John Curley


AP: e9728602-87fc-4a76-a897-0105344a63be
People are shown standing in the parking lot at the Utah Hostess plant in Ogden, Utah, Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012. (AP Photo)

John Curley says it's no wonder Hostess has failed

BY Stephanie Klein  on November 16, 2012 @ 10:58 am (Updated: 11:15 am - 11/16/12 )

About 250 people in Washington are out of job Friday after Hostess decided to close its doors.

Read: Twinkie maker Hostess reaches end of the line

Many of the employees worked at the plant in South Lake Union and the remaining were at plants in Kent and in Pierce County.

The company had already filed for bankruptcy this year, but it was trying to stay afloat. It couldn't survive a strike by 30-percent of its work force over a pay cut.

More than 18,000 people nationwide are now out of work.

"Hopefully somebody else will come in and start the bakery up and hire the experienced workers," said David Douglas, a Hostess worker in St. Louis.

John Curley said on Seattle's Morning News he's not surprised Hostess is calling it quits.

"People stopped eating white bread. People stopped eating Twinkies," said Curley, who said Wonder Bread became irrelevant as soon as we had cheap options for wheat, multi-grain, etc.

Not only that, but Curley is guessing fewer people bring their old, metal lunch boxes to work, which means they're not carrying around a packaged Ding Dong or Ho-Ho.

KIRO Radio reporter Chris Sullivan expects we can blame some of the sales loss to healthier options in vending machines, both at work and in schools.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm going to miss Wonder Bread. Every so often a good peanut butter and jelly sandwich on Wonder Bread is awesome."

Curley is going to miss Ding Dongs the most. Ursula Twinkies, and Sullivan the Ho-Ho.

KIRO Radio reporter Chris Sullivan contributed to this report.

Stephanie Klein, MyNorthwest.com Editor
Stephanie joined the MyNorthwest.com team in February 2008. She has built the site into a two-time National Edward R. Murrow Award winner (Best Radio Website 2010, 2012).
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Comments (44)


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  • WaGig wrote...
    Or...
    November 16, 2012 10:44 am
    The Union didn't agree to the contract that was offered leaving the company no choice but to close doors. Of course there has been a downturn in sweets and no one denies that Hostess was in bankruptcy due to this downturn. However, Hostess (and the bank(s)/fed that have oversight during bankruptcy) felt like they could save the company and continue to run if the Union accepted the terms of the new contract. If they didn't then they wouldn't even approach the Union about cutting pay. I hope this is not too complex for this generation to understand...
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  • Fuego wrote...
    Failing to stay
    November 16, 2012 10:56 am
    competitive with products and costs is what killed this company. I've been in some of these plants and the last new equipment was put in during the Johnson administration. Labor played a role as well and not willing to work with management was the final nail.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • calapete wrote...
    at least the CEO and execs got paid
    November 16, 2012 11:30 am
    They couldn't afford to pay the workers or honor the pension, but outgoing CEO received 1.5 million payment and the top execs received massive raises last year.

    yep, those greedy unions...

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  • BeenThere wrote...
    Don't forget the Union leaders
    November 17, 2012 12:15 pm
    got paid too. No skin off their noses.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zoeller wrote...
    "More than 18,000 people nationwide are now out of work."
    November 16, 2012 11:35 am
    Thank the Union Thugs they convinced the union workers to strike themselves right out of job.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HLC wrote...
    You said it Calapeter.
    November 16, 2012 11:39 am
    Lets see, take an 8% pay cut or lose your job. What would a person with a positive I.Q. do? If you say go without the job you could be a union member following your leaders, oh wait those union leaders will still have their jobs. Smat move meat heads. Now you can sit on your butts with the other million out of work. With the White House Clown back there will be more millions to follow. The hostess products will return though, made by people who want to work.
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  • calapete wrote...
    yes I said it. Hostess owners are greedy a holes
    November 16, 2012 12:13 pm
    The union members will find jobs, at decent places.

    How anybody can blame the Union members for not taking a pay cut while the execs take fat raises is beyond comprehension.

    I suspect some are still sore the cultist lost the election.

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  • BigApple wrote...
    Calapete, you naive dolt.
    November 18, 2012 4:29 pm
    The unions had structured the contracts so that the company couldn't afford to employ its workers. The unions required that workers that unloaded bread products weren't allowed to unload snack products and other unbelievably inefficient, ridiculous rules. Employing two people for every one position worth of work will bankrupt any company. And those greedy executives you lambaste, they enjoy work 90 hour weeks.
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  • cw1997 wrote...
    So How's That Working
    November 16, 2012 11:39 am
    For you Union Guys? Let's see a reduction of some % or a reduction of 100 %. How long do I have to think about that. Great job. Good luck with that.
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  • Gate Keeper wrote...
    Just the beginning
    November 16, 2012 11:49 am
    This will continue to happen as Unions refuse to admit that they are the larger part of the problem and union workers just don't know any better. Richard Trumpka just came out to tell all the union "sheeple" that the closing of Hostess is "Romney's fault" and the now unemployed idiots will believe him. Hostess may come back as open shop enterprise and more corporations will follow and finally get the parasite off of the host ( or Hostess in this case.).
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  • Golfer66 wrote...
    @ Gate Keeper
    November 16, 2012 12:53 pm
    Good post.....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Bucket Dad wrote...
    I am curious...
    November 16, 2012 11:58 am
    Anyone have any idea what the head of the Baker's Union makes? I am talking about salary. I am guessing the head of the Union does not make Twinkies.
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  • RacerTodd wrote...
    Union President's salary
    November 18, 2012 10:53 am
    Go to the Labor Dept at: kcerds.dol-esa.gov/query/getOrgQry.do

    Select Union Name: BCTGMI

    Select Union Type: International. This allow you to see the headquarters, not individual locals.

    Click Submit.

    On the next page click "2011 report" to see the LM-2 Annual Report all unions are required to file. If you click on the "BAKERY, TOBACCO & GRAIN AFL-CIO NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS" link, you can see the last ten years of reports.

    The President of the union, Frank Hurt, makes $262K including benefits. Plenty of officers and staffer are above $100K.

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  • Lonestar wrote...
    Ironic
    November 16, 2012 12:15 pm
    Just as the demand for Twinkies was about to soar with the legalization of pot!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HLC wrote...
    I think the guys holding the strike signs.
    November 16, 2012 12:54 pm
    Are the real tweenkies in this deal. Must be a lot of openings for bakers.
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