A great story at 'Working in These Times' has surfaced that interviews Bakers Union President David Durkee and covers Federal approval for former Hostess workers to receive TAA benefits from the DoL. And it wouldn't be complete without the Heritage Foundation weighing in, I will mock them later.
This TAA designation allows us greater access to job training programs that weren't available to us before. I am not yet fully aware of what this means in real life but I will keep you up to date. A friend who has helped many laid-off workers in the past says it is a valuable tool that should be made available to all Americans. I love it already!
In the interview with new Bakers Union President David Durkee, the case is made that re-opening the bakeries will be more efficient with our experienced labor than with newbies from the street. This might seem like a no-brainer to you and me but most people don't seem to understand that large scale baking doesn't include rolling pins.
Reaching a collective bargaining agreement with new owners "is not going to be an easy thing,” Durkee said. But, he added, such contracts may provide the best means of getting the old Hostess bakeries back into operation quickly. “Our people are skilled," said Durkee. "They know the equipment and they know how to make a good product.
He points out something that I think needs to be changed in the law.
“There are [legal] restrictions in place” that have prevented direct talks with potential buyers leading up to the auction process, he continued
I am sure that there are all kinds of over dramatic reasons used to prevent Unions from talking to potential buyers. ALL of those reasons should take a back seat to the fact that we are owed money. We should be treated as creditors. Period.
Of course the Heritage Foundation doesn't think so.
The labor agency was immediate attacked by the Heritage Foundation, a right-wing think tank, for favoring striking workers over the company’s owners.
Can I just point out that the 'LABOR' Department should look out for workers over company owners. Or do they want to change the name to 'The Company Owners Departmant'. On the Heritage website its under the headline "Union That Bankrupted Hostess to Receive Generous Government Subsidies". If I took them seriously that headline would make my head hurt. On Twitter they are calling it an Obama Bailout! I'll hold my breathe while I wait for the check to come in the mail.
Please click over to the 'Working in These Times' article and take a look at some of the other stuff at the link. It is a very pro-Labor website with fantastic writers like Bruce Vail and Mike Elk. You can learn a lot there. If you prefer to learn nothing then go to the Heritage site, which you will have to search for because I won't be linking to it (I don't want their stupid to get on me).
PS- As always, please Tweet! You can find me @bluebarnstormer #UniteBlue #ConnectTheLeft