Twinkie maker Hostess, union enter mediation

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Twinkie manufacturer Hostess said on Monday it would enter mediation with its union aimed at resolving differences that forced it to shut down national operations and seek liquidation last week.

Hostess Brands, the maker of iconic super-sweet snacks and Wonder Bread, said it would start the confidential mediation with the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco and Grain Millers Union on Tuesday, after a request from the New York district bankruptcy court.

On Friday, Hostess, already in bankruptcy proceedings, announced it was shutting down its hundreds of bakeries and outlets because it could not reach a deal with workers that would allow it to keep going.

The shutdown put most of its 18,500 staff out of work and ended production of its most famous item, the cream-filled sponge cake Twinkie, sending fans to clean the shelves of supermarkets and convenience stores where they are normally sold.