Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Union Sticks It to Hostess and Leaves Workers Jobless
Realville, USA ^ | Nov 16, 2012 | Ombud

Posted on 11/16/2012 8:39:19 PM PST by SquarePants

I guess there was a time when unions did some good. I know my great grandfather was a big supporter of them, but frankly I can't see where they do anything good at all anymore. From the time I was a kid, all I've ever understood about them was that they're associated with organized crime, and they're physically violent and proud of it. But over the last couple of years I've learned a little bit more, and I have to say I'm not at all enthusiastic about what I've seen.

First it was SEIU union thugs tossing beatdowns at TEA Partiers, and Democrat Congressmen letting them shout down citizens at constituent forums. Then it was the teacher's union in Wisconsin, trashing their statehouse and generally acting like a bunch of lawless creeps who I wouldn't trust with my children for a minute. Now it's a union killing their own employer and one of America's most ubiquitous brands.

The last couple of days I kept hearing about how Hostess management said they would be forced to cease operations and liquidate the company's assets if the union wouldn't agree to a deal. I figured it would be like most other labor disputes, with brinksmanship being tempered by the obvious reality that the workers would be better off with a job than with nothing at all.

But I was wrong. The unions decided to let their last hope of saving anyone's jobs go, and now the company looks like they'll be liquidated, and every single employee will lose their job. Amazing. Stating that the company doesn't have the resources to weather an extended strike, Hostess CEO Gregory Rayburn announced today that everyone's losing their jobs, and the company's assets will be sold. Big win for the union, I guess, but it's a huge loss for the 18,000 workers. Correction. Ex-workers.

The most mystifying thing about is that most likely Twinkies and Ding-Dongs and their related products will survive. The product brands will be sold, and we probably won't have to suffer any type of interruption in our Twinkie supply, thank God. The ownership will get screwed, of course, having to sell the brands for whatever they can get. But the biggest losers are the workers. With unemployment at 8% and likely to go higher based on all the layoff announcements I've seen the past couple of weeks, how many of these workers do you ecpect to find jobs at all, much less better jobs?

To everyone's great relief, the union bigwigs who caused it all will be ok. None of them are likely to lose their jobs, and they'll no doubt prance on, free to create more suffering at whatever lucky company gets to host their next shakedown. I wonder how many of the people in that picture up top had any idea how successful they'd be at "sticking it to the man?" Somehow I doubt this is the outcome they wanted.

I'm not sure what the deal was that the Hostess workers' union rejected, but I have to wonder if the union bigwigs feel like their workers are somehow better off with another 18,000 of them out of work. Well, they got what they wanted.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Politics
KEYWORDS: hostess
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-87 next last

1 posted on 11/16/2012 8:39:31 PM PST by SquarePants
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SquarePants

Cloward-Piven. Push policies that make things worse and worse and worse. That way everyone will see the wisdom of your policies and be eager to march toward a socialist utopia where no one ever works at all.


2 posted on 11/16/2012 8:45:46 PM PST by ClearCase_guy (Global Warming is a religion, and I don't want to be taxed to pay for a faith that is not mine.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SquarePants

3 posted on 11/16/2012 8:45:56 PM PST by Brandonmark (OWCM is The new American Minority!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ClearCase_guy

I think you’re very insightful...


4 posted on 11/16/2012 8:46:42 PM PST by SquarePants
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SquarePants
Back in 1981 and 1982 I worked for Sweetheart Cup located at 71st and Kostner Ave. in Chicago.

I worked in the factory doing everything from working on the conveyor lines, driving a forklift, working the cup making machines, repairing the conveyor system, you name it.

I was working there to save money to go to College (my first time) and because I worked in the factory that also made the "Sweetheart Cones" I had to be a member of the Bakers and Confectioner's union - which is now part of the Union that caused Hostess to go under.

I cannot think of a more WORTHLESS union than the Bakers & Confectioners union. Took $16 out of my paycheck every two weeks and did NOTHING in return.

In fact, it was the Bakers & Confectioner's union's rules that cost a man his life at Sweetheart Cup.

The union's rules ensured that a known DRUNK at the factory was allowed to drive a clamp forklift. Those forklifts lifted 4,500+ pound rolls of paper and loaded them onto the cup machines. Those rolls were HUGE, and stacked 5-7 rolls high.

This DRUNK that the Union said had to be trained to drive the clamp forklift because it was "his turn in line" ended up running this huge clamp forklift into a stack of paper rolls, knocking them over and killing someone.

I saw it happen and I quit that day.

Like I said, I cannot think of a more WORTHLESS and I'll add CORRUPT union than the "Bakers & Confectioners" union.

5 posted on 11/16/2012 8:46:56 PM PST by usconservative (When The Ballot Box No Longer Counts, The Ammunition Box Does. (What's In Your Ammo Box?))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SquarePants

Yea, Union wins, workers lose. I can’t imagine giving up a paycheck for a principle, at least not for an 8 percent principle. Because of the selfishness of a few 18,000 lose their jobs. Gee, aren’t unions wonderful.


6 posted on 11/16/2012 8:49:03 PM PST by doc1019
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SquarePants

Hostess is/was one of the bigger clients at my own job. Thsi affects my own job, too. The people I talked to from hostess deal in data and sales. They made regular salaries and are very very nice people. One guy has been with the co. for many years, is fairly old and may have a tough time finding new work.


7 posted on 11/16/2012 8:53:44 PM PST by babyfreep
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: doc1019

And from what I understand, they were offered a 25% stake in the company as a concession for the 8% paycut.


8 posted on 11/16/2012 8:53:44 PM PST by cport (How can political capital be spent on a bunch of ingrates)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: SquarePants

Legalized extortion....


9 posted on 11/16/2012 8:54:19 PM PST by Intolerant in NJ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SquarePants

Hah! Hah! Take that, capitalist thugs! You one-percenters!

Stickin’ it TO the MAN!


10 posted on 11/16/2012 8:55:33 PM PST by Jeff Winston
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SquarePants

A majority of these idiots are comfortable with an idea of loosing their jobs. Why work for a couple a bucks if you can do nothing and still has your 1.5 bucks? Welfare is a problem, ruined work ethics and basic human honor as well.


11 posted on 11/16/2012 8:57:29 PM PST by cunning_fish
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SquarePants
Liberals don't learn.

That is their shame. Not stupidity, not malice, not depravity. But their absolute refusal - absolute refusal - to learn.

And what is it they refuse to learn?

That denial doesn't work.

Even God won't forgive that.

12 posted on 11/16/2012 8:58:39 PM PST by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: doc1019

In my earlier days I was a member of both the United Steelworkers and later the Boilermakers.

They seemed to exist only to obstruct the company and protect the lamest of employees. Never did much of anything for me.

We were on strike at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co.(17,000 blue collars at the time) for 13 weeks and extracted a $1.00/hr pay raise. Meanwhile I volunteer repo’ed my new vehicle, etc. Big win, eh?

Unions long ago passed their hour of need and drove manufacturing elsewhere.


13 posted on 11/16/2012 9:01:20 PM PST by One Name (Ultimately, the TRUTH is a razor's edge and no man can sit astride it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: cunning_fish

Until such a time as welfare monies run out. I hope I’m wrong, but I foresee a day when we have rioting in our streets.


14 posted on 11/16/2012 9:02:23 PM PST by Catsrus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: usconservative
Like I said, I cannot think of a more WORTHLESS and I'll add CORRUPT union than the "Bakers & Confectioners" union.

The most worthless by far are the government employee unions. Government unions are money laundering systems where the public officials grant raises and benefits to the union employees and then receive donations for their next election from these same union members to whom they just gave a raise. And the taxpayer has to pay for it all.

15 posted on 11/16/2012 9:03:28 PM PST by oldbrowser (Welcome to U.S.Zimbabwe)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: SquarePants

Union folks don’t want to own a piece of the company, that would make them part of the anti-union establishment. When you are unionized mentally, you are so against being part of the company that employs you that you would rather starve then become part of the “company”.

Union members are, for the most part, mental midgets, brainwashed by their leaders.


16 posted on 11/16/2012 9:04:48 PM PST by doc1019
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jeff Winston

Moveon.org got the memo. Sent out a new email today. It’s the 2% now. 1% was soooooo before the election. Wonder when the monies start to dry up it will be the 53%? Soon, the takers will be so top heavy the whole stinkin’ scam will topple over.


17 posted on 11/16/2012 9:07:46 PM PST by machogirl (First they came for my tagline, (it's back). 2008, the Decline of America)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: machogirl

Well, it probably won’t take long.


18 posted on 11/16/2012 9:11:11 PM PST by Jeff Winston
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: doc1019

Most employers will screen out union oriented workers in their hiring process.
My guess is that the Hostess plants in Closed Shop states will not reopen with new owners. Production and distribution of Hostess brands will move to right to work states.


19 posted on 11/16/2012 9:11:11 PM PST by Oldexpat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: SquarePants
...the closure of 33 bakeries, 565 distribution centers, approximately 5,500 delivery routes and 570 bakery outlet stores throughout the United States.

And these are the direct impacts, what about the in-direct hits to other businesses and vendors?

20 posted on 11/16/2012 9:11:39 PM PST by Brandonmark (OWCM is The new American Minority!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-87 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson