Hostess Brands Says It Will Liquidate

[garbon]

Mobile news:

Also, people are stupid.

[Sheilbh]

Yes, but the employees were willing to do what they could to prevent complete closure. The union wouldn't let them. On top of that, though the strike started in November, the union and company owners have been discussing this stuff for over a year.

How can the union stop them?

[Barrister]

Yes, but the employees were willing to do what they could to prevent complete closure. The union wouldn't let them. On top of that, though the strike started in November, the union and company owners have been discussing this stuff for over a year.

How can the union stop them?

Employees can not negotiate with their employer, or vice versa.

Only the union can negotiate with the employer.  If employees don't like their representation, then they have to either decertify or elect new union leadership - both of which are incredibly time-consuming and difficult.

[Sheilbh]

Okay, but couldn't they just leave the union?

And doesn't the strike require a ballot of union members which suggests that (at least) those employees weren't being stopped by the union?  Rather the union was taking the action democratically agreed upon by their members?

[dps]

Okay, but couldn't they just leave the union?

And doesn't the strike require a ballot of union members which suggests that (at least) those employees weren't being stopped by the union?  Rather the union was taking the action democratically agreed upon by their members?

They've been on strike for a year.  They might well have thought that the strike was a good move at the time, but feel that their union leadership has turned down reasonable offers since then.

[Sheilbh]

The article says a week after they went on strike?  I thought the dispute had been going on for the past year but not industrial action.

The resources of the strikers and unions and sympathisers must be enormous if they've been on strike for a year.  Even the miners only lasted just under a year.

[Barrister]

Okay, but couldn't they just leave the union?

And doesn't the strike require a ballot of union members which suggests that (at least) those employees weren't being stopped by the union?  Rather the union was taking the action democratically agreed upon by their members?

Individuals can leave the union, but the union continues to bargain on their behalf, and they continue to have to pay union dues.

The initial strike would have to be approved by a vote, and the ultimate settlement would be voted on, but that's the limit of the democratic involvement.

[CountDeMoney]

More than a quarter of employees striking at a beleaguered company isn't a substantial issue?

Especially when the workers in question are bakers working for a baked goods company?

No, let's not blame the fundamental problem of an archaic market model that, in the day and age of SuperGiants and Wegman's, where SuperWalmarts and even Targets department stores now sell food, still maintains 570 retail bakeries.  Who the fuck under the age of 70 goes to a product-specific bakery?  No, let's not blame the lack of consolidating the distribution model like its competitors did, and put the product straight to 3rd party shelves.  Let's not blame the private equity firm and the fucking HEDGE FUND creditor that's running the company because, you know, hedge funds know how to improvise, adapt and overcome an increasingly unpopular product that's seen major losses in the post-carbs-are-bad-world-with-no-other-product-alternatives market with an executive top-heavy company.

Instead, let's blame the union representing bakers making $11.64 an hour for refusing to take an additional 8% wage cut on top of forcing employees to pay a 20% payroll contribution to their healthcare coverage while the company shaves 80% of its contribution to pension plans--on top of the cuts they accepted after the first bankruptcy.  While 19 executives split $1.75M.  Six CEOs in 10 years.  At a salary of $125,000 a fucking month.

Incompetent management and vulture capitalists gets a pass every fucking time for driving their businesses into the ground with lender leverage with you people, and yet you want to blame the worker bees for actually having the audacity to look after their interests, which get hosed over and over again.

I hope each and every one of you are assfucked and subsequently murdered in your sleep by Ann Romney's horse.  You fucking assholes. 

[CountDeMoney]

The article says a week after they went on strike?  I thought the dispute had been going on for the past year but not industrial action.

The resources of the strikers and unions and sympathisers must be enormous if they've been on strike for a year.  Even the miners only lasted just under a year.

They went on strike November 9th.  Last week.

[Maximus]

Incompetent management and vulture capitalists gets a pass every fucking time for driving their businesses into the ground with lender leverage with you people, and yet you want to blame the worker bees for actually having the audacity to look after their interests, which get hosed over and over again.

No one's blaming the workers, chill. We're blaming the union.

[garbon]

I hope each and every one of you are assfucked and subsequently murdered in your sleep by Ann Romney's horse.  You fucking assholes. 

I've gone from job to job and unions have had nothing to do with it.

[Zoupa]

More than a quarter of employees striking at a beleaguered company isn't a substantial issue?

Especially when the workers in question are bakers working for a baked goods company?

No, let's not blame the fundamental problem of an archaic market model that, in the day and age of SuperGiants and Wegman's, where SuperWalmarts and even Targets department stores now sell food, still maintains 570 retail bakeries.  Who the fuck under the age of 70 goes to a product-specific bakery?  No, let's not blame the lack of consolidating the distribution model like its competitors did, and put the product straight to 3rd party shelves.  Let's not blame the private equity firm and the fucking HEDGE FUND creditor that's running the company because, you know, hedge funds know how to improvise, adapt and overcome an increasingly unpopular product that's seen major losses in the post-carbs-are-bad-world-with-no-other-product-alternatives market with an executive top-heavy company.

Instead, let's blame the union representing bakers making $11.64 an hour for refusing to take an additional 8% wage cut on top of forcing employees to pay a 20% payroll contribution to their healthcare coverage while the company shaves 80% of its contribution to pension plans--on top of the cuts they accepted after the first bankruptcy.  While 19 executives split $1.75M.  Six CEOs in 10 years.  At a salary of $125,000 a fucking month.

Incompetent management and vulture capitalists gets a pass every fucking time for driving their businesses into the ground with lender leverage with you people, and yet you want to blame the worker bees for actually having the audacity to look after their interests, which get hosed over and over again.

I hope each and every one of you are assfucked and subsequently murdered in your sleep by Ann Romney's horse.  You fucking assholes.

Preach.

[The Brain]

From this Swede's perspective America is in many ways a Socialist hellhole.

[garbon]

From this Swede's perspective America is in many ways a Socialist hellhole.

Get a better perspective?

[The Brain]

From this Swede's perspective America is in many ways a Socialist hellhole.

Get a better perspective?

Nah. You have out-of-control unions, you fight school vouchers, you like mail monopoly, you have estate tax etc etc etc. Socialist scum.