@LRToday Morning Round-Up: November 13, 2012
Caterpillar Strike Ends: Cindy Wojdyla Cain of the Chicago Sun-Times writes that while the Caterpillar strike ended with a contract settlement in August, but labor issues continue at the Joliet plant. This past weekend the union began issuing discipline against about 100 workers who crossed the picket line during the strike, which has resulted in fines and workers foregoing their $3,100 contract signing bonus.
Walkout Planned: Mydesert.com reports that workers at a warehouse that handles Walmart goods plan to walk off the job and picket this Thursday to protest alleged hostile working conditions. Warehouse Workers, which is supported by the Service Employees International Union, is organizing the protest against NFI Logistics.
Twinkies, Wonder Bread in Jeopardy: James O'Toole of Fox 8 Cleveland reports that Hostess Brands, which makes Twinkies, could go into liquidation if its bakers continue to strike in protest against a new contract imposed by the bankruptcy court.
The company announced Monday that it was closing bakeries in Seattle, St. Louis and Cincinnati in response to the strike, cutting 627 jobs in total. The bakers’ strike, which began last week, continued Monday at around 24 of Hostess’ 36 plants, and Hostess CEO Greg Rayburn said the firm could close more bakeries or even move into liquidation if workers don’t return to their jobs soon.
The bakers' union represents approximately 5,600 of Hostess' 18,500 workers. The new contract cuts salaries across the company by 8% in the first year of the five-year agreement with modest increases in the remaining four years.
