Union Workers At Dolly Madison Go On Strike

Union workers at the Dolly Madison plant in Columbus joined a nationwide strike of their union Friday night against lower pay and higher benefits costs that their employer, Hostess Brands, imposed upon them through bankruptcy court.

A company spokesperson told our news gathering partners at “The Republic” that the strike could force the company to close all plants for good and put 18,500 employees out of work, including more than 200 in Columbus.

 

Hostess released a statement Friday on its website in response to an announcement from the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM) that its members at some Hostess bakeries were going on strike as of Friday.

 

“A widespread strike will cause Hostess Brands to liquidate if we are unable to produce or deliver products.  If that’s the case, the company will move promptly to lay off most of its 18,300-member workforce and focus on selling its assets to the highest bidders.

 

“We urge our employees to remain on the job to rebuild the company. Sixty-four percent of our workforce is composed of non-union employees and employees represented by unions that ratified our proposals for modified collective bargaining agreements. We believe they have earned the right to rebuild Hostess.

 

“We know the concessions are tough, but it would make more sense for unhappy employees to simply leave the company voluntarily than to strike and cause the company to close down, forcing everyone to lose their jobs.”

 

Larry Duncan, business agent for Local 132 of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union, says union members are upset about the company forcing upon them a contract that they had rejected in September with an overwhelming majority. Other Hostess unions, including the Teamsters, had narrowly approved the new contract.

 

He says the contract, which is being imposed on bakery union members this month, includes an 8 percent pay cut, higher insurance benefit costs and a smaller pension contribution from the company, Duncan said.

 

Hostess is trying to emerge from bankruptcy for the second time in a decade. The company is privately held and does not generally disclose sales and profit figures. But according to documents provided to union workers in Columbus, the company lost $330 million last year

 

For more details, go to www.therepublic.com

 

To read the letter sent out by the union regarding the strike, go to http://bctgm.org/PDFs/NationalStrikeHostessBrands_11_9_12.pdf.