Reiker commits suicide. - Page 2

Bubbles · #1 11-17-2012, 10:20 AM

I can't believe i might be telling my kids someday about 'what a twinkie was'...

we're all gonna end up like Woody Harrelson in Zombieland... roaming the countryside, shotgun in hand, looking to find the Twinkie Van Shipment needle in the zombieapocalypse haystack..

so sad =(

Alawen · #2 11-17-2012, 01:20 PM

It's hard for me to figure out who is being sarcastic and who is actually stupid.

Except for Hatelore.

hatelore · #3 11-17-2012, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alawen [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

It's hard for me to figure out who is being sarcastic and who is actually stupid.

Except for Hatelore.

Gee thanks. The plants were operating at 50% or below capacity. Out of 18k workers that is a lot more then 100 or 200 workers striking. And for the chap who said why not just refill these easely replaceable positions, you do realize it takes more then just bakers to run these plants or distribute the products right? We are talking about machinests,mechanics,engineers,maintenance ,supervisors, management positions, drivers , i can go on but you get my point...

I have read up on this and I realize it isn't just the unions fault, but at the end of the day 18k are out of work over a long drawn out strike, that's the bottom line. Yeah it sucks to take a pay cut, but sometimes companies have to restructure and bite the bullet when things go south, that's called life.

Hitchens · #4 11-17-2012, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hatelore [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I have read up on this and I realize it isn't just the unions fault, but at the end of the day 18k are out of work over a long drawn out strike, that's the bottom line. Yeah it sucks to take a pay cut, but sometimes companies have to restructure and bite the bullet when things go south, that's called life.

18k are not out of work over a long drawn out strike. You can't say that you realize it isn't just the unions fault and then immediately follow it up with laying the blame at the feet of a strike.

Well, I guess you can say that, but it doesn't make much sense.

Hitchens · #5 11-17-2012, 01:59 PM

Tasty Kakes is a union shop and is doing just fine.

I personally think unions have probably outlived their usefulness, but blaming them for Hostess' failures just isn't very accurate. Hostess is a dinosaur in the snack food industry, and with more competition and Americans becoming more health conscious, it was inevitable due to the way Hostess had chosen to operate its business.

Bamzal Sherbet · #6 11-17-2012, 02:14 PM

Of all countries, the United States has the highest rate of obesity. From 13% obesity in 1962, estimates have steadily increased, reaching 19.4% in 1997, 24.5% in 2004. 26.6% in 2007, and 33.8% (adults) and 17% (children) in 2008.

Sounds to me like hostess should have been set for a while

hatelore · #7 11-17-2012, 02:43 PM

If the people aren't at work, how do you expect the plants to operate? If the drivers aren't driving how do you expect the product to reach the stores? If the maintenance crews aren't repairing the machinery and maintaining them... You get my point. Yeah it was a combination of bad business decisions etc, but at the end of the day if the people aren't at work, how does the company operate?

There's a thing called compromise, the union leader should have done just that. The way it is now, no one wins. Not the company or the union.

Hitchens · #8 11-17-2012, 02:45 PM

One would have to accept the premise that new management wanted the company to operate in the same capacity it did when those workers were there.

I'm genuinely not convinced this is the case.

hatelore · #9 11-17-2012, 02:48 PM

And I meant the past business decisions and bankruptcy were the companies fault, not the unions. The pay cut and such were part of a restructuring plan to try to keep the business running. The workers didn't want the paycut and on top of that they wanted a better pension deal. Now they will get nothing, but an unemployment check.

Hitchens · #10 11-17-2012, 02:52 PM

Again, I'm not sure the restructuring plan was to try and keep the business running.

And your point about the unions refusing to compromise just isn't true. The unions had negotiated and accepted cuts. Unfortunately management then wanted to eliminate benefits and retirement while Ripplewood cleaned up.

Feels weird defending unions, but I've felt weirder.