Dive Summary:
- David B. Durkee, International President of the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union, has applauded his members, saying they showed ‘great courage in rejecting Hostess’s final offer.
- After taking much of the blame for the closing, at least from the company itself, Durkee has given his side of the story, saying the company had broken promises and workers had lost faith in management.
- The union had all but saved the company in 2004 when they accepted serious pay decreases in Hostess’s first bout with bankruptcy. Union officials said enough was enough.
From the article:
In a call with reporters designed to "set the record straight", David B. Durkee, International President of The Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM), said his members had shown “incredible courage” to reject Hostess's final offer (which other unions including the Teamsters accepted).
Hostess filed for a full shut down and sale of its assets last November after nationwide strikes by BCTGM
members, who were enraged by a pay-cutting deal enforced upon them as part of a plan to enable Hostess to emerge from bankruptcy.