Hostess employees unfazed by threats of shutdown if strike continues

LENEXA, Kan. - Local Hostess Brands employees said they were going to stand their ground despite threats of the entire company shutting down.

On Wednesday, Hostess announced it will be forced to liquidate the company if the nationwide strike continues past 5 p.m. Thursday.

But a handful of protesters outside the Lenexa, Kan., bakery Wednesday night -- where they've been picketing since Friday -- said they weren't backing down.

"Somewhere along the line, you've got to stand up, be a man and say 'Enough's enough,'" explained Hostess baker Steve Blakely. "I can't buckle down to every time you say 'We want this, we want that. Or if you don't, we're going to take your job from you.'"

Hostess plans to file a motion with bankruptcy court on Friday, requesting to wind down the company and sell all its assets. It the motion is granted, it will begin to close all of its operations as early as Nov. 20.