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.
Some 380 jobs here in Michigan that will be lost as well.
Sorry to be selfish, but I miss the loss of my INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS & FREEDOMS versus the loss of a Twinkie and a lot of jobs.
*SIGH* Have we fallen off the fiscal cliff, yet? Can we speed it up a little bit?
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.
Heh...the union was claiming that this was actually some kind of victory for its newly out-of-work members.
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.
Cry me a river...
OK, if they sell the assets, could they be purchased, and new owners move the plant to right-to-work states and resume business?
Not to mention other jobs that will be lost in the towns surrounding the factories. Gas stations, restaurants etc.
This is operation that isn’t going to Mexico or China, they just couldn’t compete with US companies.
And ironically the private equity boys who looted and pillaged it were DEMOCRATS:
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2012-11-16/hostess-liquidation-curious-cast-characters-twinkie-tumbles
...when does this socialist pile of crap end? :(
The Teamsters Union was smart enough to realize that not getting everything you want is better than not having a job. However, the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union of course will blame management, celebrate their union “solidarity” and gave a lot of their members and their families a very bleak holiday.
The brands are valuable, the facilities are pretty much worthless.
Barry Benghazi will ride to the rescue and buy the company and brand names with taxpayers dollars. Government Twinkies! Cool!
Is their union passing out hits of Hopium?
850 jobs lost in Hoosierland
Of course, the workers blame the company.
Yes. However the likely buyer will already be in the business and won’t need the building, equipment or staff.
After they exhaust their unemployment bennies, thay can apply for part-time cleaning work with a placement agency.
If you lose your $16/hr job and have a family of 4 in Obamaville, you’ll be better off sitting on your butt and collecting all of the $60K/yr goodies
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