 20, 2012 at 11:42pm

      he isn’t going to save junk food even if its a iconic brand name. I’m waiting for the salt/sugar tax & maybe a fat tax to come and drive cost through the roof

      Report this comment

      RepubliCorp  
    • ONLY4UANDME
      Posted on November 21, 2012 at 6:43am

      Anonymous: Obama said ” we just got started”. There is no way in hell he is done. He has all his friends in the middle east to impress.

      Report this comment

      ONLY4UANDME  
  • HUGGINGMYBABIES
    Posted on November 20, 2012 at 10:30pm

    I bet $10 it moves just South across the border and thrives. Cheap labor, no unions, same fabulous Twinkie taste. Adios unionistas!

    Report this comment

    HUGGINGMYBABIES  
  • BeingThere
    Posted on November 20, 2012 at 10:20pm

    The country is lost, who cares about twinkies!!

    Report this comment

    BeingThere  
  • sparkyrules
    Posted on November 20, 2012 at 10:20pm

    Nothing magical about Ho Ho’s,Twinkies or Suzie Q’s,except the names.They all have the white creme in the middle.And they’ve all gotten smaller over the years,at higher prices to boot.They used to taste better too.
    Damn unions and corporate.Maybe Frito Lay Corp. will buy Hostess and bring back the quality.

    Report this comment

    sparkyrules  
  • PIGSWILLNEVERFLY
    Posted on November 20, 2012 at 10:16pm

    Justice would be to sell the brand to a company in a right to work State and watch it grow again. If I was Hostess I would sell it for cheap just to keep it going as an American Icon. Unions are damaging ALL of America…government, schools, industries…they are bad and evil collective communists are running them like a mafia. Pay to Play same as Pay to Work…you don’t pay us, you don’t work. Thugs.

    Report this comment

    PIGSWILLNEVERFLY  
    • PeachyinGA
      Posted on November 20, 2012 at 10:23pm

      Yes, and name it Hostess Non-Union Company.

      Report this comment

      PeachyinGA  
    • Gregb
      Posted on November 20, 2012 at 10:24pm

      a big AMEN to that post….!

      Report this comment

      Gregb  
    • NCalGrammi
      Posted on November 20, 2012 at 10:40pm

      I thought Texas was a right to work state, isn’t it?

      Report this comment

      NCalGrammi  
    • Gregb
      Posted on November 20, 2012 at 11:36pm

      Hostess is located in Irving. Texas and Texas is a right to work state –
      https://www.oag.state.tx.us/agency/righttowork.shtml
      but Hostess should have separated entry locations – one for union and one for non-union. That way the non-union could still come to work and the union could only picket their entry gate.
      There were people that were willing to cross picket lines, but not enough to keep the business going.

      Report this comment

      Gregb  
  • Inexiledan
    Posted on November 20, 2012 at 10:13pm

    Good job Union Fools. This will teach Hostess management. You blow up your job and thousands more. By the way, I wonder how the Union upper management will suffer? Oops, I guess they will continue to draw a big fat paycheck while you pound the sidewalk. If you Union Fools have not noticed, there is a major slowdown in hiring. You have 99 weeks to figure out that you have just flushed the rest of your working years down the shi****. Reminds me of Blazing Saddles, new sheriff, gun to head, and threatens to shoot unless his demand are met. Key, he did not pull the trigger.

    Report this comment

    Inexiledan  
    • HotFixIt
      Posted on November 21, 2012 at 12:17am

      I think that 99 weeks stuff actually expires with the rest of the ‘goodies’ on Jan 1… welcome to the ‘fiscal cliff’!

      Report this comment

      HotFixIt  
  • TRILO
    Posted on November 20, 2012 at 10:12pm

    It is time for Hostess to become part of American folklore. The food is nothing but junk, full of preservatives and GMO sugar. I would not give my dog a Hostess product, let alone my kids. Wonder Bread can not compete with store brands due to union costs. Why would anyone buy a loaf of Wonder Bread for almost $3 when they can buy a store brand for $1.50 or less.

    The management ran this company like a cash cow. The CEO’s gave themselves hefty raises over the past several years while the workers had their wages/benefits reduced. The unions pushed their money for nothing agenda that hurt the competitiveness of the company in the long run. They are all a bunch of losers. Claw back the CEO wages and tell the union to take a hike. Payoff the creditors and move on.

    All the while, the justice dept is just salivating to get a hold of this company in order to nationalize it in the name of bankruptcy mediation. This is what we should be concerned about. Remember, never let a good crisis go to waste. 18000 jobs in one fell swoop is a good crisis for government intervention.

    Report this comment

    TRILO  
    • sparkyrules
      Posted on November 20, 2012 at 10:31pm

      “Why would anyone buy a loaf of Wonder Bread for almost $3 when they can buy a store brand for $1.50 or less.”

      Its the SAME bread with a different package/label.You pay more for the brand name.There are LOTS of people to be paid in a loaf of bread with a TRUSTED name,besides the basic’s.From the person who sweeps the floor,to the CEO who answers to the shareholders.
      That little loaf of bread employs many people for sure.

      Report this comment

      sparkyrules  
  • marine249
    Posted on November 20, 2012 at 10:12pm

    It’s got to be Bush’s fault.

    Report this comment

    marine249  
  • Stiggs
    Posted on November 20, 2012 at 9:58pm

    Methinks the union looks like a bunch of ding-dongs now.

    Report this comment

    Stiggs  
  • capitalismrocks
    Posted on November 20, 2012 at 9:55pm

    The Union is being unreasonable… no surprise, but let’s not hold Hostess completely innocent, their exec’s were busy getting pay raises while the company was making concessions… in hard times, any company who’s management really wants to share “in the pain” should’n't have taken ANY raises and in fact should’ve themselves all taken a 5-10% pay cut as a showing of pitching in with the situation.

    However, the sole culprit of this situation and the demise of the company is the union, they just can’t process the idea that when times are tough, the economy slows, product sales drop, this means that cuts are made, but unions live in a bubble.

    Report this comment

    capitalismrocks  
    • Eternal
      Posted on November 20, 2012 at 10:11pm

      The c levels took only a dollar pay last few years. Hope the unions, all 18,000 lose jobs. Thank Obama for this. Lmfao completely

      Report this comment

      Eternal  
  • PeachyinGA
    Posted on November 20, 2012 at 9:54pm

    I propose, if you are a union worker who puts your employer out of business while on strike, your unemployment check is drawn from the union, NOT the federal government.

    Report this comment

    PeachyinGA  
    • ArgumentumAdAbsurdum
      Posted on November 21, 2012 at 4:56am

      The unions arent putting Hostess out of business. Hostess was heavily debt ridden and on its way out well before the workers went on strike.

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      ArgumentumAdAbsurdum  
  • rickc34
    Posted on November 20, 2012 at 9:54pm

    I went to the store today and went down the bread aisle, it was strange not to see the Hostess brands . Well this is what unions do.

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    rickc34  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on November 20, 2012 at 9:50pm

    Do you notice the women on strike, this is one case where the women want to get back in the kitchen, or maybe they couldn’t stand the heat.

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    Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
  • CharlestonJohn
    Posted on November 20, 2012 at 9:50pm

    None of those union people deserve jobs.

    Report this comment

    CharlestonJohn  
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