As
private equity ownership continues to trash Hostess, demanding that workers take the full brunt of the company's second bankruptcy in eight years and of the usual big bonuses for top executives,
workers at more than 20 Hostess plants have gone on strike:
The Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Internationial Union (BCTGM) began the unannounced strikes on Friday at four Hostess plants, and the actions quickly spread to other cities. As of today, about 25 Hostess facilities have been closed by the strike, BCTGM President Frank Hurt tells Working In These Times.
Hostess spokesperson Lance Ignon confirmed that at least ten plants were closed, but claimed operations were continuing at a number of other sites despite picket lines by striking BTCGM members. Local press reports indicated that strikes had closed some of the company’s largest bakeries, in Philadelphia, Seattle, St. Louis, Jacksonville, Fla. and other cities.
The company is saying that because of the strike, it
may permanently close three plants. Which is totally in line with the company consistently blaming the workers for all its troubles throughout this process.
A fair day's wage
- Yes, the National Labor Relations Act applies to non-union workplaces, too... No, this should not come as a surprise, and yet so many employers seem to be surprised.
- Hurricane Sandy has created a whole lot of work for some workers involved in the recovery effort. But it's kept others off the job with their workplaces closed—like, for instance, Atlantic City casino workers, whose union is trying to help them:
Local 54 of UNITE-HERE on Friday opened a Helping Hands Relief Center at St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church on North Mississippi Avenue that will be open every day except Sundays through Nov. 20, union President Bob McDevitt said.
Between 13,000 and 14,000 workers are members of Local 54, he said.
“There are people who have not lost anything (from the storm), but they haven’t worked in two weeks,” he said.
- Nurses beat back concessions at site of Beyonce baby's birth
War on Education