Sunday, November 25, 2012
The ripple effects of the collapse of Hostess Brands hit Patch towns around St. Louis as employees lost their jobs last week.
If your company said it must cut wages and benefits or it will go out of business, would you believe it? That is really at the crux of the drama that played out over the 10 days surrounding Hostess Brands, the makers of iconic bakery names such as Twinkies, Ho-Hos and Wonder Bread. That drama hit close to home in the days leading up to the Thanksgiving weekend when stores in Manchester and St. Charles that sell Hostess foods abruptly closed their doors, leaving employees wondering what would happen next. That came after news that the company could not come to terms with its bakers union. Without an agreement over 8 percent cuts in wages and 17 percent cuts in benefits, the company said, it would have to shutter its doors and liquidate the …
Saturday, November 17, 2012
The store manager tells Patch that West County Hostess employees found out their Manchester Road store was closing and the company was shutting down on the news.
Friday, November 16, 2012
As Hostess fans flock to the Manchester Road store to purchase the tasty treats before the doors close, they and employees say they're shocked by the news of the shut down.
Friday's announcement by Hostess that it will shut down comes after the company issued striking bakery workers an ultimatum earlier this week. The employees did not return to work so the company said it is closing down. (Read Previous Story: Manchester Road Hostess Closing, Employees Learn on The News) The West County Hostess store, located at 13885 Manchester Rd., was busy Friday as customers flocked to grab their favorite treats. "Absolutely crazy," said store manager Patty Bartholome who said she had lines half-way through the store Friday. Bartholome said she's worked for the company for 19 years and had no idea the company was closing until she heard it on the news. She said she and other employees don't even know their last day. "…
The store manager tells Patch, the West County Hostess employees found out they were immediately losing their jobs on the news.
"Hostess Brands is Closed," that's the message on the official Hostess website Friday. (For instant news updates follow Patch on Facebook and Twitter.) The news comes after the company issued striking bakery workers an ultimatum earlier this week. It said it would be forced to liquidate if sufficient employees did not return to work to restore normal operations by 5 p.m., EST p.m., Nov. 15. That did not happen, so the company stated that is the cause for the shut down. Hostess said it made the decision Thursday evening and issued the following statements on its website Friday: We are sorry to announce that Hostess Brands, Inc. has been forced by a Bakers Union strike to shut down all operations and sell all company assets. Hostess Brands …
MIKE K
10:50 am on Monday, December 3, 2012
The problem with Unions is that they tie the companies hand with crazy work rules. Hostess is a prime example since they drivers could only deliver certain kinds of products. I think in the old days they referred to that as featherbedding. Another problem with Unions is that they defend poor performing workers. The teacher unions are the worse where practically senile old teachers hang on past … more ›