Not defending unions but the hostess drivers were all teamsters and that was the big labor cost. IIRC the union bakers were only making $15/hr. The hostess truck drivers about 100,000 / yr.
I know that products made in the same bakery, going to the same delivery
point had to be delivered by two different union trucks. I don’t know how
much the bakers made or their benefits. However, if money is saved by
changing the delivery system, maybe the cost of these products will be
lower.
The Teamsters, as I recall, were the only union that was willing to compromise. I believe I read a statement they put out urging the bakers’ union to go back to the bargaining table and work something out. The bakers didn’t and everyone there lost. Goods still have to be delivered to stores but I don’t know if those are Teamster represented drivers or not. I thought I read that the new owner was subcontracting a lot out. Who knows if the drivers are represented...but if they aren’t, I’d be leery of driving a truck with Hostess written on the side of it.
Yes but I’d also point out that the teamsters honored their agreement and were quite pissed at the bakers union for screwing things up.
The Teamsters accepted the company’s changes to delivery requirements. The Teamsters also made a public recommendation to the other unions involved to accept the deal, and all but one union did.
3500 bakers cost an additional 18000 Hostess employees their livelihood.
I believe they also used two trucks/drivers to deliver to the stores. One for breads, one for snack cakes.