A fundraiser at the UFCW Local 1189 hall Tuesday night netted more than $22,000 in donations for the 1,300 workers locked out at American Crystal Sugar.

Ken Lamberson, a 16-year Crystal Sugar employee, said the contributions will help all the workers, but particularly those in North Dakota who are not receiving unemployment compensation.

Unlike Minnesota and Iowa, where Crystal Sugar also maintains facilities, North Dakota does not provide unemployment benefits to workers who are locked out by an employer and do not have access to their jobs.

An emotional Lamberson thanked the large crowd on behalf of all the members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco & Grain Millers union.

“At one point it was just a union and a neighborhood I belonged to,” he said. “Now I’ve seen everyone else stand up . . . What you guys are doing is appreciated.”

Since Aug. 1, 1,300 workers have been locked out of Crystal Sugar processing plants in East Grand Forks, Crookston, and Moorhead, Minn.; Hillsboro and Drayton, N.D.; and packaging and transportation sites in Chaska, Minn. and Mason City, Iowa. The company, which wants the workers to make major concessions on job security, is trying to operate with temporary employees.

The fundraiser was hosted by United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1189 and co-sponsored by a large number of unions and other organizations. Participants included working people, union officers and elected officials.

A total of $21,800 was raised in donations collected at the door, with an additional $288 contributed through a raffle held during the event.

Donations to support the locked-out workers, made out to "BCTGM Lockout Hardship Fund," may be sent to:

BCTGM Lockout Hardship Fund
c/o Local 167G
100 N 3rd Street- Suite 50
Grand Forks, ND 58203

Or make check payable to MN AFL-CIO, and write in memo line “BCTGM Hardship Fund”, and mail to:

MN AFL-CIO
175 Aurora Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55103