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Twinkies bakers say they'd rather lose jobs than take pay cuts
reuters ^ | 11/22/2012 | By Carey Gillam and Martinne Geller

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 ...


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events
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To: Cvengr
Since unions wish to share in operational decisions, there should be a law mandating they share in the fudiciary losses

Well, since the unions run the government, that ain't gonna happen.

141 posted on 11/22/2012 11:21:51 AM PST by ROCKLOBSTER (Celebrate "Republicans Freed the Slaves" Month)
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To: napscoordinator
they are only making 54,200 a year which is before taxes and is not a

great wage

Yeah, baby. That is what I was making before the crash and I lost that good job. Be a MAKER. And try and live in this world.

Your mindset and attitude is the EXACT same as all the rest of the takers. Yeah, you got yours, didn't you? And now you're "safe". ESAD.

142 posted on 11/22/2012 11:53:59 AM PST by bigheadfred
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To: tobyhill
"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.

Your lefty pals are doing everything in their power to demonize snack foods, so less is being sold, which cuts into your overtime. Yet, you praise your lefty overlords.
FUKJ.

"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.

Guess what, KJ? You can't afford to live on unemployment either. But I'm sure you have a healthy retirement after 23 years at a union shop, so you don't care.

143 posted on 11/22/2012 12:02:06 PM PST by hattend (Firearms and ammunition...the only growing industries under the Obama regime.)
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To: redgolum

The Teansters IIRC made commission. That’s why they always made good money.


144 posted on 11/22/2012 12:37:55 PM PST by steve8714 (Obama's evil shown actual size.)
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To: sickoflibs

I found it rather ironic that Twinkies went extinct the same week 2 states legalized Pot. :<)


145 posted on 11/22/2012 4:19:02 PM PST by AuntB (Illegal immigration is simply more "share the wealth" socialism and a CRIME not a race!)
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To: bigheadfred

Too bad for you.


146 posted on 11/22/2012 6:09:47 PM PST by napscoordinator (GOP Candidate 2020 - "Bloomberg 2020 - We vote for whatever crap the GOP puts in front of us.")
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To: napscoordinator

Yes it is. Isn’t it. Good goddamn thing you are an anonymous POS. But then, hey, you voted for obamaaaa.


147 posted on 11/22/2012 6:41:12 PM PST by bigheadfred
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To: AuntB
RE :”I found it rather ironic that Twinkies went extinct the same week 2 states legalized Pot. :<)”

Because now that CAers can finally get high legally they may not be able to buy Twinkies to feed their munchies?? Yes, That seems so ironically unfair.

Didn't CA outlaw junk food and fast food restaurants anyway?
If you are going to enable a high (intoxicated) population then you have to protect them from bad life choices like unhealthy food.
Let me guess, after taxes each single legal joint(pot cigarette) cost $10. I guess the (illegal) drug dealers wont be out of business after all.

148 posted on 11/22/2012 7:42:21 PM PST by sickoflibs (How long before cry-Bohner caves to O again? They took the House for what?)
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To: bigheadfred

But then, hey, you voted for obamaaaa.

Nope. I voted for the other liberal. You just had to have your lover Romney as the candidate and this is what you get. Tried to warn you slobbering Romney fans but nobody listened. Santorum should have been the candidate but you liberals didn’t want a conservative. You reap what you sow. Next time maybe you will use your brain and not your other anatomy to pick a candidate.


149 posted on 11/23/2012 3:14:45 AM PST by napscoordinator (GOP Candidate 2020 - "Bloomberg 2020 - We vote for whatever crap the GOP puts in front of us.")
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To: tobyhill
After several years of costly concessions

Media bias.

150 posted on 11/23/2012 5:51:41 AM PST by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: Salamander

I don’t see that this is just a union labor price problem. Why don’t we blame the management and investors who saddled the company with tons of debt?


151 posted on 11/23/2012 6:20:43 AM PST by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: muggs

If the business closes down all who lost a job are entitled to unemployment compensation, the matter of exactly why the business closed will not matter. What you refer to only affects someone who quits a job as an individual leaving employment at an ongoing business.


152 posted on 11/23/2012 6:46:55 AM PST by RipSawyer
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To: autumnraine

Executives commonly take stock in lieu of some compensation. When the company liquidates, it devalues their stock to make it worthless.

I read your comment as a complaint that the executives do not suffer for the workers’ refusal to work, just as much as the workers suffer.

I disagree. When the union workers forced the company under, they lost any right they had to complain about management.


153 posted on 11/23/2012 7:13:00 AM PST by MortMan (I will be true to my principles.)
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To: MortMan

Again, I was not referring to the union workers. It seems many Freepers do not understand that only 5,000 of the 18,000 workers were unionized and striking. What about the remaining 13,000? Those are the ones I was talking about.


154 posted on 11/23/2012 8:20:55 AM PST by autumnraine (America how long will you be so deaf and dumb to the tumbril wheels carrying you to the guillotine?)
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To: autumnraine

I had not seen the differentiation, FRiend. For the 13K who were not unionized, I believe they should have the right to recoup some of their losses from the union.

Have a good day, FRiend.


155 posted on 11/23/2012 11:47:35 AM PST by MortMan (I will be true to my principles.)
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To: MortMan

You too Mortman!

It frustrated me to see ALL the employees lumped into the greedy 1/3 of them. It was a few that took down them all.


156 posted on 11/23/2012 4:33:47 PM PST by autumnraine (America how long will you be so deaf and dumb to the tumbril wheels carrying you to the guillotine?)
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