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 ...
Interesting enough, if they are bought out by a foreign firm they are due extra benefits such as re-education and bonus points for civil service. All at the taxpayer expense of course.
That is the single most stupid thing anyone has ever said.
I’m sure they’ll be sitting on their asses drawing 99 months of unemployment instead of ‘taking other jobs’.
I despise unions.
Well, they got their wish.
He said he earned roughly $35,000 with overtime last year, down from about $45,000 five years ago.
I wish they would have put in how much the salary is without bonus. For example, if they make 10 dollars an hour which is most likely then the yearly salary is 19,200 and add 35,000 to that amount and they are only making 54,200 a year which is before taxes and is not a great wage. Why are they only focusing on the overtime. Another distorted article.
Are they retarded?
How'd that work out for ya?
I wonder how much their Union Bosses were making? I worked for Twinkie, and I didn’t make $35,000 a year. And I was glad for a job.
And they didn't leave and find a better job before this crisis because???
Likely...uneducated assembly line workers...and there's nothing wrong with that...you just have to come to terms with that.
overtime earned from dragging there feet during the regular shift....
A man’s pride will lead him to self destruction.
Fools. And that goes for Hostess for agreeing to the Teamsters contract in the first place, and not drawing the line there.
overtime earned from dragging there feet during the regular shift....
Maybe but maybe not. They did sell a lot of Twinkies....lol.
And I'm betting the $45,000 paycheck.....5 YEARS AGO...is some sort of fib....
Because there's no penalty for being unemployed. Check it out... 99 weeks of unemployment checks, EBT cards, Obamacare, Obamaphones...
Can't touch this... it's Hammock Time!
There’s probably close to a million federal apparatchiks in the DC area making six figures to sit around on their hind quarters and do absolutely nothing useful, unlike this guy from Missouri, who at least makes Twinkies.
After 99 months of collecting unemployment and playing video games in the living room, I’m sure he’ll be right and ready to rejoin the work force!
The average 4 person welfare family receives the equivalent of a taxable income of $60,000.
Now it makes sense - vote Dem, sit on your a$$.
Good luck with that plan. Here is a really crazy idea. Ratify the contract, then go find a job with better pay and benefits while still working. Oops too late for that.
I work in a unionized manufacturing plant and I hear the rank and file whining about the company all the time.
I will ask them how long they have been working for the company, and when the say 20 to 30 or more years, I ask them why they continue to work in such a terrible place. Sadly most are brainwashed by union BS and can’t make the connection.
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