Is this the end of Twinkies?

[emperus]

I don't understand where all this anti-union sentiment comes from. Yes, there are some bad apples when it comes to unions, but what do you think would happen if unions were suddenly to disappear one day? Do you think everyone would hold hands and sing songs in mutual prosperity? What has history shown us when people lose their voice through collective bargaining and representation? Those at the top, whether it is government officials or heads of corporations waste no time to enslave the people at the bottom. Of course, there will always be a select percentage in the middle, who will do better than before by doing the bidding of the few at the top, but overall, everyone's standard of living goes down the tube. I'm not all for unions, and see how unions at times make some very selfish decisions, but I am amazed when I see people solely blame unions for the problems of the world, without taking into consideration the very complex nature of the issue, which requires layers after layers of unpeeling. I wonder if this absolute hatred for unions I sometimes see on this board is the product of pro-business slant in education and on the news everyday.

+1. I marvel at how short our memories are. I wish people would look back to the working conditions before unions. In fact look at China and see how bad their conditions are. A race to the bottom in terms of worker compensation effects US ALL. Maybe we'd all be happy with the pay and conditions at the apple Foxconn plant.

 

[TheSlamma]

This guy will pissed

Well, let's say this Twinkie represents the normal amount of psychokinetic energy in the New York area. Based on this morning's sample, it would be a Twinkie... thirty-five feet long, weighing approximately six hundred pounds.

That's a big Twinkie

 

[Londo_Jowo]

+1. I marvel at how short our memories are. I wish people would look back to the working conditions before unions. In fact look at China and see how bad their conditions are. A race to the bottom in terms of worker compensation effects US ALL. Maybe we'd all be happy with the pay and conditions at the apple Foxconn plant.

So is the US going to remove the worker/labor protection laws to allow this race to the bottom?

 

[soundforbjt]

Make your own...

 

[Bird222]

So is the US going to remove the worker/labor protection laws to allow this race to the bottom?

How do you think we got the laws in the first place?

 

[MovingTarget]

Yep. I was on a severance package to stay on board a failing company. Got 80 grand on that. Was only there 2 years.

This is what is wrong with corporate America. Award those at the top for doing nothing. Screw hard work, company loyalty, etc. Spidey, you have just admitted to being a vulture/parasite.

Yeah...I got mine, I will keep getting mine. Why are you complaining and not getting yours? The mind of the liberal.

The mind of the conservative at work. This is why you and your party are so out of touch with the average American.

 

[MovingTarget]

So is the US going to remove the worker/labor protection laws to allow this race to the bottom?

Many conservatives have stated their open disdain for things like minimum wage laws, OSHA regulations, etc. If monied interests like them have their way, yes. The only reason that they haven't is that they know that there are organizations like unions that can stop them.

 

[IGBT]

the only Ding Dongs left are the ones in the whitehouse.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

Many conservatives have stated their open disdain for things like minimum wage laws, OSHA regulations, etc. If monied interests like them have their way, yes. The only reason that they haven't is that they know that there are organizations like unions that can stop them.

Really, I've only heard opposition to increasing the minimum wage and regulations that hurt small business but never anything about removing OSHA regulations.

 

[Dulanic]

+1. I marvel at how short our memories are. I wish people would look back to the working conditions before unions. In fact look at China and see how bad their conditions are. A race to the bottom in terms of worker compensation effects US ALL. Maybe we'd all be happy with the pay and conditions at the apple Foxconn plant.

You don't get it. Spidey and the other extreme right people here WANT this to be the case. They argue that SOMEONE is willing to do the job for pennies, so let them. They want old people rotting on the corners as was the case pre social security. They want workers to work 100 hours a week making less than minimum wage because they believe it benefits them. They believe companies shouldn't be monitored and policed in any fashion.. because they think that magic of the free market will fix all. They believe in climbing on top of others and kicking them while their down. They believe all of this because they don't see it ever being them.

 

[unokitty]

I don't understand where all this anti-union sentiment comes from.

My sentiment comes from working on a truck dock as a member of Teamsters Local 743.

I resented rules that mandated that I pay dues to a corrupt union organization run by convicted felons that were making dubious loans to mobsters from union pension funds.

What's your union experience? Ever carried a union card?

Where does your union sentiment come from? A union? Or a sociology text book? Or some story that you heard somewhere? Or???

You can hold hands and sing union songs if you want...

But that's not going to make anything better for the 18,000 workers that just lost their jobs after the most recent union victory.

But if it makes you feel better, congratulations on the most recent union victory!

Uno

 

[soundforbjt]

My sentiment comes from working on a truck dock as a member of Teamsters Local 743.

I resented rules that mandated that I pay dues to a corrupt union organization run by convicted felons that were making dubious loans to mobsters from union pension funds.

What's your union experience? Ever carried a union card? Yes UAW

Where does your union sentiment come from? A union? Or a sociology text book? Or some story that you heard somewhere? Or???

You can hold hands and sing union songs if you want...

But that's not going to make anything better for the 18,000 workers that just lost their jobs after the most recent union victory.

But if it makes you feel better, congratulations on the most recent union victory!

Uno

I'ved worked in a union shop (UAW), lately I work with both union and non-union hands, and I'll take the union hands any day. They know what they're doing and usually don't ask questions unless they need to. The non-union hands don't have a clue, I usually have to guide them through simple instructions and half the time, I have to do things myself or babysit them (there are exceptions, but they're rare).

 

[Londo_Jowo]

Yet my experience with union hands they may actually work 3 - 4 hours in a 8 hour work day as they never seem to be able to bring all the tools they need to the compressor or turbine deck. They drag their feet no matter what they're doing. Yet when working with a non union crew they work 7 out of the 8 hours in a work day. They bring their tool bags and jobox to the deck or right beside the steps leading up to the deck. Union jobs always run over even when extending the work to a 10 hour day.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

The problem with the middle class (the loser class), is they don't understand the value of their product and blame others for their failures.

 

[SheHateMe]

Went to the Grocery store, most of the Hostess products were still there but marked up about $1.

I got my little sister those little single serve "lil bites" brownies.

 

[PottedMeat]

Gov. Christie would be FUCKED!

This is a SET UP!

 

[unokitty]

I'ved worked in a union shop (UAW), lately I work with both union and non-union hands, and I'll take the union hands any day. They know what they're doing and usually don't ask questions unless they need to. The non-union hands don't have a clue, I usually have to guide them through simple instructions and half the time, I have to do things myself or babysit them (there are exceptions, but they're rare).

Glad the UAW is working out for you. I knew a number of fellows that were in Local 705 while I was in 743 and they had a much better experience than I did.

At the same time, I neither subscribe to the theory that all unions are great and that all management is evil nor do I subscribe to the theory that all management is great and that all unions are evil.

At the same time, I don't have a lot of patience with any school boy that thinks what they have read in a sociology text trumps my personal experience.

Regarding the Hostess strike, my perception is that there are larger forces in play than unions and management.

In a similar way, logic dictates that there is a reason that the UAW's membership has shrunk to less than a third of what it was forty-two years ago.

But if it is working well for you, I hope that it keeps working.

Best of luck,
Uno

 

[emperus]

Great read. Everyone talks about life without unions. Wal-mart is an example of what happens when companies are allowed to race to the bottom. 32 hour work weeks so they won't have to pay halthcare costs. Back to back 5.5 hour shifts so they don't have to give a dinner break if the employee works 6 hours. And best of all, these employees survive by welfare. Meaning WE subside the profits of the Waltons. Nice isn't it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/...ation-plan_n_2145086.html?utm_hp_ref=business

Walmart’s hourly workers are far more likely to wind up like the 30-year-old sales associate in Mississippi who told HuffPost he makes just $8.65 an hour after three years with the company.
The sole breadwinner for his family of five, the worker, who requested anonymity, said he relies on food stamps, "not by choice and not without personal resistance."
Nevertheless, he loves his job. "I believe in Sam Walton's mission of service to the customer and that's why I continue to work."
The associate said he is scheduled to work a five and a half hour shift Thanksgiving morning, with another that evening, "just under the six [hours] that require a meal break."

 

[boomerang]

As Hostess announces closures, Dem calls for end to junk food tax help

As I said, the products Hostess made would have eventually been outlawed. What I didn't elaborate on was that the Democrats were going to be the ones to do it. Of course many of us already knew this. It's what's best for us and we're not smart enough to know it. The opening salvo has been fired.

Our future awaits...

 

[Orignal Earl]

I've read that somehow the Canadian producer of Twinkies has managed to stay profitable despite being a union shop and having universal health care.
You could probably order a years worth, and they will keep ok

 

[1prophet]

So is the US going to remove the worker/labor protection laws to allow this race to the bottom?

Turning in your boss to the state labor dept. for a legitimate grievance is problematic at best without union representation because of the potential repercussions, like being fired, passed up for promotion, demotions, etc as revenge and can be done in a way that is very hard to prove because,


the problem with those laws is that you need a good lawyer (expensive) outside of class action or an open and shut case, otherwise most people can't afford it and as a few of their coworkers are made examples of what can happen if you don't tow the line the rest are too scared to do anything.

 

[theevilsharpie]

I've read that somehow the Canadian producer of Twinkies has managed to stay profitable despite being a union shop and having universal health care.
You could probably order a years worth, and they will keep ok

The universal health care and (I assume) public pensions are probably helping in that situation, as the taxpayers are footing the bill rather than the company.

 

[Smoblikat]

How low a wage should people accept? Is $5 an hour a suitable wage to pay someone? I think we are re-litigating debates we had in prior points in the history of our country.

5$ an hour beats the hell out of their current 0$ an hour.

 

[Jaskalas]

I've read that somehow the Canadian producer of Twinkies has managed to stay profitable despite being a union shop and having universal health care.
You could probably order a years worth, and they will keep ok

Imagine if Canada was a State under our Union. Our fed laws would have them just as f'ed up as the rest of us. That's why I support diversity, because without it there'd be no role models for us to follow.

If we had state's rights we'd solve many problems.

 

[Orignal Earl]

Imagine if Canada was a State under our Union..

Oh man....no

Especially after watching what's been going on down there for the last six months.
I've never realized how lucky I am to be Canadian.
..adds Twinkies to grocery list