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Twinkies Return, Hostess Unions Won't


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2013 Apr 26, 1:32am   11,315 views  67 comments

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http://gma.yahoo.com/twinkies-return-hostess-unions-wont-030833930--abc-news-money.html

Twinkies Return, Hostess Unions Won't

he bankrupt assets of Hostess Brands, Inc., the company responsible for Twinkies, Ho Ho's, Sno Balls and Ding Dongs, are being put back to work by a buyout firm. What's not being put back to work are the former Hostess unionized employees.

The unionized workers had been on strike when the company folded late last year.

The company had imposed a contract that would cut its 19,000 workers' wages — 15,000 of whom belonged to the workers from the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers & Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM) — by 8 percent. (The Teamsters was Hostess' largest union, followed by BCTGM.) The contract would have also cut benefits by 27 to 32 percent.

Hostess filed for Chapter 11 in January 2012. In November 2012, the company announced it would be shutting its doors for good. By that time, it had lost about $1.1 billion, largely due to bankruptcy filings.

But last month Apollo Global Management, LLC, and Metropoulos & Co., which owns Pabst Blue Ribbon and Vlasic pickles, bought the 83-year-old company for $410 million, renaming it Hostess Brands LLC. It is planning to re-open four bakeries over the next two and a half months, in Columbus, Ga.; Emporia, Kan.; Schiller Park, Ill.; and Indianapolis. It is also contemplating a fifth in Los Angeles.

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, C. Dean Metropoulos, the company's chief executive, said that between now and September, he plans to inject $60 million in capital investments into the plants, and hopes to hire at least 1,500 workers.

But those workers won't be unionized.

"It appears that they are discharging the union contract in bankruptcy," said Matthew A. Kaufman, a labor attorney in Los Angeles who is not affiliated with the case.

While Metropoulos did not respond to interview requests from ABC News, he told the Journal that he does "not expect to be involved in the union going forward."

A spokesman for the Teamsters declined to comment. But in a November 2012 statement the Teamsters noted that the "BCTGM's leaders are putting Teamster members in a horrible position – asking them to support a strike that will put them out of a job when they haven't even asked all their members to go on strike."

A spokeswoman for the BCTGM did not return phone calls to ABC News. In a March statement, BTCGM president David Durkee said, "We share the enthusiasm, energy and passions exhibited by new ownership, and believe our highly-motivated and skilled workforce will serve as indispensable partners in the seamless re-opening of factories," he said.

But, according to the Journal, Metropoulos and his son, Daren, felt confident that they would be able to hire non-union employees near the new plants.

"We're trying to find the most qualified people in these local markets to come work for the company," Daren Metropoulos told the Journal.

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19   edvard2   2013 Jul 16, 4:44am  

Yes, its always a good thing that unions are never around and that workers get paid less and less. That way the clueless right-wingers who are unknowing pawns of the various lobby and interest groups whom influence the right wing comedy they enjoy listening to and watching can then make even more money while convincing the right wingers how much better they will be if they continue to get paid less and less over time. Yep- that's how it woik!

20   zzyzzx   2013 Jul 16, 5:20am  

Actually these days even with unions the new contract is often less than the old one. You know since if you don't make a concession, the factory is moving to Mexico, etc. Get with the times!

21   edvard2   2013 Jul 16, 6:13am  

zzyzzx says

Actually these days even with unions the new contract is often less than the old one.

Then your argument falls flat. if your argument is that too bad unions aren't there and they won't get better pay, then I'm not sure whatever point you were trying to make...

22   Tenpoundbass   2013 Jul 16, 6:21am  

The problem with unions are they are too political and can hamper a free market and growth of small businesses. As small businesses are already limited by large corporations that lobby to make sure the government doles out regulations that will make it prohibitive for the small businesses to compete where as for large corporations it's just the price of doing business in a bubble that protects them from innovation and price competition.

These large corporations that also have a Union labor force can implore union members to vote against small business friendly laws, and give them the day off to do so, when all non union workers are reporting to their menial lack luster jobs, where they dream one day of owning their own business. But little to they know, their Union counter parts are unilaterally taking part in the Democratic process that will dictate that they never will own their business.

Unions have reached beyond their own scope and have become political tools that vote against everyone else, instead of voting for things that are only in the scope of their own jobs.

Don't forget to flush and light a match I say. Unions can go to hell and DIE.

23   Goran_K   2013 Jul 16, 6:25am  

I'm just glad Hostess cakes are back. Yes they're bad for you, but we live in a world where everything causes cancer. I'd rather eat a few sponge cakes before I go down.

24   anonymous   2013 Jul 16, 6:28am  

HEY YOU says

All the Rep/Con/Tea union members will get what they deserve.

More twinkies?

25   anonymous   2013 Jul 16, 6:33am  

Goran_K says

I'm just glad Hostess cakes are back. Yes they're bad for you, but we live in a world where everything causes cancer. I'd rather eat a few sponge cakes before I go down.

I didn't know that twinkies had been linked to cancer

However with a list of ingredients like this

Ingredients Enriched wheat flour, sugar, corn syrup, niacin, water, high fructose corn syrup, vegetable shortening – containing one or more of the following: partially hydrogenated soybean oil, cottonseed oil, canola oil, and beef fat, dextrose, whole eggs, modified corn starch, cellulose gum, whey, leavenings (sodium acid pyrophosphate, baking soda, monocalcium phosphate), salt, cornstarch, corn flour, corn syrup solids, mono and diglycerides, soy lecithin, polysorbate 60, dextrin, calcium caseinate, sodium stearoyl lactylate, wheat gluten, calcium sulphate, natural and artificial flavors, caramel color, yellow No. 5, red #40. [19]

You are putting yourself at risk of hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, leaky gut syndrome etc

Eat at your own risk

Or now thanks to ppaca, eat at the risk of everyone else shouldering the burden of paying for your sickcare

26   joshuatrio   2013 Jul 16, 6:45am  

errc says

high fructose corn syrup

Terrible stuff.

27   edvard2   2013 Jul 16, 7:00am  

I really never liked Twinkies to start with. In fact I felt as a kid that Hostess brands snacks had a weird taste to them. Like how the chocolate icing didn't taste anything like chocolate. It tasted like sugar.

Either way, I don't eat that kind of crap these days anyway.

28   Goran_K   2013 Jul 16, 7:00am  

errc says

I didn't know that twinkies had been linked to cancer

However with a list of ingredients like this

Ingredients Enriched wheat flour, sugar, corn syrup, niacin, water, high fructose corn syrup, vegetable shortening – containing one or more of the following: partially hydrogenated soybean oil, cottonseed oil, canola oil, and beef fat, dextrose, whole eggs, modified corn starch, cellulose gum, whey, leavenings (sodium acid pyrophosphate, baking soda, monocalcium phosphate), salt, cornstarch, corn flour, corn syrup solids, mono and diglycerides, soy lecithin, polysorbate 60, dextrin, calcium caseinate, sodium stearoyl lactylate, wheat gluten, calcium sulphate, natural and artificial flavors, caramel color, yellow No. 5, red #40. [19]

You are putting yourself at risk of hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, leaky gut syndrome etc

Eat at your own risk

I don't think Twinkies cause cancer, I was simply commenting on the fact everything can kill you now. I was reading how living near a freeway can cause cancer. Now that I live near the coast, I am exposed to more sunlight so I am at greater risk for skin cancer. It's like, you can't win.

But twinkies, yes they make you fat, so does a rib eye steak. Not going to stop eating them. Everything is about moderation anyway, you eat too much fruit, you'll end up diabetic. You eat too much salad, and you'll be protein deficient. Regardless, I'd rather die 5 years earlier than have to eat bird seeds and drink spinach smoothies for the rest of my life.

29   Philistine   2013 Jul 16, 7:27am  

Goran_K says

I'm just glad Hostess cakes are back. Yes they're bad for you, but we live in
a world where everything causes cancer. I'd rather eat a few sponge cakes before
I go down.

I suggest you step up to your local Italian pastry shop, where you can enjoy true splendor on your way to an earlier grave. Why die for a mere Twinkie when the wonders of eggs, butter, sugar, flour, and cheese await you?

30   Goran_K   2013 Jul 16, 7:33am  

Philistine says

I suggest you step up to your local Italian pastry shop, where you can enjoy true splendor on your way to an earlier grave. Why die for a mere Twinkie when the wonders of eggs, butter, sugar, flour, and cheese await you?

I do like Cannoli's and napoleons.

31   Tenpoundbass   2013 Jul 16, 10:19am  

edvard2 says

In fact I felt as a kid that Hostess brands snacks had a weird taste to them.

So did I, Twinkies always had this like Cod liver oil after taste, that I never did reconcile.

I used to like Little Debbie, but those things have gotten smaller and I'm starting to notice they stick to the paper or plastic now. One reason I always like LD's were because no matter what product you bought, they slid right out the package with out one side losing the frosting or just generally coagulating to that waxy paper or the plastic they were in.

I might eat junk, but I refuse to eat Crap!

32   indigenous   2013 Jul 16, 11:23am  

CaptainShuddup says

Unions have reached beyond their own scope and have become political tools that vote against everyone else, instead of voting for things that are only in the scope of their own jobs

Marcus will suck your dick if you take that back

33   anonymous   2013 Jul 16, 11:37am  

But twinkies, yes they make you fat, so does a rib eye steak

How exactly does eating a rib eye steak make you fat? I'm confused

34   Homeboy   2013 Jul 16, 7:25pm  

errc says

I'm confused

True.

35   Homeboy   2013 Jul 16, 7:26pm  

CaptainShuddup says

I might eat junk, but I refuse to eat Crap!

Still got your daughter on that steady diet of McDonald's Quarter Pounders? Don't worry, I'm sure that great healthcare plan you got will pay for the insulin. Which plan did you get again, the lead or the pewter?

36   anonymous   2013 Jul 16, 11:32pm  

Homeboy says

errc says

I'm confused

True.

Well then, maybe you could clear things up for me a bit. Explain to me, scientifically, how eating a ribeye steak would make someone fat.

37   zzyzzx   2013 Jul 16, 11:34pm  

I wonder if these things are going to be difficult to buy for a while, since I am guessing that an initial buying surge from pent up demand should keep the shelves pretty empty for some time.

38   edvard2   2013 Jul 17, 1:12am  

My favorite junk food is some of the Mexican pastries sold nearby where I live. I don't know what they're called, but there's these sort of cake muffin things with custard inside and I could probably eat a dozen of them no problem. They're dirt-cheap too.

39   Goran_K   2013 Jul 17, 1:31am  

edvard, do you live in SoCal or NorCal?

40   indigenous   2013 Jul 17, 1:35am  

edvard2 says

I don't know what they're called

Torta con caca de nina

41   Homeboy   2013 Jul 17, 5:15am  

errc says

Well then, maybe you could clear things up for me a bit. Explain to me, scientifically, how eating a ribeye steak would make someone fat.

You don't understand how the human body stores excess calories as fat? Wow, pretty remedial, but here you go:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/416664-how-does-your-body-store-excess-calories/

Steak contains calories, just like every other kind of food. They are not "magic" calories.

42   anonymous   2013 Jul 17, 5:35am  

Homeboy says

errc says

Well then, maybe you could clear things up for me a bit. Explain to me, scientifically, how eating a ribeye steak would make someone fat.

You don't understand how the human body stores excess calories as fat? Wow, pretty remedial, but here you go:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/416664-how-does-your-body-store-excess-calories/

Steak contains calories, just like every other kind of food. They are not "magic" calories.

Nobody except for you, labeled them as "magic" calories.

You also labeled them as "excess" calories

I had asked that you explain to me how eating a ribeye would make someone fat (scientifically).

You responded emotionally with some nonsense and a livestrong link lol.

Care to try again?

43   Goran_K   2013 Jul 17, 5:40am  

Umm because your average 16oz ribeye is nearly 1600 calories, half of which is fat?

That's almost your entire daily allotment of calories for the average sized person.

44   edvard2   2013 Jul 17, 5:42am  

indigenous says

Torta con caca de nina

Well, I'm pretty sure it ain't baby poop.

45   anonymous   2013 Jul 17, 5:45am  

Steak contains calories, just like every other kind of food. They are not "magic" calories.

This is also false. Steak doesn't "contain calories".

Ribeye is made up of fat and protein.

calories is somewhat of a misnomer. Its not an item contained within food, rather, a unit of measurement.

And when referring to food, we are technically talking about kilocalories, when we say calorie

46   Tenpoundbass   2013 Jul 17, 5:47am  

The most weight I ever lost was by not eating anything white or dyed.

Which for the most part meant lots of meat and lots of broccoli.

47   anonymous   2013 Jul 17, 5:49am  

Goran_K says

Umm because your average 16oz ribeye is nearly 1600 calories, half of which is fat?

That's almost your entire daily allotment of calories for the average sized person.

You seem to be operating under 19th century outdated information that assumed that all calories are created equal, which we now know to be false. Gotta love science.

If you ate nothing but ribeye steaks for a weak, and double your usual caloric intake, you would most certainly lose (fat) weight.

48   Goran_K   2013 Jul 17, 5:50am  

Only time I ever gained weight above what was considered healthy is when I got addicted to chocolate milk shakes back in college. I probably gained a good 15 pounds over my natural body weight.

But for the most part I've always been fairly thin, size 32 waist.

49   edvard2   2013 Jul 17, 5:52am  

I've always been pretty thin but when I got my first office job I gained about 10 pounds. So I had to do like all the other cubicle workers: go to the gym. Anyway, my very old fashioned notion is to eat when you're hungry and exercise.

50   Goran_K   2013 Jul 17, 5:57am  

Yeah I only eat when I'm hungry too.

Another thing I do is I tend to eat heavier in the morning, and like a bird for dinner (except when I'm out with friends or dinner party).

51   Goran_K   2013 Jul 17, 6:13am  

errc says

If you ate nothing but ribeye steaks for a weak, and double your usual caloric intake, you would most certainly lose (fat) weight.

I don't believe this statement. It sounds ridiculous.

52   Tenpoundbass   2013 Jul 17, 6:34am  

Goran_K says

It sounds ridiculous.

Well it's true, carbs are the fat builders.

Cut wheat, sugar, rice, and potatoes out of your diet and the pounds will fall off. The only problem with that is, the pounds fly back on when you go back to your normal routine, almost as fast as they melted away.

53   Goran_K   2013 Jul 18, 1:28am  

I never got the "carb cutting" diets. Carbs are a necessary part of a diet, and the only way you get fat is if you abuse them.

It's all about moderation. If I eat 300 calories worth of Twinkies, as part of a 2,000 calorie diet, and I burn 2,200 calories in a day (not really hard), I'm still going to lose weight. Diet and health is all about balance.

I've been a waist size 32 since 1998, have never had high blood pressure, and have excellent HDC/LDC numbers. I don't even exercise that much, basically walking for an hour 3 times a week.

54   Tenpoundbass   2013 Jul 18, 1:42am  

Goran_K says

Carbs are a necessary part of a diet, and the only way you get fat is if you abuse them.

You get good carbs from Veggies and Fruits. I still eat those, even though the Nazi carb diets say not to. I also drink unsweetened Ice tea, hot green tea and coffee, other Nazi no-nos.

I call my Diet the "Liberal Diet", the daily affirmation is... "If it's White, it ain't right!"
don't eat it.

55   Goran_K   2013 Jul 18, 1:45am  

Yeah. I'm big on Kale. Taste delicious, and I even throw a handful of it into my morning smoothie. I get all my carbs, no need for cutting. Kale also has proven anti-cancer properties. Love it.

56   Goran_K   2013 Jul 18, 2:04am  

CaptainShuddup says

I call my Diet the "Liberal Diet", the daily affirmation is... "If it's White, it ain't right!"

don't eat it.

Heeeeey ooooooo.

57   mell   2013 Jul 18, 2:09am  

Goran_K says

CaptainShuddup says

I call my Diet the "Liberal Diet", the daily affirmation is... "If it's White, it ain't right!"

don't eat it.

Heeeeey ooooooo.

That was a good one ;)

58   Goran_K   2013 Jul 18, 2:14am  

Captain, along with Apocalypse provide some daily gems that I appreciate, and treasure.

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