Ding-Dong - for whom the bell tolls>>>

[ssd]

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2012-11-16/twinkies-ding-dongs-maker-hostess-liquidates-following-failure-resolve-labor-union-a

So long, Ho-hos, and Wonder Bread and King Dongs - I probably haven't indulged in any one of these in a decade but I do remember the Ho-Ho's fondly!

oh, and bye-bye to the 18,000 jobs, too - sucks for you guys and for any of the people who were in the supply chain of Hostess.

 

[StevieD]

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2012-11-16/twinkies-ding-dongs-maker-hostess-liquidates-following-failure-resolve-labor-union-a

So long, Ho-hos, and Wonder Bread and King Dongs - I probably haven't indulged in any one of these in a decade but I do remember the Ho-Ho's fondly!

oh, and bye-bye to the 18,000 jobs, too - sucks for you guys and for any of the people who were in the supply chain of Hostess.

My guess would be that at one time, maybe even now, Hostess employed a CEO, a CFO, a Board of Directors and a team of labor lawyers. These people were all well paid to negotiate with the unions. They negotiated and agreed to certain terms. Again these people were well paid for their expertise. We hear how they are worth Hundreds of Millions of Dollars a year because of how much smarter and how much harder they work than the rest of us.
Well, it looks like they judged the market wrong. They didn't see that the country was turning away from their sugar cakes.
They agreed to a deal they could not afford.
Are they returning the millions in salaray and bonuses they were paid for their expertice?
I don't think so.
Right wing media trying to blame this on the unions. Maybe it's the fault of the guys who agreed to terms they could not meet.

 

[ryson]

It's always the evil Executive team. Don't the folks who did not show up for work have some accountability?

 

[WhatsHisNuts]

I don't see anything wrong here. The labor union wouldn't give in so the company did what it had to do. If they brought in scabs or shipped everything to Mexico I'd have a different opinion. It sucks that all of those people will lose their jobs, but they played their hand and lost. This is what a free market economy is all about, is it not?

 

[hedgehog]

I HAVENT EATEN ANY OF THAT SHIT IN 30 YEARS:shrug:

 

[StevieD]

I HAVENT EATEN ANY OF THAT SHIT IN 30 YEARS:shrug:

:142smilie :142smilie :142smilie Ain't it the truth! Half of that crap is outlawed in schools!

 

[Duff Miver]

Hostess is just a victim of the free enterprise system. They had falling sales and profits for years, and demanded a cut of 5% in wages plus a 30% cut in benefits. The employees said no. Whether that was a bright move by the employees, I don't know, but.....their jobs, their choice.

If Hostess had products more folks wanted to buy, they'd have stayed in business, and the employees would have kept their jobs.

Businesses thrive and fail every day. The world moves on.

 

[lowell]

Hostess was racist because they had white cream and white icing.

 

[RAYMOND]

thank you unions and obama another bite the dust:sadwave:

 

[hedgehog]

thank you unions and obama another bite the dust:sadwave:

Obama probably forced them out of business because twinkles make you fat :sadwave:

 

[RAYMOND]

I HAVENT EATEN ANY OF THAT SHIT IN 30 YEARS:shrug:

:mj07: :mj07:

 

[Duff Miver]

Just a few tidbits for ssd, raymond, hedgehog, ryson and the others who think Hostess failed because of those greedy, evil unions:

...As larger competitors inundated supermarket shelves with an array of new snacks and variations on popular brands, Hostess cakes seemed caught in a bygone time. The company took small stabs at keeping up with Americans' movement toward healthier foods, such as the introduction of its 100-calorie packs of cupcakes.

But the efforts did little to change its image as a purveyor of empty calories with a seemingly unlimited shelf life: Twinkies, for instance, have 150 calories and 4.5 grams of fat. A Ding Dong chocolate cake with filling has 368 calories and 19.4 grams of fat....

...Management missteps were another problem. Hostess came under fire this spring after it was revealed that nearly a dozen executives received pay hikes of up to 80 percent last year even as the company was struggling...

...."Despite a commitment from the company after the first bankruptcy that the resources derived from the workers' concessions would be plowed back into the company, this never materialized," the union said.

Ken Hall, general secretary-treasurer for the Teamsters, said his union members decided to make concessions after hiring consultants who found the company's financials were in a dire situation. But he said that he believed the company could've survived...

You knee-jerking "blame the employees" folks ought to quit jerking yourselves off...

 

[Duff Miver]

It's always the evil Executive team. Don't the folks who did not show up for work have some accountability?

Who didn't show up ryson? Got any proof of that bullshit? A link maybe? NO? That makes you an asshole.

Change your screen name: Ima-nasshole.

 

[yyz]

Hostess was going under no matter what. It just looks mighty nice to blame striking employees for the reason you had to fold up shop. They can blame union pensions and health care all they want, but that's not the big picture.

Fast forward to Walmart:

Totally opposite situation with their workers planning a strike for Thanksgiving/Black Friday. They are pissed about poor wages, lousy work conditions, poor hours, and shit benefits.

Walmart has no union and pretty much tells their "associates", to pound sand up their ass.

I know a lot of people harp about how evil unions are, and they need to go away.....well, you're getting your wish. Within a fairly short time, the "Walmart way" will litter the working landscape in America.

The pendulum always swings back.


Companies knew they had the upper hand several years ago, when American workers started uttering the phrase, "I'm just happy I have a job".

As long as that's the case, you'll put up with whatever they do to you, and accept whatever they pay you.

 

[ssd]

Sorry if it came off as if I was blaming the union on this.

I am not.

Personally, I am not a big fan of the unions. I think they had their time and place in the early part of the 20th century, and much like the Post Office, I think their time is done.

I am, however, a huge fan of free enterprise and the market system and agree with Duff fully on some of the reasons for Hostess' failure.

America is 'trying' to become a healthier nation. I do not think it is too hard to see a company selling sugar confectionaries loaded with high fructose corn syrup going under.

 

[ryson]

Who didn't show up ryson? Got any proof of that bullshit? A link maybe? NO? That makes you an asshole.

Change your screen name: Ima-nasshole.

Doesn't going on strike mean not showing up for work, smart guy? I will change my screen name to "Go Fuck Yourself" how about that? Water seeks it's own level, thank goodness because it weeds out the meek.

 

[fatdaddycool]

Doesn't going on strike mean not showing up for work, smart guy? I will change my screen name to "Go Fuck Yourself" how about that? Water seeks it's own level, thank goodness because it weeds out the meek.

What qualifies more as not showing up for work Rod?

Being paid 350 times as much as the average employee to run and manage a company so the stockholders, workers and public all benefit and completely failing at that job for years, while still giving yourself pay increases and seeking concessions from the employees that make up the bulk and backbone of your country.
Or is it the employees who have a lawful right to strike and walkout when faced with unreasonable wage and work concessions. So the person that says enough is enough or the other that says fuck them I need a raise?

 

[ryson]

Again, why does it matter what the Execs make?

 

[Duff Miver]

Again, why does it matter what the Execs make?

Good question, ricin.

1. It comes off the bottom line.

2. It pisses off those who work just as hard for 1/350 the money.

Duh.

 

[ssd]

I'm all for the entrepreneur who had the vision and took all the risk making a boatload off his/her idea.

The extreme disproportion of salaries between exec staff and blue collar is ridiculous.

If you have ever seen the movie, "Other Guys" with Will Ferrel - they run a nice little 5 min video at the end of the movie re: Wall Street Corruption and exec pay.