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Maine’s striking Hostess workers say company’s collapse a strong message of union resolve
Bangor Daily News ^

Posted on 11/17/2012 10:28:20 AM PST by matt04

Labor leaders in Maine say the resilience of the Hostess workers on the picket line at the company’s Biddeford plant, which is in the process of being shut down after the company on Friday said it would liquidate the business, gives them inspiration in the face of what they believe have been ongoing efforts — by politicians, including Gov. Paul LePage, and corporate investors — to reduce union influence.

Bakers’ union officials and their supporters say also that the demise of Hostess Brands Inc., which failed to convince striking workers to return to their jobs, is a warning sign for corporate investors seeking to squeeze more profits out of the working class.

“Unions have been losing power for years,” said Ken Rumney, a striking worker outside of the Hostess plant in Biddeford on Friday. “This is an exceptional case. If Hostess had been allowed to get away with what they’d been trying to do, other corporations would have lined up to try the same tactics. Hopefully, this will be an example to other companies not to [try to] break their unions.”

“I think we’re the first ones who have stood up and said, ‘We’re not going to let you get away with it,’” said Sue Tapley, the strike captain on hand Friday morning at the Biddeford plant, which employed nearly 600 people. “You can fight them. You can shut them down.”

(Excerpt) Read more at bangordailynews.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Maine
KEYWORDS: hostess; strike; twinkee; union
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So roughly 5,000 workers refuse to take a small pay cut to save a company already in bankruptcy and cost ALL 18,500 people, including the Teamsters who agreed to save the company, their jobs. I'm sure the 13,500 out of job because of you feel the same way.
1 posted on 11/17/2012 10:28:35 AM PST by matt04
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To: matt04

They are so powerful, they are now poor and destitute.


2 posted on 11/17/2012 10:30:38 AM PST by Cvengr (Adversity in life and death is inevitable. Thru faith in Christ, stress is optional.)
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To: Cvengr

As Marie Antoinette might have said, “Let the eat Devil Dogs’.


3 posted on 11/17/2012 10:33:22 AM PST by fhayek
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To: matt04
“I think we’re the first ones who have stood up and said, ‘We’re not going to let you get away with it,’” said Sue Tapley, the strike captain on hand Friday morning at the Biddeford plant, which employed nearly 600 people. “You can fight them. You can shut them down.”

The union members believe that "shutting" down a company is in THEIR best interests? Really? So, who is going to feed these OUT OF WORK morons??? I hate to tell these idiots, but THEY have just done more harm to unions than anything that any corporation could possibly do.

4 posted on 11/17/2012 10:34:36 AM PST by SoldierDad (Proud dad of an Army Soldier who has survived 24 months of Combat deployment.)
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To: matt04

Okay, they made their point. I hope they starve.


5 posted on 11/17/2012 10:36:00 AM PST by TexasRepublic (Socialism is the gospel of envy and the religion of thieves)
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To: Cvengr

Twinkies could have survived a nuclear war, but did not survive unions.

A union strike is more destructive than a nuclear strike!


6 posted on 11/17/2012 10:36:38 AM PST by null and void (America - Abducted by Aliens...)
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To: SoldierDad

It amazes me these folks seem to think they have achieved something great. Evedently they do not realize the owners of the company will not lose anything. It’s really only they the workers that will suffer. Idiots!


7 posted on 11/17/2012 10:39:02 AM PST by formosa (consider me galt)
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To: matt04
“You can fight them. You can shut them down.”""""....

By golly you suceeded, you won the fight, now what idiots. But hey, you gotta stick to your principles...hmmmm.hmmmm.hmmmm.

We're very proud of your success, yes sir. We're proud if your proud, looks like we're both happy.

8 posted on 11/17/2012 10:40:22 AM PST by annieokie
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To: matt04

In a previous post there was an article indicating that the unions were blaming Hostess investments in Bain Capitol etc, for Hostess closing. WTF?


9 posted on 11/17/2012 10:40:32 AM PST by duckman (I'm part of the group pulling the wagon!)
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To: matt04

They’re “inspired” after losing their own jobs and causing the same misfortune for a lot more innocent workers?

They think “this will be an example to other companies not to [try to] break their unions”???

Honey, your union done got broke.

Cluelessness on steriods.

This country is doomed.


10 posted on 11/17/2012 10:41:44 AM PST by Jedidah
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To: formosa

Yep. The company that made those products will liquidate, and then that money will be invested somewhere else where money can be made. The union members, listening to the union “thug” leaders, thinking that they’ve done something great are living in a fantasy.


11 posted on 11/17/2012 10:45:13 AM PST by SoldierDad (Proud dad of an Army Soldier who has survived 24 months of Combat deployment.)
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To: matt04

Pointing a gun at their own heads they ask “What are you laughing at, you’re next”.


12 posted on 11/17/2012 10:46:34 AM PST by haffast
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To: matt04

No big deal the bums will have 2 years of unemployment and by then the Kenyan will have another government give away for them. Atlas needs to shrug and there will be no more government checks to hand out. Until then they will no doubt suffer minimal discomfort


13 posted on 11/17/2012 10:47:13 AM PST by nclaurel
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To: matt04

Resolve = Putting 18,500 people out of work. Those union guys are brilliant. Just brilliant! LOL! Knuckledragging, union thugs are the lowest form of life ever found on this planet.


14 posted on 11/17/2012 10:47:21 AM PST by FlingWingFlyer (We need Comprehensive Election Reform, NOW!)
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To: matt04

The welfare system is strong enough for now to enable this kind of behavior.

We’ll have to check on them in a couple of years and see how they are doing.


15 posted on 11/17/2012 10:47:25 AM PST by SaxxonWoods (....Let It Burn....)
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To: TexasRepublic

When the “brothers and sisters” of the bakers Union go hungry, loose their houses or cars, etc. I will not feel sorry for them. I will feel sorry for the rest of the company, including the Teamsters who voted to save the company and their jobs.


16 posted on 11/17/2012 10:49:14 AM PST by matt04
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To: SoldierDad

The union strike captain is likely paid by the union. This outcome was to the benifit of union leadership, not the members.


17 posted on 11/17/2012 10:49:27 AM PST by SauronOfMordor (To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize - Voltaire)
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To: matt04

18 posted on 11/17/2012 10:50:02 AM PST by pgyanke (Republicans get in trouble when not living up to their principles. Democrats... when they do.)
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To: SaxxonWoods

I agree, we should check on the strike Captain in a couple of months to see how she is doing......


19 posted on 11/17/2012 10:52:24 AM PST by martinidon
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To: nclaurel

I will wager that 90% of the union were betting on DumBO saving the company. However they forget the Moosechelle affect, they are working in an evil industry. They might, as well, have been coal fired power plant workers for all the good it will do.


20 posted on 11/17/2012 10:58:35 AM PST by depressed in 06 (America conceived in liberty, dies in slavery.)
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