The Teamsters Union said it remains ready and willing to resume negotiations with Hostess Brands Inc. executives in an attempt to save the company following the agreement in bankruptcy court Friday that a decision would not be handed down before May 1.

“We want to try to save Hostess and workers’ jobs,” said Teamsters General secretary-treasurer Ken Hall. “We want an agreement. And we remain ready and willing, as we have all along, to negotiate in good faith. We hope the company, which has been dragging its feet and engaging in regressive bargaining, is finally serious too.”

However, while key developments were occurring in bankruptcy court on Thursday, April 19, Hostess CEO Greg Rayburn was engaged in a FOX News media blitz in an attempt to malign Hostess workers and their promised pensions, blaming them for the company’s demise, a press release released by the Teamsters said.

“The company has a disturbing habit of trying to negotiate through the media and play the blame game, pointing fingers at its own workers instead of taking responsibility for mismanagement and looting,” Hall said.

Hostess workers have already taken cuts in pay and benefits totaling $110 million. The Teamsters’ most recent proposal contains $150 million more a year in further savings.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million hard-working men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico including more than 7,500 employees of Hostess Brands, Inc.

Previously on abfjournal.com:

Hostess Brands Names Rayburn as President, CEO, Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Teamsters Warn Hostess Not to Misuse Bankruptcy Process, Friday, January 27, 2012