Local Hostess workers lose jobs

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) - Local Hostess workers are among thousands nationwide who were left without a job Friday, after the company filed for bankruptcy.

WAVY.com spoke to workers at the Chesapeake Hostess facility just minutes after they logged their final hours of their final shifts. Employees say about 30 people lost their jobs at the site. There is a similar facility in Newport News that is also affected by the bankruptcy. It is not clear how many people worked at that location.

Rick Sawyer delivered the sweet treats for 10 years. He says the job was always fun because he grew up loving Hostess products.

"I remember when I was younger we used to go to the thrift store and buy Twinkies four for a dollar," said Sawyer. "That was bargain day on Wednesday!"

Sawyer's relationship with Hostess ended on a sad note Friday, when he learned the company filed for bankruptcy and he was out of a job.

"We pretty much knew that something might happen," said Michael Giles, who also worked out of the Chesapeake location for 10 years.

Giles said the writing was on the wall after the company first filed for bankruptcy in 2004. Giles had the day off Friday, but found out he was fired from news reports.

"This right here was a bit of a shock," said Giles. "So soon. But it is what it is."

As he started to drive away for the last time, Giles said he will focus on the fun he had every day, delivering food that made people happy.

"They loved me a lot," he laughed. "I had the snacks! I had the snacks... the good stuff!"

As for Sawyer, he says he won't look back, because now he has to focus on the future.

"We're wondering how the next week is going to be," he said. "If we're going to get a job, and most likely a lot of us won't."

The Chesapeake workers were not part of the bakers' union that Hostess blamed for the bankruptcy.

Meanwhile, across the country and in Hampton Roads, people have been pulling Hostess products off grocery and convenience store shelves. Web sites like Ebay and Amazon were inundated with the products. Most are listed at retail price, while others are listed at hundreds of dollars.