has anyone heard whats going on with the new contract? we get no info from the teamsters 340, (do they exist)

k.clements and r gervais 1 603 447 4576 fax 1 603 771 8906 bud roberts 1 207 286 0889 call to drop a dime on any stealing or mistreated from any one working in a thrift store in the northeast

i hear flowers is going to buy out ibc _______t or f?

soar meeting yesterday in columbus. first wave of management shifts announced. next wednesday O.R. meeting in columbus and more management cuts. we keep hearing they will merge dolly with hostess routes by mid june. fasten your seat belts folks the shaft is coming soon.

soar meeting yesterday in columbus. first wave of management shifts announced. next wednesday O.R. meeting in columbus and more management cuts. we keep hearing they will merge dolly with hostess routes by mid june. fasten your seat belts folks the shaft is coming soon.

Great union the Teamsters are . Two months ago Richard Volpe (bakery director) tells our Local (908) rep that when Wonder and Bunny merge seniority will hold. When the merge of routes came about Teamsters come up with new story . Teamsters (Richard Volpe) come up with a new "policy" where some Bunny drivers hold seniority and some dont. Amazingly all Wonder drivers (Local 20) keep their seniority AND all jobs.What a coincidence. Bunny drivers with 2-9 years seniority get displaced or layed off and Wonder drivers with 2 years seniority get Bunny product and keep their jobs. Could it be Local 20 has more clout than 908 and intervened? It is bad enough with IBC management screwing us all the time, now we got to watch out for the union screwing us to, and we pay them to do it. BEWARE OF ROUTE MERGERS!!!

If you think your union is so bad, why don't you just find a non-union job. Or better yet just save your $50. a month union dues and fund your own retirement plan. I'll bet you'll probably save enough to receive maybe $25 a month pension if you don't live too long. Good luck

I have been employeed for 16 years and have seen many changes through the years this too will pass. People resist change but everyone doing whatever they want is very dangerous and that is what has put the company where it is now.

i work in eastern montana mike connell should hear what his management team thinks of him it is not good the eastern montana western north dakota sales manager does not speak very highly of him behind his back i can see why this company is failing so badly the sales manager has very poor employee realtions and appears to be in poor health

Why do Union Reps allow IBC to treat their union members so badly...because IBC can afford to buy them a better lunch.

teamsters union preisident jimmy hoffa and bakery director richard volpe have done nothing for the bakery route drivers i;m ashsmed to be a union member these two are a complete joke. why do the union reps allow ibc to treat their employees so bad

Please do not blame the prople that can not spell properly. Its not their fault. You see IBC will hire anyone reguardless of education or backround. And if you want to be in management it is who you know and not what you know. Its the old buddy system.

Hmm, can you feel the love Dick? Seriously, you do sound like a cuckold lower-mid level manager who get the latest pile of manure dumped in your inbox to photocopy and spout ad nauseum to your subordinates. Though in fact you are in agreement with many of the posters here, but are afraid to admit it. (pssst!!!) Senior Management can't figure out who you are by posting here, go ahead--tell us what you really think, as opposed to spouting off "YOU MORONS SHOULD BE HAPPY YOU HAVE A JOB!!!111111oneone!, it just has no effect in print, except to amuse those of us who KNOW WHO YOU ARE Mwuhahahahaahaaa!

Dick Head Thank my lucky stars I finally found you . You see , my grandmother needs a Scrabble partner this Sunday and I would be honored if you would lead her on to victory . If there is a conflict with your spelling bee contest please let me know , we will gladly reschedule.

san diego boy is that true

The Business Agents can usually be found lunching with IBC management. They only show up to see the rank and file when there is a corrupt Teamsters election. They can always be counted on to not show up to represent their members.

can any one tell me where the teamsters union disappeared to they have not been seen for years do they still repensent the bakery drivers

Hey Dick Head I hope you don't mind . i entered you in a spelling bee this weekend . Good luck , i hope you win , cause i know how much it means to you . Oh , i almost forgot , your entry name is ASSMITE.....did i spell that right ?????

FYI Dick Head, I ran a grammar and spell check on your post and it's interesting to note that you write at a grade level of 4.8. I guess the one rode on the short bus.

Dick Head sounds to me like you rode the short bus, Any one that would be happy working for a crap hole place like IBC must have a mental disorder, Or else you are are supervisor cause thats the same name I call mine.

Hey Dick Head, Last I heard spelling and grammar was not a requirement to obtain employment at IBC. Neither is it a requirement to post on this board. As long as a person is able to get their point across what does it really matter if they mis spell a word? Seriously, many of the people that post here can't spell but it doesn't mean they can't do their jobs. It also doesn't make it OK for management or anyone else to treat them badly. Your post shows not only your ignorance but your personality disorder. At least your mother had the forsight to name you in a way that suits you to a tee.

Please wake me when this is over because this has to be a dream. SOAR like an eagle or SORE on your behind?

BAD MANAGEMENT.

millbrook could't agree with you more this company is falling fast i don;t think it will see another year speaking of union they have really diappaered from the job site good thing the union dues is taken out of the check if they had to come to the job to collct it they would leave emptied handed .OSHA should see some of this equipment we have and they would shut this company down everyone is just covering their ass wondering what going to happen next.

Interstate cooked after loss forecast By William Spain, CBS.MarketWatch.com Last Update: 4:24 PM ET March 25, 2004 CHICAGO (CBS.MW) -- Shares of Interstate Bakeries got cooked Thursday, slumping over 13 percent after the company said it expects to post significant -- and unexpected -- losses on the fiscal third quarter amid declining sales. Interstate Bakeries shares crumble after loss forecast Before the bell, Interstate said that based on preliminary results, it looks to lose between 8 cents to 12 cents on the period on a sales slide of 2.5 percent. While the projected figure includes a 2-cent per share restructuring charge, the average estimate of analyst polled by Thomson First Call had been for the company to earn 13 cents per share. Shares of Interstate (IBC: news, chart, profile) closed with a loss of $2.11, a penny off its worst level of the session. It is the latest in a string of bad news for the Kansas City, Mo.-based maker of Hostess Twinkies and Wonder Bread, already beset by stiff competition and changing consumer preferences. Last week, the company announced it would close a California bakery and toss 184 employees out of work. In late February, it cut out on an alliance with Campbell Soup (CPB: news, chart, profile) that produced and distributed Campbell's Pepperidge Farm breads in a handful of Western states. Interstate ended the pact, which it called "a good and profitable relationship" in order to focus on its own super-premium bread line, the company said at the time. William Spain is a reporter for CBS.MarketWatch.com in Chicago.

yes IBC stock is falling fast. rumor that flowers is looking to buy interstate. the company has put hoatess/dolly combo routes on hold in columbus for some reason.

IBC stock way down. Hang onto your shorts its going to be a wild ride. But its nice to know that were hiring more people to help hold Stock up and keep it from slipping lower.

ibc watcher you got it right.stores are called outlets here in northeast. not thirft stores day old not sold.

Today i realized just how great things are here at IBC. I opened the back door of my truck and a bolt hit me in the head ., no blood , good to go ..I pulled out my hand truck and tne last good runner broke , now my eight high only holds 3 trays . Thats plenty of room to serve most of the accounts on this route. I pulled some trays forward with a pole i made in my garage ( our spares are all broke ), no problem .. I proceeded to print my load sheet , it took a couple of tries ( head jam ) but hey , it's all good .Now i can load my gauranted carryover , if you know what i'm saying ......Hey, the 3251 looks like , well it looks like it always does, like sh_ _ . Thats cool , at least it doesn't smell like sh_ _ . That would make for a really long day, see , there's a bright side to everything. Hell i remember ,6 depot managers, 5 district managers, 4 plant managers , 3 union reps , 2 turtl doves amd a patridge in a pear tree ago when 3251 was a fine loaf of bread ...Wait a minute , i lied , i have not seen a union rep since 1984. Anyway what happened to quality control, hell i don't know , do you ? For all i know it's my fault , maybe i'm doing something wrong . Funny thing though ., none of this really bothers me . What really bothers me is that after 20 plus years with IBC , i have absolutely no job security and that my brothers and sisters smells like , well you know............................

iI work for Interstate Brands in easters montana the sales manager we have out of north dakota should be fired i agree with the other eastern montana salesman my accounts don't want to deal with him he is a very hard person to work for because of his quick temper he does not reprensent the company in a postive manner

with all th changes that are going on in the company, they say that a SOAR representative is suppose to come to each office and explain how we are going to progress. My question is - - WHEN? These changes are to happen very soon (June) and I don't know if I'm going to have a job or not.

EYES

WRONG WE GIVE STORES FRESH BREAD THEY SELL BELOW HALF PRICE.RETURNS BY THE DUMPSTER.IBC WATCHER HAVE YOURS CHECKED.

You're absolutely correct about the person in payroll. If you and I know, how come she is still employed with IBC. It must have something to do with those secret meetings, phone calls, emails etc.....that must be how she keeps her job.

To the person who is concerned about the state of the fleet at the Hodgkins Bakery: Have you ever voiced your concerns to anyone with the power to do something about it? I've been going to team council meetings for quite a while and can't remember a time when an issue of vehicle safety was not corrected. The next meeting is April 8th at 8:30 a.m. Please come and share your concerns with the group.

my name is buckshot and ive worked at the billings plant some 20 years now it has provided me a good living during those years.during a down point in my life i took a short time off and my managers were behind me never once was i harrassed and with there help i believe im a better person and employee now.I truly believe we have a good group of managers at the billings plant and that they are doing there very best during these difficult times.For those who attacked mike connell i say you may not have spent time talking to him.The days that he is in town and in the breakroom he talks with his employees about numerous subjects and i find him to be an engaging man. Infact I believe the billings plant may be one of the oveall best plants that ibc has!!!!

Our semi's at Hodgking are not just old they are dangerous.I am waiting for a serious accident as a result of the poor conditions.I dont think it will be too much longer til it happens.I hope it dosent happen but the way they work on our equipment I dont think it will be too long.Of course the garage will just blame it on the driver.

unlockthepotential

The mechanics at our garage will fix this rolling pieces of junk if you write itup enough.Some of this equipment is older than hostess,they do a fine job with what they got to work with.We need new so we could put this junk to sleep.

The ADA Guidelines may produce headaches for unwary employers, and should be read closely. The significant provisions of the Guidelines are as follows: The First Surgeon General?s Report on Mental Health issued in December, 1999, states that depression is the major cause of worldwide disability and that manic depression ranks among the top 10 causes. The report also found that nearly 16% of the American population suffers from anxiety disorders. Since the inception of Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1992, employers have contributed over $25 million in awards for charges involving depression, manic depression and anxiety disorders. Merit factor resolutions (resolutions of meritorious allegations with favorable outcomes to charging parties) between 1997 and 1999 nearly tripled for depression and almost doubled for charges involving anxiety disorder and manic depression (For specific data, you may refer to newsletter charts). These impairments rank second only to orthopedic and back injuries out of a total of 44 impairments covered by the ADA. In 1997, in an attempt to dispel the penumbra surrounding emotional or mental illness, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued Enforcement Guidance on the Americans with Disabilities Act and Psychiatric Disabilities. While the EEOC?s enforcement guidance does not constitute actual law, the courts refer to it to determine the applicability of ADA complaints. The enforcement guidance lists the applicable psychological disorders as "major depression, bipolar disorder (manic depression), anxiety disorders (which include panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder), schizophrenia, and personality disorders." The EEOC maintains that a qualified psychiatric disorder must "substantially limit major life activities," and they state that "irritability, chronic lateness, and poor judgement . . . may be linked to mental impairments." These traits describe many workplace complaints against employees who may, with the help of the EEOC?s guidelines, link willful performance issues to a psychological impairment. In addition, work is only one of the major life activities that may be significantly affected by the disorder. For example, substantial limitations on "learning, thinking, concentrating, interacting with others, [and] sleeping" may qualify an individual as emotionally or mentally impaired even if their work life is not affected by the disorder. The EEOC further broadens the palette by stating that "expert testimony about substantial limitation is not necessarily required." Credible testimony from the individual with a disability and his/her family members, friends, or coworkers may suffice. The potential exists that you may be asked to provide reasonable accommodations for behavior that may stem from any number of personal and motivational factors, one of which may be a psychological disorder. The employee does not need to propose any specific accommodation. All that the employee must do is to identify the existence of an impairment and give a general description of the problems which the impairment is causing The employee does not need to mention the existence of any disability, or ask for any accommodation, in order to be considered covered by the ADA. All that is necessary is that the employee give sufficient information to put the Company on notice that he may have a covered disability and/or may need an accommodation. You can avoid violating ADA guidelines if you recognize what constitutes a request for reasonable accommodation, especially regarding disabilities of a psychological nature which may lack observable symptoms. A request for reasonable accommodation may be verbal and even casually stated. For instance, if an employee tells you they have trouble remembering all the details of what they are asked to do and requests instructions in writing, they may have a problem concentrating due to the effects of medication or a psychiatric disability. Ask questions. Don?t assume that the employee is lazy or has an overextended sense of privilege. If the employee in question tells you they have an emotional or mental impairment, you must provide reasonable accommodation, even if it entails having their supervisor write down their instructions. You are free to request reasonable documentation of the employee?s disability before providing reasonable accommodation as the employee?s disability is not clearly observable. Objections by coworkers don't matter, as long as it is reasonably possible to get the job done.

Our company has become so corrupt it is impossible to have any repect for it. We have a corrupt person as the corporate payroll supervisor.

Hodgkins has been trying to save money by not hiring people when we need them and laying off whenever possible but no one has ever paid attention to our mechanics.We have had transport drivers followed and fired in the past but our mechanics continue to fall under the radar screen.These guys do very little.Some times when the boss (Bob Rogas)says he dosent want to spend any money til the emd of the month because of his budget the mechanics do nothing until he gets more money from KC.If you have a problem it takes them 30 minutes to do what could be done in 5 because they have to "get ready" to work.They spend more time in the break room and walking around outside than any thing else.If we had guys that really wanted to work we could get rid of half the guys back there and still get as much done.Our garage has got to be the worst as far as efficiency.

how many clowns did they hire for soar 2004?

To Anonymous writing about Lone in the thrift store. If what you said is true then step up to the plate and start writing some certified letters and making some phone calls. If I were in your shoes I'd take it a step futher and confront the rude idiots who set this situation up. I can't stand people that lie.

IBC priority list: 1) Production Department, 2) Transportation Department, 3) Sales Department

I see what Ione Snow was talking about when she posted her comments here about the store manager and employees tactics at the Edwardsville, Il. thrift store.Ione was fired due to her co-workers alleged lies about her being rude to customers.The stories were told to ensure their employment. They feared that she would gain full time employment and that one of them would be eliminated.Ione only worked with the store manager for 2 weeks before the store manager left for a months vacation in Florida.The store manager returned form vacation and Ione was fired shortly thereafter.I happen to know firsthand that the co-workers themselves called IBC and made up the stories about her. Also..they arranged for a friend of theirs to pose as a disgruntled customer who called IBC-St.Louis, MO. office, and complained also.These events led to Ione's dismissal.Trisha, Peggy and Christine should all be ashamed of themselves for doing this awful deed to Ione.How do I know this? I overheard Peggy and Trisha talking about it . Those 2 should be more careful what they say in front of customers.

To the RockyMount sales man that can blame production for the lagging sales due to quality!! Its that time of year again sales are down and quality sucks when the bun season hits we make the same quality and never hear a word about quality!! Yes we do have our quality issues, But you need to tell your BOSS the one that cuts our budget that you have to spend money to make money with no parts to fix equipment down time and quality suffer. So don't bash production BASH YOUR BOSS!!!!!

Until we start using natural not artifical our products will continue to lose market share.Our bread and cake taste like and look like garbage!Lets just hope we survive as a company.We got way to many managment almost laughable,there tripping over each other thers so many.SOARSand i,ll repeat is a joke ,who do these people know.Someone is asleep at the wheel if you think these soars morons are benefiting this company.Ive never seen a bigger hate relationship between employee and mangment.We need to clean house.By the way safety is only on paper and not real as all can see by the conditions at varios buildings and trucks.I try to do the best job possible but its getting harder as you see nobody giving a dam.All i want to know whos in charge of this total mess.There should be a lot of firing because this company is totaly out of control and in danger of closing the doors.WhatsNEXTor how can they make this place more unprofitable.Whos making these almost insane decisions,they need to get the pink slip.Will anything happen NOOOOOOOOOO

This week we have a perfect example of IBC stupidity...Wonder Bread is going to run Homepride 2/300 and 1.49 at Staters and Albertsons. What would you say, they need a 300% increase to break even? Then add in all the lost sales from the Millbrook line and the net total for IBC is...NO PROFIT for IBC. When are the KC boys going to figure out Wonder is on the same TEAM as Millbrook!!!!!!!!!!!

Project Soar and ANY other changes in our company will not help us improve sales and increase market share we have so badly lost over the last 3 years. Of all the challeging situations and opportunities we will face in the months to come...only ONE THING will have the greatest impact on our future.......Consistent Product Quality. Home Pride Wheat, Home Pride Honey Wheat, Wonder Butter Bread have lost almost all market share in our area to Flowers. When our products are produced correctly, not over-baked, not sunk in the middle and or on the sides, we can compete with ANYTHING out there in the maket place. I know the Rocky Mount bakery can do it....sometimes they do get it right. BUT our competiton gets it right everyday, that's why they now out sell us soo bad in the supermarkets. On the other hand, we get our Merita 2 lb. Club bread from a bakery in TN I understand. It comes in perfect almost everyday! If they can do it, so can you Rocky Mount. (Do you know when this will happen? I do.) When Rocky Mount puts quality as a No. 1 priority, instead of forcing out additional breads to make their sales goals. Short term thinking will kill us in the long run. The only way we ALL will succeed starts with what the No. 1 Priority should be: Consistant Quality Products. Without that...everything else will only provide short term results. PLEASE, I beg those of you in management reading this....FOCUS on consistant quality baked goods. Let us sales people be proud again of knowing we are delivering the best baked goods in the market place! Thank You.

management has a soar meeting in columbus on TUESDAY the 30th. cincinnati-hostess has a two day meeting same time. we are getting closer to combining

Bennies??? you have got to be kidding. Southwest Administrators pays less than Medi-Cal (State funded medical insurance for Welfare) Most of the claims submitted are denied and you have to fight tooth and nail to get them to pay anything. Yeah that's a great bennie.

the only way the billings plant can be saved is if upper management get rid of mike connell as soon as possible and his cronies go with him

you are 100% right the teamsters union is WORTHLESS they do golf with management

if you rock the boat you will be punishedor even fired and the teamsters union will do nothing for you management will do what they want and this company will fail because of it. the teamsters attitude is pay your dues sit down and SHUT UP we do not want to hear about your problems the teamsters union and IBC have a cozy realtionship and there is nothing the rank and file can do about iit WHERE IS THIS SO CALLED TEAMSTER POWER IT DEAD IN THE WATER. the union is no more than an empty suit for management

What Bennies? Oh you must mean to 89 bucks a week for medical insurance...lol yea thats only twice as much as any other place charges, or maybe you mean to 60 bucks a month we pay to be in the useless union?

IBC is having second thoughts on bread put into a paper sack? Looks like a crumppled up lunch sack after its put on bread shelf. Back to the drawing board boys. Product developement team start looking for a new job you fail to SOAR on this project.

I agree with Mike, This is by far the worst place I have ever worked at. I also got myself a new job and will be running as fast as I can away from wonder bread. The way things are run now I dont see wonder bread lasting much longer...It will be run into the ground and or sold in the very near future.

if you don like working for them then Quit. their bread and cakes are crapy and this reflects on you the employees. move on find a new job and quit. thay is what i did and now i am happy and doing 100% better in life. Just get off of your lazzy ass and find a better job.

not a happy camper

Here is is the same point system. Even if a loved one dies if you take off to pay your respect and the deceased is not on your union contract list you will be written up. There is no excuse at all. Management does not care what your problems are,you wil be written up with possible suspension and termination. These rules are selfesh and inhuman. There is no excuse for treating employees like this. Management has no shame.

Our bakery has institued Friday paydays. Two-thirds of our employees (two shifts) don't even work on Fridays, so, if we want to get our paychecks, we have to drive back to work on our day off and go into the office and ask for them. You can't even get your vacation pay on a Thursday!!! If you "prove" that you are leaving on Friday before business hours, you can go back in and pick up your checks AFTER MIDNIGHT that morning!!! How's that for inconvenient? When Direct Deposit is instituted, this problem will be solved, but that won't happen until next year. Are employees elsewhere having these problems?

FOR IBC EMPLOYEES: At our bakery, employees are written up and given a point if they miss work because of a family emergency, such as taking a family member to the emergency ward, even if they have proof of the emergency. It counts as an unexcused absence and that point could get them suspended or fired, depending on his/her personal standing at that time. Is this the policy at other bakery? Please post and let me know what the policy is where you work.

I think that the Wonder Hostess thrift srore here in Edwardsville, Illinois needs some new managerial blood.Karen is blinded by her 2 longtime employees game playing with new employees.They run off most new workers to ensure their own employment! The poor manager is being used and manipulated---thereby so is IBC!

how about those managers that drink and drive

The plant managers do not need company cars. Its a waste of money. Let them use their own cars. Just pay them for the miles,its cheaper in the long run. And someone needs to check up on all those formans as they just sit around and smoke and drink coffee and talk to the girls and eachother. What a waste of time and money.

Keep up the good work Mike! Obviously you are doing something right!

i no general managrs can buy company cars but can thet get them painted and fixed up by the company before they do?

the post listed below could have been posted by Mike Connell and HR there no douth that the Billing plant is in trouble due to poor leadership and that starts at the top this plant has gone down hill since Mike Connell took over and will fail as long as he is in charge

Unless you were a personal party to each and every situation that each and every poster on this board wrote then how do you know if the posts are accurate or not? I would be alarmed if the majority of posters here felt one way about the way they were treated and one or two lone employees come back and say how fair the company/management is. There are far to many documentated cases/law suits that prove which side of this issue is accurate.

This memo is for the employee's who have written in complaining about our Billings plant. First of all Mike Connell and Human Resources have always treated me fair. When I have had a problem or a question I would talk with them person to person. It's amazing how much we really don't know about what going on and how many untrue rumors there are. Instead of complaining anonymously try sitting down and visiting with Mike Connell or Human Resources with any questions or suggestions that you may have. You want to be treated fairly, well I am sure they do to. Most of what I have read is not accuarate information, just information with a lot of details left out . I don't know if this is intentional or not, but it's not fair to the reader nor to who you are writing about. What we as employees need to remember is that management does have a plant to run and not a day care center. We are not always going to get our way as their first priority is that plant, which is good because that is what is paying our wages. If IBC in Billings, MT is such a bad and unfair place to work why have you stayed here so long? Maybe you were the only one who thought you gave so much to the company. I think IBC probably did you a favor by keeping you employeed so long. Maybe you owe IBC a thank you. I along with a lot of employee are greatful for the job we have and the management that we have to work with. Not everyone is perfect, not even you and I believe this is something you have forgotten. Lighten up on management, I don't believe any of their jobs are a easy as it may seem. I know everyone can write on this site. I hope that everyone who writes states accurate facts and not just untruthful lies just to be hurtful. READERS - when reading some of these comments please remember there are always two sides to the story and some of the people just sound negative and bitter. Thanks to Mike Connell and his Management Team for doing there best to keep this plant running in a productive way in these difficult times.

Get the Bunny Bread while you can. IBC sure to do away with it, just like the drivers.

To Bunny Bread lover: IBC owns Bunny Bread.

Dear IBC , I'm an employee of IBC for 18 years. Within the past year we have seen many changes . Some good and some that I question . Our Stale is way out of control due to what I think is a upper management desission. We are now on a 7 day add and cut system , where as a year ago it was 3-4 days out. Stale was almost 1/2 of what it is now . That tells me something , does it not ? Are we making decisions to make the work load lighter and easier on office and plant personel at the CO$T of sales dollars . I can agree it helps the plant to know what amount it is going to be baking 5 to 6 days in advance , but we as sales reps. cannot predict one week out and keep the stale dollars in line. On the flip side, How can we react to a super week after our orders are already submited. Please don't take this letter as from a complainer . That I'm not . I really would like to see this company grow leaps and bounds. I'm proud to work for IBC , I just think we need to cut the lines between the different departments and all work together as a team. Truly without sales the company would fold . Stale costs our company alot of money and so does lost sales . Thank you for your time, Jim

I attended a meeting last week and was told that IBC would have 5 profit center managers with 10 bakeries each. So that means IBC will only have 50 bakeries. Is anyone aware of what other bakeries will be closing?

it not only HR mike connell is behind it looks like the billing is going down hill since he took over

The HR manager runs plant 17.When aperson gets hurt at this place she will try get that person out the door in a hurry. She does't care how long you been with the company and how good your employment record with the company . She makes you out as a bad person.I would been even willing to be a foreman with the experiance I have. But instead they have a foreman who called in went skiingand broke his wrist and he got promoted. They made another a foreman that had called in couple of times for weeks at a time because they didn't have vacation in summer. Another that had plenty of call in sick or absents on their records. But if you get hurt on the job you are tough out of your job .They can turn your life upside down just like that.What a place to work at don't you think. I liked my job and gave 100percent and I got swept out like dirt.

The size of Hostess Cup Cakes has gone from 106 g to 99 g and the price has gone up so that the Hostess big wigs can use that money to pay me to take there sides in disputes instead of the union members side.

To "anyone" who posted that the behaviors happened in SF when CBC, not IBC owned the bakery.. "All the managers who commited these atrocious acts were retained by IBC when they bought the company from CBC and they allowed the behavior to continue" AND MAY I ADD IT STILL GOES ON ACROSS THE COMPANY!

Closing the Dicarlo Bakery was another brillant SORE decision. But it nice to know that IBC continues to create unneeded jobs at upper levels. Elsesser what are you thinking. When you took over our company we had hope of rising to the top, not driven into the ground.

Not only was the San Francisco lawsuit reduced to less than a tenth of the caption shown an your homepage, the behaviors listed in suit fell under the time frame when the bakery was run by CBC not IBC, shame shame, look who is really playing dirty ... those who operate this website.

drastic changes are needed to the teamsters union. we need enthuslatic business representatives that get aggressive and tough interstate brands need to be held accountable for the why they treat their employees as long as business representatives look the other way on these issues they will only get worth

Interstate Bakeries Corporation (ticker: IBC, exchange: New York Stock Exchange) News Release - 15-Mar-2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IBC Makes Announcement KANSAS CITY, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 15, 2004--Interstate Bakeries Corporation (NYSE:IBC) today announced plans to close its bakery in San Pedro, CA. The closing, scheduled for May 14, 2004, will affect 184 employees. The San Pedro facility primarily bakes bread and rolls, as well as English muffins, sold under various brand names, including Di Carlo, Parisian, Wonder, and Millbrook. This production will be transferred to other IBC bakeries, including facilities in Los Angeles, Glendale, Pomona, and San Diego. The bakery closing will not affect distribution of IBC products to food stores in Southern California and other markets. "The decision to close the San Pedro bakery was difficult. Our employees there have been solid contributors and we appreciate their efforts," said James R. Elsesser, IBC's Chief Executive Officer. "However, company-wide we are consolidating operations and seeking production efficiencies. The Di Carlo bakery, which was built in 1957, is not as efficient as some of our other facilities. As a result, we concluded that economically it was best for the Company to close the facility." Most of the employees affected by this decision are represented by three unions: local #31 of the Bakers, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Union; local #1484 of the International Association of Machinists; and local #572 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. There may be opportunities for employment for some of the affected San Pedro employees as production is transferred to other IBC bakeries. Those opportunities, as well as severance arrangements for employees not placed, will be determined during affects bargaining and will be guided by IBC's agreements with the applicable unions. Interstate Bakeries Corporation is the nation's largest baker and distributor of fresh baked bread and sweet goods, under various national brand names including Wonder, Hostess, and Home Pride. The Company, with 57 bread and cake bakeries located in strategic markets from coast-to- coast, is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri.

TO THE NEW MEMBERS OF LOCAL 734, THRIFT STORE EMPLOYEES......DID YOU KNOW THAT OUR UNION SENT US A CONTRACT TO READ AND TO VOTE ON THAT CONTAINED "TYPOS"? OUR CONTRACT PROMISED FULL TIME EMPLOYEES 40 HOURS A WEEK. AFTER INQUIRING WHY I WASNT RECEIVING THIS I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS ONLY GUARANTEED 30 HOURS . I CONTACTED OUR UNION OFFICIAL AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS INDEED A TYPO IN THE CONTRACT. I FEEL THAT WE WERE DUPED!!! IF WE CANT DEPEND ON OUR UNION THAN WHO? COMPANY?

KCMO, it has been too many messages since you posted customer service number, reminding posters this is NOT an IBC sponsored site. JWiltrakis gave this board 10 days in April 2000, please shut it down soon!!!!

to the local 289 member just salaries for officers a union officer can't understand the problems of members who make less than half what he makes . No officer should make more than the highest paid working members in his jurisdiction no multipe salaries or multipe pensions . Salary increases limted to the average increase of the rank and file they should also come around the job sites and vist with the rank and file bottom line get off your dead ass and do something about the treatment of your members the company knoes you are weak and won't do any thing so its open season on members

To the drivers complaining about Teamster Local 289's Business Agents: Dan and Paul are straight up guys and stood up for me even though their slate defeated me in a previous election. They make a decent wage, but if I worked as many hours as they did covering such a huge geographic area I'd make that much too as a driver. Please keep in mind too that Local 289's office is in Minneapolis so they can't always make it out to the Dakotas and beyond to meet with the Teamster brothers and sisters. But give them a call or an e-mail and they'll get back too you.

Get another excuse ready IBC for low profit earnings. Krispy Kreme is coming out with a low sugar donut?

it still doesot change the fact that mike connell is a jerk he treats his empolyees poorly ,

The Billings plant has as many long term employees as any company in Montana.Most are happy and all are paid well with bennifits exceeding most jobs in this state.There are always going to be a few lazy , but vocal crybabies out there.

the company is run by a bunch of dumb men.

your right the last five years the billing plant has gone down hill thanks to mike connell and his dream team management team connell is a jerk yhat little man should be fired the sooner the better

I was hurt on the job and the HR Manager treated me like I was dirt. I would go back as a foreman if they asked but I doubt that they would. I worked there a long time but that does't seem to matter . The HR department has a attitude at getting rid of people who had good record and promote people who were malcontent and had bad work habits. In the last 5years the plant has really went down because of the HR Manager.

I was wondering if your company was hiring at all?

Charles Sullivan..............$ 9.84M James Elsesser..............$ 720.00K Michael Kafoure...............$ 483.00K Robert Morgan . ..............$ 242.00K Thomas Bartoszewski....$ 247.00K

Dan Bartholomew wages 2002 71784 expenses 12248 Paul peterson wage 68680 expenses 9297 we really get our moneys worth don t we bottom feeders

the business agent at 289 is worthless he only there for his 80,000 plus paycheck your dues pays for the teamsters union is worthless when was he last at a job sight to talk to the rank and file he has forgoten where his pay check come from he a big blow hard

Does any one else in the local 289 union have to stay out untill 12 noon even tho the contract states "when you are done with your route you are done"? I could see if we are getting paid by the hour but we are not.

Anonymous from Hostess~Don't give HR Manager, "Putrid", any ammo! She's just dying to to put anyone that's in management down. She's married to an underachiever and apparently the poor jerk has been disciplined several times...she's out to even-out the score... I know what you're talking about though. One of them nice toys is mine, hardly have any time to enjoy it. Hang in there, trust me, we feel your pain...

If your working 20 to 25 days straight without a day off then you must be management. You need to spend some quality time at the Department of Labor's web page. http://www.dol.gov/esa/welcome.html Remember that Federal laws can not be overridden by union contracts. Personally I think your working 20 to 25 days in a row without a day off is God's way of punishing you for being mean to your Route Drivers.

Ha!The jokes on IBC! I was fired last Friday and today I am working for Lewis , and may I add,for 2 more dollars per hour!Much better company-fair dealings.

Is there a state law in california prohibiting this company from working their employees 20-25 days in a row without a day off? We are so mismanaged here that the employee parking lot is full of new SUV's, Benz's, BMW's and H-Davidson hawgs from the money we are making. Bad thing is we do not have time to enjoy these things or our family and if we refuse they will fire us and get someone off the street who will accept this money from these DEVILS.

interstate brands treats employees poorly at best where is the teamsters union at they don't care they only are there to collect dues WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THEY REALLY DID SOMETHING BESIDES TALK TOUGH THEY ARE NO MORE THAN BIG WIND BAGS

to steve if you love our apple pies try our raisin bread no raisins

Unity results in the type of rewards you see being celebrated on the left of this page. <------------------- They look VERY VERY HAPPY, don't they? That could be you! Don't give up or give in.

I believe the whole corporation is engaged in wholesale termination of targeted groups of workers being phased out, or going to be phased out soon. Any infraction seems enough to fire you, add to that the embellishment of their arbitrary enforcement, and it is an us versus them situation. Join together, file class action suits, and reap the rewards of your years of wasted efforts via the court system. Thank You for this forum, it is probably the only positive thing I have seen from this company in years.

Has anyone called Mike Powers a jerk lately he is right up there with Tom Bradford

please return your baskets to biddeford.the bread is on the floor rats are getting fat.

Any news about columbus plant

MAURO MUST GO. HE IS DESTROYING MORAL AND BUSINESS HERE WITH THE HELP OF FORBES, KILL THE TWO HEADED MONSTER

no matter how you spell it mike connell is still a jerk he living proof sh*t floats to the top

The IBC thrift store in Edwardsville ,Illinois is selling very outdated products to the public.I bought 3 loaves of the new Low Carb bread the other day? When I got home I noticed mold all over the top of the loaves of bread!The expiration date was March 10th! The woman that waited on me was very rude too-Peggy-

I believe Mr. Billings, MT needs to learn a few manners. Didn't your Momma teach you it isn't nice to correct people? There are intellectual snobs on Earth for sure! I just bet you are an IBC Executive?Hummmm? Well, IBC is going to pay through the snout for what they did to me!How do ya like that English buddy?LOL!

..Beware! New hire thrift store employees! I was hired Jan. 10-04-told I would be working 16-24 weekly? My manager(Karen Cook) left to vacation in Florida for the whole month of February.The very day she returned form vacationing? I was FIRED! Do not trust or believe IBC! I wonder if the fact that her sister is the main HR person in St.Louis, MO has anything to do with this type of arrogant dirty dealings?I am sure glad I saved all of my timesheets-made copies-and saved all of my work schedules too.Sounds like unfair dismissal procedure to me.

It seems to me that all of you people who are so unhappy with your jobs should try to find another in your area that pays as well. Also, your comments would be taken a lot more seriously if you used proper spelling, grammar and punctuation.

Dear Dedicated EX, Dirty laundry is aired in this forum because the executives at IBC excel in ignoring the concerns and complaints of their front line employees. Maybe if the Dedicated EX's of IBC actually listened to their employees and then (god forbid) actually did something that wasn't (and this would be a rariety) HOSTILE...well maybe then the front line employees wouldn't have to air their dirty laundry here. BTW with the hours we work, we hardly have time at home to enjoy our families let alone do our dirty laundry. Sincerely a Dedicated Employee

I can't belive that IBC would have a web site that would allow consumers to view a discruntal employee's airing out of dirty laundry. How can that be good for either the Company or the employee if a consumer decides to shop elsewhere? How about airing out your dirty laundry with the appropiate people.

I was fired today because a woman I used to babysit for and her sister and their Mother called the main office in St.Louis, MO. and made up ridiculous stories about me and how rude I was to them while they were shopping in the thrift srore! I also believe that they sent a man in to harass me last week which led to all of this sorry business.The way all this was handled is a shame.I am ashamed to say I ever worked for IBC!

What happened to the message board?

mike connell the general manager at billings is a jerk that little man has NO LEADERSHIP SKILLS it appears that the billings plant is in finanical trouble the middle management is weak at best under his leadership

I work in the general area of billings, for all of you else where talking about unfairness in IBC, you aren't alone. Where we are we aren't union not a great choice I don't think. At least you union people have someone to defend your rights as a human to not be degraded, threatened and critisized by management. Here we get told when we are management are opinions will matter, and until then if we are unhappy they will gladly demote you for bitching. This way we loose are benefits, profits go up and the big wallets get a little bigger. If any of you have suggestions on how we can get a little fairness and decent treatment without the union to tell them they have to please let us know. Thanks

Soar is a fairly good program but why did Corporate have to outsource these people when its the present management staffs jobs? Well the answer is that the present management did not have the education or skills to address the problems. So lets spend a few million dollars and outsource someone else that has the smarts. Mabey you guys in corporate should just sit at home and collect your check? Or have you been doing that all along?

I think the company is going in the right direction with the SOAR program. Having the bakeries work togrther instead of separate with help profit go up. I really looking forward to the changes...

Supervisors: When are any of you going to wake up and realize that management through reprimands, threats, and intimidation is no longer acceptable as an effective management style to establish positive LONG TERM results. You are simply alienating those employees whom you ultimately depend upon. The devil made me do it is simply an excuse for poor management skills. Some of the largest, most successful companies are those in which the employees perceive themselves to be treated fairly and respectful. Try yelling and screaming at your wife and kids if that is your style and see what kind of results that brings you! Short term results, long term resentment or worse.

to the supervisor below commenting about salesreps not following direction. by the way you capitalize your words i can see you are a screamer as a manager. you must first lead by example, if you show disrespect or talk negetive about your superiors, it rubs off . if you want your reps to do the required work,than treat them as you want to be treated not the way the company treats you. you will be suprised the results you get. as a supervisor in hodkins i know what you are going thrue, but handle your self different and you can see better results.

once again where is the union when members are treated so poorly .no place to be found they do such a poor job they. are to the point of being worthless. it appears the union and the company are sleeping together.

to post below mangers reapply for there own job.so true they want out and back to union jobs .too bad shut your mouth and do your job.

What you the routeman do not understand is.That us supervisors do not want to treat you the way that we do . We ask you to do something that is your job to do to start with and you ignore us repeatedly. So that is why YOU!!!!!! get treated the way you do. YOU ASK TO BE TREATED THAT WAY. ANY QUESTIONS???????????????????

When are all these management changes going to start? I can't wait to see who's going and who is staying. Anyone know the scoop?

I hope to see all the management turn over as most of them have sprung from a bad seedling. The HR managers should be the first to go.

To many of those mid-level management personnel who are being forced to reapply for their jobs, I hope you realize that many of your subordinates are enjoying your position immensely. Perhaps some of you will understand the irony of your situation. Those who have regularly used intimidation and job threats now are being subjected to not only job loss but humiliation as well. Now please tell us, does your circumstance want you to really go out and do a good job for the company tomorrow or are you just going thru the motions while sweating your position? I would hope that many of you would rethink your management style and treatment of subordinates in the future as their response to your threats are the same as the feelings you are now having. You may consider yourself "company" but perhaps you may realize how unimportant you really are in the Company's eyes. You are being used just like the rest of us to perform a service. The only difference is you are expected to show loyalty and will receive the same in return. So much for that eh?

I Alacia M. Mason was a former employee at Holsum Bakery Outlet Store in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (store #619). This letter I refering to discrimination. On 2-14-04 I was forced to resign from my job at Holsum. Retail Managers by the names of Mrs. Peggy Tate and Mr. Larry Escue were trying to transfer me to store #601 in Baton Rouge. They were Transferring Me so that Mr. Escue's friend Tony Ring's Daughter could take my place. The store that I was being transferd to is predominately black and the store that i where i was employed was mostly white. I was only working 12 hours a week because i was told that our store was only allowed 84 hours a week . I wanted more and did not recieve them. The only time i had more hours was when a employee decided to quit and there were only two people working the store. Throught a soure and evidence Mr. Tony Ring's daughter requested 30 hours or more and she recieved them. Mrs. Peggy Tate has a serious attitude problem that need to be checked. I had spoken with Mr. Steve Cooper About her Attitude and he said that he would talk to her but her attitude still has not changed. You have supervisors that look down on the lttle people as if they are nothing. With out those little people Holsum Retail stores wouldn't be able to run because that can't run themselves. I hope that this matter will not be ignored if so then i sorry to say that a discrimnation lawsuit will take place. Sincerely Alacia M.Mason Contact @ (225)273-7492 or (225)275-2179

I was responding to the person who was interested in applying for the new jobs. If you do not have the intranet call HR and they can fax you an application and you can fax it back. You dont have to apply online, also you can have someone at the bakery download it on a disk and email it that way. The problem with the jobs are noone knows where the jobs are. Its generic, you are applying for a position and have no idea where it is. Also all the management in Utah have to reapply for their jobs that is also generic they told them to reapply but that does mean they will be offered the same job. They have also moved the manager that was over all Thrift stores in Idaho and Utah back down to a route and hired someone form Target and are paying them 20,000 less a year. People really need these jobs and IBC knows it. I realieze they are restructuring and need to make some changes but to make people who have been good valuable employees reapply for their jobs is ridiculous. Is that against the law? James Elesser chairman of the company said On November 3rd "they (the unions) are looking for benefits and salary at higher levels than we can afford so we have to automate, and we will,". He also stated "As part of our SOAR program we are reviewing our production capacity and costs and anticipate closing several plants and investing in more automation in the future." That is very scary. I dont think too many people should be excited and get their hopes about this company .S&Plowered their credit rating stating they have too much debt. The company needs to focus on making a better product that will stay fresher longer and be more competitive with the price.

There seems to be a rash of FIRING older drivers for any reason that happens to pop up. I wonder if this is a problem in other states. Perhaps it's a company policy. Please comment. Maybe there's a class action suit here with regard to age discrimination.

According to the transportation department, "Drivers are a dime a dozen." One manager even is allowed to manhandle drivers, swear at them and use all forms of intimidation. There's a three step policy for employees - I wonder if there's a policy for management.

There are so many people that really need this job nd IBC knows that. This is why they treat you like that. I read a comment that said, "if you don't like your job, just quit" That is not an option for most people. Union grievances have become a joke. The problem is that IBC is acting like an at will employer and it isn't. The Union needs to step up and take some action. Do not be afraid to sue. There are lawyers in your community that will be willing to take you case if your claim has merit. You should not be harassed at your job, you should not be subjected to unfair practices. Now I know that there are people that have not been adversely affected by management. Consider yourself lucky and demand the same consideration for your fellow employees, that you expect for yourself.

we hear non union personal must bid for there jobs now at the depots.

BOB, What don't you like about Diane Gonzales? I think she's a pretty nice lady....tough but nice.

John, what is it that makes you feel like you're being discriminated? I'm not trying to bust your b*lls, just trying to understand your post.

Why is it that the management says anyone can apply for these new jobs being posted but you can not get information for them off the internet unless you are tied into there network? What about agencies that are to far to drive to the bakery to apply? Doesnt this sound like favoritism? Is this not illegal? Why cant everyone have a chance at a new position? Is IBC affraid of change? Are they afraid new people will actually turn the company around and make a profit? If you are going to hire from inside, why not make it available to everyone? White-Black-Hispanic-Male-Female. Maybe I need to get a laywer because this sounds like Discrimination! What do you Think?

Our semi's at Hodgkins are in terrible shape.Almost all have a million miles on them and at least one has over 2 million.We have 3 Kenworth's that have cracked frames and have been repaired,which from my understanding it is illegal to weld the frame.Just think if these tractors caused an accident and killed someone and the people found out that a biilion dollar company tried to save a few bucks instead of doing the right thing and replacing the tractor.They would sue for millions and win without a fight.We have had steering wheels come out in the drivers hands while they were driving down the highway,wheels fall off the tractor while driving,Icould go on and on.We have tractors that have rust holes in them and now there is mold in the tractors.I dont think this is very healthy.I am all for saving money but at what cost.We need new tractors now!

DIANIA GONZALAZ MUST GO BYE BYE.

We need to get rid of the dead weight in HR at Hostess LA.