Goodbye Twinkies

[linguica]

Seriously, I really think Unions have out lived their usefulness. When convincing employees, in this economy, that anything other than a raise is the only way to go seem ludicrous to me. Some 16 years ago the Union at York PA Catapillar refused to negotiate and over a thousand employees, mostly living in York, lost there job when the Plant closed. The area took a huge hit and is still trying to recover. The folks across the street a York Harley Davidson were not so stupid and kept their jobs. When the contract comes up and the economy sucks there are give backs, when times are good they get Raises, but no matter what they have kept their JOBS! I have been a member of one Union or another for most of my working history but come on folks use your head...JJ

This economy has severely limited what unions can accomplish, But they have fought for maintaining what we already have and keeping cuts to a minimum. Without them we would be getting paid Wally World wages, on food stamps and going to community clinics for healthcare. No argument that the economy stinks, but when (if) we rebound we will still need the unions to represent our best interests. I'm not a cheer leader for unions, but they serve to balance power between powerful employers and employees.      IMO

 

[diggingdogfarm]

It's never ever the unions fault! Never! :biggrin:

From what I have read, the union only represented 6,600 of Hostess' 18,300 workers!!!
Too bad for the other nearly 12,000 employees who lost there jobs because of the strike.
And don't forget that other jobs will be affected, distribution jobs, etc.
They were warned more than once that the company may shut down if they striked!
Seems to me having a job is better than no job at all!!!

Jus' sayin'!!!

~Martin

 

[daveomak]

And the unions would not let drivers haul twinkies and wonder bread on the same truck....  two deliveries, two trucks, two drivers to the same store.... Seems stupid to me....    

The union should buy the company and should the world how to properly run a business....  

 

[toby bryant]

Nepas,

I heard those are bringing quite a price on eBay! Just saying, lol.

Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk 2

 

[xutfuzzy]

Heard the news and went to go check my basement...look what I still have!

twinkie.jpg

• xutfuzzy
• Nov 17, 2012

 

[diggingdogfarm]

Heard the news and went to go check my basement...look what I still have!

twinkie.jpg

• xutfuzzy
• Nov 17, 2012

Looks like the start of a new business to me!!!! LOL
Watch out for the unions!!! :biggrin:


~Martin

 

[BGKYSmoker]

Heard the news and went to go check my basement...look what I still have!

twinkie.jpg

• xutfuzzy
• Nov 17, 2012

It's Twinkie the kid........WOW

 

[linguica]

Nepas,
I heard those are bringing quite a price on eBay! Just saying, lol.
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk 2

Yesterday a "twinkies" kids metal lunch box was listed for $14 and ended up selling for $600.  Martin, go back and check the basement for more goodies. 

 

[mneeley490]

My wife went by our local Hostess Bake shop yesterday. She said it looked like a run on the banks (circa 1929) . People were grabbing whatever they could get their hands on.

I just looked at ebay, now I see why. An individual Twinkie (1) in a wrapper is going for over $6! Crazy!

 

[custom99]

It sucks so many people are losing jobs all in one shot. People have to understand that these threats from the businesses to settle and get back to work are real threats these days. The unions are not strong enough to keep people working.  That happened to Krogers here in Pittsburgh around 1983. Krogers threatened and closed all the area stores. I was working at Giant eagle at the time when they closed up. I would rather be working and give up some of what i worked for than be jobless. 

 

[rabbithutch]

I grew up in a union household. My dad had a 50 year pin in his union. When I was 10 or younger, I went to union meetings and picnics with him; but I went to college and took a degree in business and became a part of management - but never in a union shop. I have mixed feelings about unions.

Some unions are corrupt, of that there can be no doubt. Other unions seem still to fulfill a useful role representing members to management. I don't think there can be a blanket statement against ALL unions that will fit. I DO think that unions have no place in government. It was illegal until about 50 years ago, and now you've got the kind of debacles that we all saw in Wisconsin last year.

My 2¢ worth and it ain't worth that, probly.

 

[dward51]

I wonder how long it will be before someone buys the trade names and recipes for their products?  Too much brand recognition and loyalty to not come back (as evidenced by the mania of people rushing to buy what's left and the crazy ebay prices).   Time for someone to get them at fire sale prices and rack up some serious profits I would imagine.

Oh, and I bet they are non-union when it does happen.

 

[cliffcarter]

I dont want to start a flame war here. Anytime I took concessions, the CEOs of the company never seemed to hurt and always got thiers back plus more, before the lower hourlies got just a part of it back. Funny how that happens. Depends on what side you are on before unions are bad.

BillMc

The problem remains that the Union contracts forced them into higher prices for their products, they have a hard time competing with Little Debbie or Tasty Cake in a tough economy. Now 18,500 people are out of a job a month before Christmas, sound like those union guys are a step or two below "Rocket Surgeon" on the intelligence scale. If those 18500 people each made thirty grand per year then the economy is 555 million bucks poorer in lost wages alone, not to mention the union dues that just dried up. The union's actions make no sense to me.

 

[redheelerdog]

Wow Nepas!

You can smoke Twinkies?

I never thought of that! Do you use any rub or seasoning on them? What kind of an IT are we looking for?

 

[mneeley490]

From what I've read, and what no one else seems to mention, is that the wage and benefits cut that management was asking for was not the first one. Just the latest one. Union members already took large cuts in their last few contracts, and I guess they decided they couldn't afford to lose another 8% on top of that. Just too bad things worked out the way they did, but does anyone really think that the top managers are going to be hurting? I'm sure they'll all come out of this much better than the bakers.

 

[diggingdogfarm]

I'm no sure who comes out on top, company managers or union bosses!!!!!!!?????
Certainly not all the laid-off workers!!!!


~Martin

 

[mneeley490]

How would union bosses possibly come out on top with their workforce unemployed and unable to pay dues?

 

[diggingdogfarm]

The Baker's Union still has something like 100,000 members. union bosses will continue to receive big salaries.
And of course there's Teamsters bosses....they won't be hurting much, if at all.


~Martin

 

[venture]

Never fear?  Bimbo from Mexico is eying the Twinkie brand name.

Doubt they will be interested in the union employees or the idea of bankruptcy, tho?

Good luck and good smoking.

 

[smokinhusker]

I won't miss the Twinkies but it's such a shame for the employees to be out of work. I don't believe a blanket statement against all unions is fair though. My BF and a son are both Union Sheet Metal Workers and if it were not for them being in a union and following SMACNA standards I shudder to think how long some of these buildings would hold up. Futhermore both would have very slim pickings for work not to mention the cut in pay. You would not believe the number of "undocumented workers" and non union trades on job sites that don't care what kind of job they do as long as they meet the contract deadline.