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Hostess Closure Means Locals Lose Jobs
NBC Bay Area ^ | Friday, Nov 16, 2012

Posted on 11/17/2012 5:17:52 PM PST by nickcarraway

Yes the Twinkie and the Ho Ho may not be available for snacking, but there are people who lost their jobs when Hostess closed its doors.

The bankruptcy of Hostess Brands Inc. made headlines across social media and news websites Friday as people across the country mourned the loss of the Twinkie.

But the news means more than a loss of a snack food option for 145 people who work at the Oakland bakery and numerous retail outlets around the Bay Area.

They are loosing their jobs because of the shut down.

The company, known for its Twinkies, Ho Hos and Wonder Bread announced Friday morning that it is shutting down operations and has filed a motion in U.S. Bankruptcy Court seeking permission to sell its brands and facilities.

Company officials blamed the decision on a recent strike by the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union.

"We deeply regret the necessity of today's decision, but we do not have the financial resources to weather an extended nationwide strike," CEO Gregory F. Rayburn said.

"Hostess Brands will move promptly to lay off most of its 18,500-member workforce and focus on selling its assets to the highest bidders."

Local union officials were not immediately available for comment. The Colombo bakery at 580 Julie Ann Way in Oakland, a facility with around 145 employees, closed Friday, according to Hostess spokeswoman Anita Marie Laurie.

A voicemail recording at the bakery today directs employees not to come in to work. Hostess also has retail outlets around the Bay Area, in cities including San Pablo, San Leandro, Vallejo, Pittsburg, Dublin, Santa Rosa, Santa Clara and San Jose.

A statement on the company's web site indicates that retail stores may stay open for "several days" in order to sell already-baked products. The shutdown will affect 33 bakeries, 565 distribution centers, 5,500 delivery routes and 570 bakery outlets nationwide.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Food
KEYWORDS:
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To: RitchieAprile

Quite possible. But only 29 hours/ week to avoid Obamacare, LOL.


61 posted on 11/17/2012 6:15:01 PM PST by nascarnation (Baraq's bankruptcy: 2016)
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To: nascarnation

Might work for some of the packaged items, but not the Wonder Bread I would think, they’ll end up like bricks... like Iron Kids Bread...


62 posted on 11/17/2012 6:15:26 PM PST by GeronL (http://asspos.blogspot.com)
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To: GeronL

Yah, some 200 out-of-work at Merita Orlando. Those are the same fools who returned Alan Grayson to Congress. Soon they will be on the street corner, hoping for change - in their begging cup.


63 posted on 11/17/2012 6:15:33 PM PST by NonValueAdded ("Our president ... makes big speeches packed full of little ideas" Charles C. W. Cooke)
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To: NonValueAdded

Will they still be paying union dues when they have no job and no hope?


64 posted on 11/17/2012 6:17:58 PM PST by GeronL (http://asspos.blogspot.com)
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To: GeronL
How exactly does this make the unions stronger? They get stronger the fewer workers they have?

18,500 workers is chicken feed to them - they want to demonstrate to the big players that the union is ready to sacrifice it all (likely emboldened now that Obama has their back). So they trash Hostess to put the Boeings, the auto makers, etc. on notice.

65 posted on 11/17/2012 6:18:45 PM PST by NonValueAdded ("Our president ... makes big speeches packed full of little ideas" Charles C. W. Cooke)
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To: GeronL

Twinkies should last indefinitely I should think.


66 posted on 11/17/2012 6:19:15 PM PST by RitchieAprile (the obsteperous gentleman..)
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To: nickcarraway

aint karma a b*tch?


67 posted on 11/17/2012 6:19:48 PM PST by JessieHelmsJr (Tree hugging liberals call it global warming. We call it summertime. FUBO!!!)
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To: FlingWingFlyer

Well, somebody had to pay for the union knuckledraggers to have their “great victory” over “big bidness”. The union commies are showing “resolve” don’t ya know.


Those knuckle draggers get paid well. See this link.

http://www.unionfacts.com/employees/Bakery%2C_Confectionary%2C_Tobacco_Workers_%26_Grain_Millers


68 posted on 11/17/2012 6:22:21 PM PST by fudimo
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To: NonValueAdded

I think it will have the opposite effect


69 posted on 11/17/2012 6:24:10 PM PST by GeronL (http://asspos.blogspot.com)
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To: RitchieAprile

Yes, some day aliens will be studying Earth and the Twinkies will be found and thought to be a higher life form... they might even evolve...


70 posted on 11/17/2012 6:25:28 PM PST by GeronL (http://asspos.blogspot.com)
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To: TXBlair

oh my goodness, I thought I was the only one... I cringe when I see that in posts... but in a new article? Where are the English/grammar teachers?


71 posted on 11/17/2012 6:25:28 PM PST by republicangel
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To: GeronL

What about the Twinkie?


72 posted on 11/17/2012 6:28:27 PM PST by dfwgator
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To: fudimo

Wow.

I wonder if they will ask those laid off to keep paying ther dues?

I bet they will ask.


73 posted on 11/17/2012 6:28:41 PM PST by GeronL (http://asspos.blogspot.com)
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To: GeronL
I love Mrs. Bairds, but the Bimbo brand still causes a bit of shock. It doesn't translate well.
74 posted on 11/17/2012 6:29:50 PM PST by pepperdog ( I still get a thrill up my leg when spell check doesn't recognize the name/word Obama!)
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To: nickcarraway
Local union officials were not immediately available for comment.

Probably a group session with their shrink where the local president asks, "Do you think we pushed them too far???"

75 posted on 11/17/2012 6:31:12 PM PST by OrioleFan (Republicans believe every day is July 4th, Democrats believe every day is April 15th.)
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To: pepperdog

lol.

I know.


76 posted on 11/17/2012 6:31:53 PM PST by GeronL (http://asspos.blogspot.com)
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To: dfwgator

Twinkies will survive!!

I beeleeeeiiiiiiivvvveeeeee!!!

Where is that crying girl pic?... Leave Twinkies alone!!!


77 posted on 11/17/2012 6:33:48 PM PST by GeronL (http://asspos.blogspot.com)
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To: Josa
And it’s not just the Hostess employee’s jobs. Also affected are all the vendors who provided materials to the Hostess factories. 18,500 is not the true effective jobs lost.

There will be a chain reaction in the areas the bakeries were in. Suppliers, support services, plus the former employees will be doing belt-tightening and not buying so much from local businesses.

78 posted on 11/17/2012 6:36:26 PM PST by PapaBear3625 (political correctness is communist thought control, disguised as good manners)
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To: PapaBear3625

Meanwhile the union leader will still get hs $210K a year

http://www.unionfacts.com/employees/Bakery%2C_Confectionary%2C_Tobacco_Workers_%26_Grain_Millers


79 posted on 11/17/2012 6:43:13 PM PST by GeronL (http://asspos.blogspot.com)
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To: republicangel

I know!! I definitely make careless mistakes when posting sometimes, but a supposed journalist should be able to do better. If he can’t, shouldn’t an editor or proofreader catch it?

You really want to cringe? Go to The Biggest Loser’s website (I love that show!) and read the viewers’ comments. You will be horrified by how many people are trying to “loose” weight. Even with the word “Loser” in the show’s title, people post about “loosing” weight. It’s really something.

Ha, what was this article about again? Yes, I’m one of those terrible FReepers who gets so distracted by poor grammar that I totally miss the point of the article, lol.


80 posted on 11/17/2012 6:45:42 PM PST by TXBlair (We will not forget Benghazi, Mister Prez.)
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