Community leaders from around Buffalo Lake are stepping up to help workers laid off by the sudden closing of the Minnesota Beef plant last month. The suddenness of the closing -- with no notice -- and the ineligibility of many of these workers for public resources such as unemployment insurance, has left them struggling to survive.
About 150 people were employed at the plant, including about 125 production workers represented by United Food & Commercial Workers Local 789. Union Representative Shane Bastien invited Buffalo Lake Mayor Joyce Nyhus to a meeting with laid off workers to hear their concerns March 21 at the Buffalo Lake Community Center. Nyhus in turn, galvanized several Renville County commissioners, a representative of the local Economic Development Authority and some pastors from local churches to join the group, to learn more about these unemployed workers immediate needs.
The mayor and EDA have a concern about the future of this plant, not just in terms of effects of the layoffs on the local community, but also in terms of the $500,000 loan the city provided to Minnesota Beef for wastewater treatment improvements at the plant. The company also has an outstanding $4 million loan from the state Department of Employment and Economic Development.
At the meeting, Nyhus expressed concerns that the trickledown effects of this closing could affect local businesses and the local school district as well, particularly if families leave the area and students are removed from the schools. This will affect levels of state funding provided to the school district.
Bastien briefed the workers on what he knew about the current status of the plant. At this point, the owner is seeking partners or as last resort, a purchaser. There is no telling if or when a deal might be achieved.
Workers reported that some have been able to find other jobs, but may have had to relocate. Others have not been as fortunate or may not be able to just pick up and leave. Many of those in attendance needed immediate financial assistance for basics like rent or utilities.
The pastors reported they have taken special collections at their churches and were looking for a means to make those resources available to the workers. Many of those in attendance signed up on a list identifying who they were and what assistance they needed as an immediate priority. This will be used to work with other community resources in making this assistance available. A comprehensive group of local community resources will be meeting again on March 31 to coordinate these support efforts.
If you are interested in donating to help the Minnesota Beef workers, please contact Shane Bastien, UFCW Local 789, at 651-451-6240.
Michael Goldman is dislocated worker labor liaison for Minnesota, providing assistance to workers experiencing layoffs and plant closings.
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| Local leaders that were in attendance included (from left), Renville County Commissioner Ralph Novotny, Buffalo Lake Mayor Joyce Nyhus, Pastor Charles Stewart of Swedlanda Lutheran Church in rural Hector, Pastor Mark Little of Zion Lutheran Church in Buffalo Lake, Rev. Andrew Hermodson-Olsen of Grace Lutheran Church in Brownton and Shane Bastien of UFCW Local 789. Photo by Mike Goldman |
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Community leaders from around Buffalo Lake are stepping up to help workers laid off by the sudden closing of the Minnesota Beef plant last month. The suddenness of the closing — with no notice — and the ineligibility of many of these workers for public resources such as unemployment insurance, has left them struggling to survive.
About 150 people were employed at the plant, including about 125 production workers represented by United Food & Commercial Workers Local 789. Union Representative Shane Bastien invited Buffalo Lake Mayor Joyce Nyhus to a meeting with laid off workers to hear their concerns March 21 at the Buffalo Lake Community Center. Nyhus in turn, galvanized several Renville County commissioners, a representative of the local Economic Development Authority and some pastors from local churches to join the group, to learn more about these unemployed workers immediate needs.
The mayor and EDA have a concern about the future of this plant, not just in terms of effects of the layoffs on the local community, but also in terms of the $500,000 loan the city provided to Minnesota Beef for wastewater treatment improvements at the plant. The company also has an outstanding $4 million loan from the state Department of Employment and Economic Development.
At the meeting, Nyhus expressed concerns that the trickledown effects of this closing could affect local businesses and the local school district as well, particularly if families leave the area and students are removed from the schools. This will affect levels of state funding provided to the school district.
Bastien briefed the workers on what he knew about the current status of the plant. At this point, the owner is seeking partners or as last resort, a purchaser. There is no telling if or when a deal might be achieved.
Workers reported that some have been able to find other jobs, but may have had to relocate. Others have not been as fortunate or may not be able to just pick up and leave. Many of those in attendance needed immediate financial assistance for basics like rent or utilities.
The pastors reported they have taken special collections at their churches and were looking for a means to make those resources available to the workers. Many of those in attendance signed up on a list identifying who they were and what assistance they needed as an immediate priority. This will be used to work with other community resources in making this assistance available. A comprehensive group of local community resources will be meeting again on March 31 to coordinate these support efforts.
If you are interested in donating to help the Minnesota Beef workers, please contact Shane Bastien, UFCW Local 789, at 651-451-6240.
Michael Goldman is dislocated worker labor liaison for Minnesota, providing assistance to workers experiencing layoffs and plant closings.
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| Local leaders that were in attendance included (from left), Renville County Commissioner Ralph Novotny, Buffalo Lake Mayor Joyce Nyhus, Pastor Charles Stewart of Swedlanda Lutheran Church in rural Hector, Pastor Mark Little of Zion Lutheran Church in Buffalo Lake, Rev. Andrew Hermodson-Olsen of Grace Lutheran Church in Brownton and Shane Bastien of UFCW Local 789.
Photo by Mike Goldman |