After poking around for details on this whole mess, I found some info that hasn't been widely reported in the media.

The reasons for the strike and refusal to go back to the table stems from Hostess (which is under control of a corp. raider venture capitalist) negotiating severe wage cuts a few years ago (48K to 35K for a senior baker) and benefit cuts. THey agreed to it at the time because they were promised no more cuts would be made.

Now, after the corp scavengers have been doing nothing for new product development or marketing for a few years (read....making no attempt to modernize or actually spend money on the corp to make it viable......because in reality all they want to do is sell the IP rights and real estate and take the money and run) they went back to the table to demand more cuts ($35K to $25K for the baker in question) and more cuts in benefits.

I think I'd strike as well, because while $35K might be livable (barely) for someone who's made 40-50K for years, $25K is a slap in the face and a severe cut in wages.