Hostess Announces Further Plant Openings; Clarifies Hiring Policies
KANSAS CITY, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Following last week's announcement that it plans to reopen and begin hiring employees for its bakeries located in Columbus, Georgia and Emporia, Kansas, Hostess Brands, LLC (“Hostess” or the “Company”) today announced that it will open additional bakeries in Indianapolis, Indiana and Schiller Park, Illinois. The Company has partnered with the applicable states and cities to make it possible to reopen the bakeries and bring jobs back to local communities. In conjunction with the hiring process, Hostess is accepting applications for employment at both the Columbus and Emporia bakeries. Further information concerning the application process for the Indianapolis and Schiller Park facilities will be forthcoming, including at the web site listed below.
Several articles appearing in the press last week suggested that Hostess is opposed to having labor unions in its bakeries and is specifically seeking non-union workers. This is not the case. Hostess respects union rights and will not discriminate against job applicants on the basis of union membership or union activities. Hostess intends to hire the most qualified applicants, regardless of their age, race, gender, or prior or current union affiliation. If a majority of the individuals hired at a Hostess facility are from the former company’s unionized workforce, the Company will comply with any legal obligations it may have concerning bargaining with any union.
The recent statements in the press attributed to various Hostess officials are incomplete and do not reflect the policies of Hostess. None of the Company representatives stated or intended to imply that Hostess will be avoiding union-represented employees or job applicants. It is the policy of Hostess to comply with all applicable laws in its hiring process and not discriminate against job applicants on the basis of any protected characteristic, including union membership.
The Company respects the right under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act to organize and bargain collectively through a union and the right to refrain from those activities. The Company will not interfere with those rights. The hiring process at all of the locations will be administered by third-party and Hostess human resources professionals – and not the persons to whom the statements were attributed – with assistance from various state and local labor and employment agencies.
Hostess is very excited about re-launching the iconic Hostess brands, and is very pleased that it will be hiring a substantial number of employees in several markets in the U.S. Hostess expects to begin hiring next month, with preliminary operations at some of the locations expected to commence in late May. The Company is aiming to have product back on shelves by the end of July. Applicants interested in joining the Company can visit jobs.hbnewco.com.
About Hostess
Hostess is a leading fresh-baked sweet goods company in the U.S. with iconic brands that include Twinkies, Cup Cakes, HoHos, Ding Dongs, Mini Muffins, Donettes, Zingers and Suzy Q’s. Through its 80+ year history, Hostess has established unparalleled consumer brand awareness, strong customer relationships and partnerships with local communities throughout the U.S. The Company is headquartered in Dallas, Texas and Kansas City, Missouri.
Rubenstein Associates, Inc. for Hostess Brands, LLC
Michael Phillips
212-843-8057
mphillips@rubenstein.com
Source: Hostess Brands, LLC
Released April 29, 2013