Posted on 11/22/2012 4:15:23 AM PST by tobyhill
After several years of costly concessions, the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco and Grain Millers Union (BCTGM) authorized a walk-out earlier this month after Hostess received bankruptcy court approval to implement a wage cut that was not included in its contract.
With operations stalled, the company that makes Twinkies and other famous U.S. brands said last week that liquidating its business was the best way to preserve its dwindling cash. It won court approval on Wednesday to start winding down in a process expected to claim 15,000 jobs immediately and over 3,000 more after about four months.
Interviews with more than a dozen workers showed there was little sign of regret from employees who voted for the strike. They said they would rather lose their jobs than put up with lower wages and poorer benefits.
"They're just taking from us," said Kenneth Johnson, 46, of Missouri. He said he earned roughly $35,000 with overtime last year, down from about $45,000 five years ago.
"I really can't afford to not be working, but this is not worth it. I'd rather go work somewhere else or draw unemployment," said Johnson, a worker at Hostess for 23 years.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Most definitely in their mental calculations were what could be collected from unemployment, medicaid, SNAP, welfare, etc...
My friend just finished her 99 weeks and got a 10-week extension here in metro-Detroit. I talked to her last night. She DID NOT vote for Obama. She cannot stand Obama. Mark Levin (several years ago) WJR radio 760 8-11pm was instrumental in converting her to conservatism. She would listen to him on the car radio on her 45 minute drive home from work in the evening. My wife and I tried for years, but Mark really resonated with her.
Well that’s one good, but will she ever get employed? Eventually it will run out, then what? People are using UE to pay bills that they used their regular paycheck for so they’re loosing every month. Pray your friend finds work, somehow.
Don't paint such a bright picture. Reality will be far worse. Once any HR person sees Hostess on a job application, instant red flag. No one with a minimum of 10 active brain cells will hire anyone who is proud of killing their former company. Too great a risk that they will try it again.
She has been trying. She named off several companies that she applied for work in the last 6 month but to no avail. She’s a good worker. She’s the caretaker for her mom’s sister. She took care of her mom and dad before they passed. She is eligible for SS (over 63) but is not taking it at this time. She’s very conservative with money. The house is paid for. I’m pretty sure she’ll be OK.
Once any HR person sees Hostess on a job application, instant red flag. No one with a minimum of 10 active brain cells will hire anyone who is proud of killing their former company. Too great a risk that they will try it again.
You are right. They will be unofficially blacklisted for life.
Frankly, a lot of Americans are about to learn that actions have consequences once you move out of your parents’ basement.
But I bet she can still afford her smartphone getting all those neat text messages and apps from the DNC signed Obama.
That will keep her informed of all the free stuff she will get from O-care,
Odd. If working for Hostess was so horrible, why is it that the people whose comments appear in the article each had over 20 years service? If they were so unhappy why didn’t they quit long ago and get another job?
I am more firmly convinced than ever that most union people are not only losers but simpletons as well.
I don’t believe the 99 weeks is still available. It runs out this year and reverts to 26 weeks or whatever your state offers.
I despise unions as well and always have. But since I live in a right to work state, I don’t have to contend with them.
“unlike the bakery union, the Teamsters voted to “protect all jobs at Hostess.”
How’d that work out for ya? “
Actually, it’s the Teamsters that were the real spoilers here if the reports are correct. Their “drivers” were making $130k a year so an 8% cut took them down to $120k. And they had all sorts of “work rules” that featherbedded the disty side of the business ( like “helpers” in separate trucks to move the goods from the delivery trucks to the customer’s shelves). So the “bakers” were the dumb schmucks who were already working for peanuts. Teamsters= “effective union,” Bakers= dumb sh!ts who allowed themselvss to be screwed.
Why wouldn’t they say that. Now they will bring home a higher wage just on welfare. Food stamps, unemployment checks, graduating to disability for life, etc. What the hell, why work. Lazy union rat faces.
Well whatever it was, it's probably about twice as much as he was worth.
You clearly did NOT read my post.
I said severance pay for the NON-UNION EMPLOYEES WHO WERE NOT ON STRIKE AND ARE NOW OUT OF A JOB BECAUSE OF 5000 OF THE 18,000.
There is a reason he was a Baker, math just wasn't his strong point in school.
Let ‘em learn the hard way, ‘cause teaching them is more trouble than they’re worth.
They got their wish.
When I was a kid I heard uncles say “I won’t look for work...I’ll wait until I’m called-back...because I can make more on unemployment”. So they’d make the best of layoffs sitting around, watching tv, squirrel hunting and drinking the cheapest beer. As I went through my life as a hard-working conservative, they’d always comment on my “luck”. Sheesh! Nothing has changed except the slacker mentality is growing in the population.
Heh heh heh...
Popcorn!
Anybody willing to live in a city has no idea what freedom actually is.
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