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 ...
Interesting enough, if they are bought out by a foreign firm they are due extra benefits such as re-education and bonus points for civil service. All at the taxpayer expense of course.
That is the single most stupid thing anyone has ever said.
I’m sure they’ll be sitting on their asses drawing 99 months of unemployment instead of ‘taking other jobs’.
I despise unions.
Well, they got their wish.
He said he earned roughly $35,000 with overtime last year, down from about $45,000 five years ago.
I wish they would have put in how much the salary is without bonus. For example, if they make 10 dollars an hour which is most likely then the yearly salary is 19,200 and add 35,000 to that amount and they are only making 54,200 a year which is before taxes and is not a great wage. Why are they only focusing on the overtime. Another distorted article.
Are they retarded?
How'd that work out for ya?
I wonder how much their Union Bosses were making? I worked for Twinkie, and I didn’t make $35,000 a year. And I was glad for a job.
And they didn't leave and find a better job before this crisis because???
Likely...uneducated assembly line workers...and there's nothing wrong with that...you just have to come to terms with that.
overtime earned from dragging there feet during the regular shift....
A man’s pride will lead him to self destruction.
Fools. And that goes for Hostess for agreeing to the Teamsters contract in the first place, and not drawing the line there.
overtime earned from dragging there feet during the regular shift....
Maybe but maybe not. They did sell a lot of Twinkies....lol.
And I'm betting the $45,000 paycheck.....5 YEARS AGO...is some sort of fib....
Because there's no penalty for being unemployed. Check it out... 99 weeks of unemployment checks, EBT cards, Obamacare, Obamaphones...
Can't touch this... it's Hammock Time!
There’s probably close to a million federal apparatchiks in the DC area making six figures to sit around on their hind quarters and do absolutely nothing useful, unlike this guy from Missouri, who at least makes Twinkies.
After 99 months of collecting unemployment and playing video games in the living room, I’m sure he’ll be right and ready to rejoin the work force!
The average 4 person welfare family receives the equivalent of a taxable income of $60,000.
Now it makes sense - vote Dem, sit on your a$$.
Good luck with that plan. Here is a really crazy idea. Ratify the contract, then go find a job with better pay and benefits while still working. Oops too late for that.
I work in a unionized manufacturing plant and I hear the rank and file whining about the company all the time.
I will ask them how long they have been working for the company, and when the say 20 to 30 or more years, I ask them why they continue to work in such a terrible place. Sadly most are brainwashed by union BS and can’t make the connection.
There's your problem right there. With almost 2 years's worth of unemployment benefits, these guys can get paid almost the same for doing nothing, work part time under the table, and be eligible for Medicaid and Obamaphones.
No, Obama didn't give out "gifts" to buy votes...
I know I would have been sleeping with the dogs for the foreseeable future.
In most states the unemployment has gone back to a Tier 1 and Tier 2 only which is a max 52 weeks. In most states the max is $350 a week compared to the $670 a week the workers were making. Also keep in mind that they will have to pay for Cobra at $300-$400 a month instead of the $100 a month they were offered.
Hmmm. That 5 years ago when he was making $45,000 was under Bush.
His new pay of $35,000 is under Obama, and I don’t have a hard time believeing him on that one.
He probably voted for Obama though.
Uncle Bama will take good care of his worm ridden union filth (apologies to George Lucas, Han Solo and Jaba the Hut)
And there you go.
Obamacare for medical, unemployment for cigs and beer, food stamps and Obamaphones for day-to-day living... why should he work?
and let me think...who was POTUS back then?
I have read that when all the benefits are comprehended, that about $40k is the break even number for working vs going on unemployment as that’s about what all the available benefits add up to. However, the number may be even higher in this instance.
Now they can be Obama drones for life (if they weren’t already). Handouts for votes.
That explains all the major electronics purchases by men in the middle of the week, during the day, I see whenever I go to Best Buy. Let’s put it this way, by their dress, these people are likely not a) physicians on call b) creative dot.com types working out of their home.
Kind of interesting because ole Kenneth here, if what he says is true, has just admitted the Bush economy is a lot better than Obama’s.

Say, any of you baker fellas interested in a game of cards?
It won’t be 99 weeks if sequestration is enacted. It goes back to the 26 weeks.
It is my understanding, you can’t collect unemployment if you are unemployed because you refused to work.
After reading about the “liquidation bonuses” the CEO’s want to pay themselves, I am sort of feeling a little sorrier for the workers.
If this is how they act when in bankruptcy,how were they acting before?
I think unions are parasites, but I have no sympathy for greedy, grabby upper management who don’t mind seeing a business go down while continuing to pay themselves ‘bonuses’ like that.
Not only that, IF they qualify for unemployment, they are going to get hit will a tax bill at the end of the year. They really are a bunch of idiots for walking out. They will never recover financially.

"Twinkie Shrugged..."
You ever see a union boss driving a beat up used Gremlin?
There’s a reason why you won’t.
I don’t think I could be a proud member of something called: Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco and Grain Millers Union (BCTGM).
That would be right up there with the Left Brown Shoe No Laces Leather Union {LBSNLU).
There are plenty of job seekers who would be willing to work at the reduced wage, but these mindless union SOB’s weren’t about to give someone else that opportunity. I swear; if I came across one of these $&@’s lying in the street, starving to death, I would walk over him and not look back.
Aw.
Too damn bad.
Well, there’s always welfare.
Whatever maintains the 47%ers.
“if you are unemployed because you refused to work”
Maybe that’s why welfare reform got re-reformed.
To take up the slack..ers.
Obama has taught well. Taught people to blame Bush the lower they go. That is what he does. I thought last night, that is where we are headed. Our nation is going down and all anyone wants to do is blame someone above them. Classic symptoms for the alcoholic, the drugged, and now apparently the worker. So now, these workers will become like the mall or theater shooters with the attitude, “ If I can’t have what I want, then no one can.”
Via con Dios...
You are right - they will be lazing about and collecting their "share" of the dole for an extended period.
Interesting he gets to "say" that he's earning $10K less a year than 4 years ago and nobody verifies it or gives any of the dynamics involved. I guess the bright side is that he will step on his own "richard" again because he's too stupid to understand that the unions and the political party he supports are the reasons he's hurting.
I think with the expiration of the Bush tax cuts, that 99 month deal will expire and go back to whatever it was previously. Happy Thanksgiving, Sal!
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