Teamsters consider a strike against Hostess Brands

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Hostess Brands, the maker of Twinkies and Wonder Bread, filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy last month,
and on Saturday  it's 955 union teamsters held an emergency meeting to talk about a possible strike.

VanMeerhaeghe has worked Hostess Brands for a little over a year.

"Now they want to cut our wage down even more and expect us to work more hours for less money," said VanMeerhaeghe.

Hostess Brands has been fighting financial difficulties for years.  Back in 2004,  the company ,then called Interstate Bakeries filed for bankruptcy.  And last year, VanMeerhaeghe says  it stopped paying into the employee pension fund.

"They stopped paying our pension fund.  I think we should have went on strike back then," said VanMeerhaeghe.

A  hostess brands spokesperson declined our request for an interview, but on the company's website, company CEO Brian Driscoll said, "We have engaged in good-faith bargaining with our labor partners for many months.  We remain hopeful that we can reach an agreement that will allow us to amend our labor contracts so that we can emerge from Chapter 11 as a highly competitive company that provides secure jobs for our employees."

A possible labor contract amendment  these teamsters fear will essentially dissolve their union and it's power.

VanMeerhaeghe says the teamsters expects to have the tally from the nationwide vote by Wednesday of next week.