After reading Marv Fishman's letter ("Labor pacts hurt Hostess," Dec. 6), I can agree with one point: The real tragedy is the loss of employment for the 18,000 workers.
Mr. Fishman cites a number of work rules apparently included in the labor contracts between the unions and Hostess. Mr. Fishman is trying to make the point that the workers and their unions are the cause of the bankruptcy. To my knowledge, no labor union can draft and approve its own agreement.
Without going into all the reasons that unions exist, I have to repeat Mr. Fishman's own words, "$52 million of worker comp claims." How does a company accumulate such a cost? Why isn't there better management of employee safety programs to reduce worker's comp claims and costs and to provide a safer workplace?
What about continuing to produce "Wonder Bread and a large assortment of junk food" when Americans are so weight-conscious?
Why would you support a product line that depends too heavily on "junk food?" Or was that written into the labor agreements as well?
I seriously doubt it.
Labor costs are only one facet of a company's costs. Product planning, physical plant, production, distribution, marketing and many other factors interfere with (or contribute to) profits.
Can we determine if the loss of this once-great company should be blamed on any one cause? Of course not. Management decisions, market changes, production costs (that include labor costs) and many other factors did it in.
Let's not always target labor unions as the cause. I know it is simply too easy to blame the worker and not really think about all of the root causes.
EVAN S. EISENHANDLER
Poestenkill