In East Grand Forks, as in other communities throughout the Red River Valley are American Crystal plants. In front of those plants sit makeshift tents of sorts where locked out employees continue to reside with their signs mocking the company, scabs and whatever else is normally involved in these types of labor disputes. What’s really behind this lockout? Is it really an issue with health insurance premiums, or does it run deeper than that? Typically co-op’s of the world are more community friendly than what appears to be the case with American Crystal. That’s not to say that is true, but this has dragged on for some time now with no sign of a resolution in sight. I would expect, though not hope for, that these locked out workers are done with their employment at American Crystal, at least under the direction of the union. I understand business, and I understand that businesses need to turn a profit in order to stay in business, which American Crystal does. But has American Crystal turned more into a corporate America giant, or is it still the friendly community co-op. Well some of the things American Crystal does would say it has evolved into more of a corporate player, rather then what a normal stereotypical co-op would be. For example its participation in our countries election process. American Crystal has established itself as a major political donor. According to the website opensecrets.org, the co-op’s political action committee routinely spent between $300,000 and $600,000 each election cycle through the early 2000s. That spending leapt to $2.1 million during the 2008 election cycle, according to opensecrets.org. One benefactor of that spending has been Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn. In the current election cycle, American Crystal’s $10,000 PAC contribution to Peterson’s campaign committee puts the co-op at the top of Peterson’s donor list. Now Rep. Collin Peterson has been in Washington long enough to be referred to as a Washington insider, who has a great deal of influence when it comes to farm bills and farm subsidies. Who benefits more from these farm subsidies than farmers / growers, the very people who own the American Crystal co-op. I mean this co-op has paid lobbyists down in Washington, DC, and lobbyists try to influence legislators to vote for things that their employers want. When you begin t drag in PACs, and lobbyists and Washington insiders, it just doesn’t sound like your friendly neighborhood co-op anymore. It sounds like big business, Washington politics, and the root of all evil…the almighty dollar may have a hand in this labor dispute. Whatever you do don’t forget the union, who believe me are just a part of this standoff as the company is. This dispute is not about a small health insurance premium, it’s about all of the above and when all of the above are involved in anything, well you can bet the families of the locked out workers are forgotten and at best are at the bottom of the list of considerations to end the lockout.

Catfish Days changes

There’ve been rumblings about this for several weeks now, but the official word came out today when the Chamber of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks announced the Cats Incredible Catfish Tournament will be a Minnesota-only event in 2012. That means the stretch of river north of the Riverside Dam won’t be within tournament boundaries because the ramp to access that portion of the Red River is in North Dakota. Previously, the river downstream from Riverside Dam to the East Grand Forks Rod and Gun Club several miles north was within tournament boundaries. With the change, all teams fishing the tournament will launch from the LaFave Park boat ramp in East Grand Forks. The tournament also will be reduced to 125 two-person teams instead of 150 two-person teams. The change isn’t going to be popular with many Cats Incredible anglers who prefer fishing north during the tournament. But because of new invasive species laws in both states that prohibit the transport of live fish across state lines, even if they’re from the same body of water, organizers didn’t have many options.

UND vs. NDSU rivalry

At the time of this article being written it is the day that the UND/Bison rivalry will finally be renewed in some fashion. “The Battle for Bragging Rights” comes to the Ralph as UND entertains NDSU in Men’s Basketball. This will be the first matchup for the two rivals in Grand Forks since the 2003-2004 season. I’d almost forgotten we had a rivalry with NDSU since losing NDSU to the Division I ranks of football. We need this rivalry with our neighbors to the south. It’s always been so much fun and entertainment attending these events and I’m sure tonight will hold true to the rivalry. With temps at 25 below zero with the wind chills heading into tonight’s matchup I don’t expect I’ll be tailgating before the game, but be there I will pulling for the UND team who I have faith will send our neighbors to the south home with an added number in the “L” column. I’m sure it will be all its hyped up to be, the UND vs. NDSU rivalry of old. See you at The Ralph.