Join Workers Interfaith Network and the United Steelworkers on Friday, September 5 at noon to send a message to Wayzata Investment Partners. The action will take place at 701 Lake Street East in Wayzata.

This local private equity group recently purchased a paper pulp mill in Oregon that employs 100 workers.  After they bought the mill, Wayzata Investment Partners fired workers and informed them that they could reapply for their old jobs if they were willing to take pay cuts of 12%-28%. But it gets worse…

The private equity group also eliminated pensions and health insurance for retirees and are working to implement a health care plan that would require workers to pay a $3000 deductible and up to $10,000 in out of pocket expenses.

Workers are willing to work for the same wages and benefits they had under previous ownership. We hope that Patrick Halloran of Wayzata Investment Partners will partner with workers and negotiate in good faith, but there are reasons to be concerned. Private equity firms often deeply cut wages and benefits as a means of “reducing costs” and then sell the companies for large profits.

If you want to carpool, join us at 312 Central Ave. SE in Minneapolis at 11.