Hostess Closing St. Louis Facility, Two Others, Following Strike

[Sherman A1]

Hostess Brands Inc. is permanently closing three bakeries following a nationwide strike by its bakers union.

The Texas-based maker of Twinkies and Ding Dongs says the strike has prevented it from producing and delivering products.

Hostess warned earlier this month that the strike, by about 30 percent of its workforce, could lead to bakery closures. It said Monday that it will close bakeries in Seattle, St. Louis and Cincinnati that collectively employ 627 workers. The company has about 18,300 employees.

Thousands of members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union went on strike earlier this month to protest wage and benefit cuts. Officials say the company stopped contributing to workers' pension last year. The union rejected the company's contract offer in September

http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/hostess-closing-st-louis-facility-two-others-following-strike

[Ed Suspicious]

1. I think I heard a few months ago that hostess wasn't paying it's bills. Probably not a great time

to strike if that's the case IMO.

[Sherman A1]

2. Hostess & Wonder have been in and out of bankruptcy

several times over the last few years. My understanding that a good portion of these trips to court have been to get out from under their union contracts & pension obligations. While I might be wrong, I believe that this is at the very least a portion of the thinking of management. As to it being a good time, I believe there is a point at which the workforce comes to the conclusion, that if we are going to be screwed we may as well walk out. May not be a good time to strike, but apparently the membership has reached the point where they have had enough.

[Ed Suspicious]

3. I can understand that. I didn't know the backstory. I was thinking of it from a

"were all in this together" frame of mind that sounds inappropriate in this situation.

[WinkyDink]

4. AS IF the company hadn't planned these shut-downs for a while.

[Sherman A1]

6. Indeed

The comment at the end of this news story tells the tale, 'http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Hostess--179043771.html

[longship]

5. No more Sno-Balls?

I cannot get through winter without them. And, NO! Debbie doesn't do it.

What's not to like? Coconut around marshmallow around cake around cream filling.

Too bad Hostess makes the cake with sawdust and they treat employees so badly.