A Controversy in the Northern Mill Industry

Transcript

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HOST: You're listening to North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live, a daily newscast about what it means to live in Minnesota.

ANCHOR: A legal battle is affecting a northern industry. Then, new laws that are going into effect with the new year. And, health officials urge vaccinations as respiratory illnesses rise

I'm Chantel SinGs.

Several new Minnesota laws passed during the 2025 regular and special legislative sessions take effect January first. A voter requesting an absentee ballot will need to provide a driver's license and the last four digits of their Social Security number. Employees must receive at least a 15-minute bathroom break for every four hours worked and a 30-minute meal break for every six consecutive hours worked. Several other laws are taking effect as well. You can find a full list of the new laws on the North Star Stories website.

Next, a lumber mill company in the northern part of the state is facing a legal battle that can have a big effect on the region's industry. Chelsey Perkins, News Director for AMPERS member stations KAXE and KBXE, talks with Victor Palomino about the story.

Victor Palomino: The lumber industry is a major economic driver in northern Minnesota, but one of the region's mills is now at the center of controversy. AMPERS member station KAXE and KBXE news director Chelsey Perkins says that allegations involving a major lumber company are creating uncertainty in the industry and its workers.

Chelsey Perkins: So the PotlatchDeltic Land and Lumber Mill, which is a major employer in the Bemidji region, recently lost its third party responsible forestry certification for all of its mills, and there's been lawsuits filed, in fact, in district court, alleging that a supervisor in the mill there has been sexually harassing women employees under his supervision.

Victor Palomino: The third party forestry certification that the northern mill lost is granted by the Forest Stewardship Council, or FSC. Since 1994, the FSC has set global standards for responsible forest management and connect business and consumers with sustainably sourced wood and paper products. According to KAXE News, the mill is in the process of a potential merger with another company that holds the FSC certifications.

Chelsey Perkins: If these certifications do remain suspended, if this merger doesn't go through, for some reason, it's all—there's a lot of unanswered questions right now. But we do know that it's something that PotlatchDeltic is dealing with, and that they are having to go to court to defend their practices and deny whether these allegations are taking place.

Victor Palomino: Beyond certification concerns, the company must also address the workplace allegations and the impact that they could have on employees and the future of operations in northern Minnesota.

Chelsey Perkins: And we were able to speak with some of the people who are bringing these lawsuits forward, and they described continuous sexual harassment, and you know, there's not a lot of women who work in these places, so that can be a difficult place to be in as an employee.

Victor Palomino: If the company were to lose the FSC certifications, it could carry serious consequences for lumber workers through the region well.

Chelsey Perkins: So what that means is that potentially some big brands like International Paper and Lowe's and the Home Depot, they will only purchase wood products that have this FSC certification. So they could potentially lose places that would purchase their lumber.

Victor Palomino: For now, KAXE News will continue following the story.

Chelsey Perkins: We're kind of in this wait and see mode right now of a potential merger in place. I mean, there's, there's lots going on with the story for sure.

Victor Palomino. To listen to the full story and all the news from the northern part of the state, you—

Chelsey Perkins: Can visit our website KAXE.org, where you can also stream our station.

Victor Palomino: North Star Stories, I'm Victor Palomino.

ANCHOR: You are listening to North Star Stories.

Flu hospitalizations have more than doubled since Thanksgiving across Minnesota, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. Health officials are urging eligible residents to get vaccinated against flu, COVID-19, and Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. Officials recommend flu and COVID-19 vaccines for everyone six months and older, and RSV immunization for infants, pregnant people, and older adults who have not yet received it. Vaccines are available at clinics, pharmacies, and public health departments.

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HOST: North Star Stories is produced by AMPERS, diverse radio for Minnesota's communities, with support from the McKnight Foundation and the State of Minnesota. Online at ampers dot org.