General Chat

[Alyxx Thorne]

We don't have Twinkies in Norway... XD

 

I've got some Lay's potato chips though.

[Jek Jek Roo]

We don't have Twinkies in Norway... XD

 

I've got some Lay's potato chips though.

same. I don't eat them. I don't like them. I preffer peanuts.

[BTGBullseye]

YOUR WORLD ENDED WITHOUT BEGINNING!!!!

[Chuckthe2nd]

Twinkies are going for $100 a box on Ebay.

[Doctor Felix Whooves]

There gone? But what will I eat after I plunge the world in nuclear fire?

[Pinkie Pie]

Oh c'mon guys, you know they're gonna get bought out by some other company who'll make the same products.

[Chuckthe2nd]

Little Debbie is throwing a fucking party right now.

[Mr. ShinyObject]

AM I THE ONLY ONE HEAR WHO WILL MISS THE SNOWBALLS!!!

[Doctor Felix Whooves]

AM I THE ONLY ONE HEAR WHO WILL MISS THE SNOWBALLS!!!

yes

[Chuckthe2nd]

AM I THE ONLY ONE HEAR WHO WILL MISS THE SNOWBALLS!!!

no

[Lord Sinister]

Just looked up Hostess Brands, not seen them in the UK so I'm guessing they only operated in the US?

 

Also, forced to close down by a strike? Just how long was this strike going on for? If employees were striking for more pay, did they not realise that they were jeopardising their own jobs? Would it not have been more sensible to work for whatever pay they were getting than to not get paid at all due to being unemployed?

 

Or were they not getting paid for their work?

[danielsangeo]

It wasn't caused by a strike (that was going on for less than a week with only a small percentage of its workers striking). It was caused by a long history of mismanagement and declining market demand for the products they sell. The company had already declared bankruptcy...TWICE. The unions already accepted deep concessions. The unions weren't at fault here.

[Lord Sinister]

It wasn't caused by a strike (that was going on for less than a week with only a small percentage of its workers striking). It was caused by a long history of mismanagement and declining market demand for the products they sell. The company had already declared bankruptcy...TWICE. The unions already accepted deep concessions. The unions weren't at fault here.

 

Ah, I understand. So what were the strikes about exactly?

[danielsangeo]

The strike was to protest the demand for even deeper concessions even after deep concessions were given. Essentially, Hostess was trying to tell their employees that they weren't going to pay them what their jobs were worth. Hostess was going down the tubes financially because of mismanagement and, as a result, did not adapt to changing market demand. Yes, it sucks that these people are now completely out of a job, but they would've been out of job soon anyway and competitors could be ready to lap them up.

 

I think of it like a Band-Aid on a very hairy part of the body. It's easier and quicker to just YANK it away than pulling at the bandage for hours, feeling each strand of hair being pulled. Hostess wanted to do the latter; continue to undercut and undercut their workers while giving bonus after bonus to their execs (the bonuses themselves would not have made Hostess profitable but it does highlight the mismanagement there). Finally, enough was enough, and they went on strike. Hostess responded --with concessions of their own-- but with going out of business.

 

There's a similar business called "Bimbo" (yeah, shut up, that's their name--it's pronounced 'Beam-Bo') that has much better management, pays their employees very well, and is quite profitable. They're responsible for some well known products such as Thomas' English muffins, Entemann's cupcakes and doughnuts, Sara Lee bread, Ball Park hot dog buns, and so on. They know how to run their business; Hostess didn't.

[Chuckthe2nd]

Anyway, bai gaiz. I'm heading out into the world again.

[Psychotic Ninja]

Spam bots are cute, except for when they speak a language I don't understand.

[BTGBullseye]

Or when they just post a bunch of spam...

[Blue]

I have travelled here from last week to bring the following message:

 

"Hi."

[Doom Shepherd]

The Baker's union's stated goal was to shut Hostess down. They WANTED this, in the hopes that some other company will buy Hostess and give them their jobs back, in the Glorious Worker's Paradise.

 

Of course, that might happen, or the company that buys them may just decide that it would be easier to outsource those jobs somewhere like Mexico (Bimbo is Mexican), where it would cost them less.

 

Which would be hilarious. "Yay, instead of 8% less of something, we have 100% of NOTHING!"

 

On TVTropes, this falls under "Nice Job Breaking It, Hero."

[BTGBullseye]

I have not traveled here from anywhere to bring the follwing message:

 

"Hi right back at ya."