Sen. Justin Eichorn, R-Grand Rapids, Sen. Robert Farnsworth, R-Hibbing, Rep. Spencer Igo, R-Grand Rapids, and Rep. Ben Davis, R-Mission Township, issued the following statement in response to a workers’ strike at the UPM Blandin paper mill in Grand Rapids:

“Working Minnesotans are making sacrifices and stretching to their limits just to get by, with prices for just about everything higher than ever in today’s economy. Skilled workers at Blandin are among those whose compensation has fallen behind and we appreciated the opportunity to recently meet with them to hear their reasonable concerns. There’s no doubt that, as life for people in our state becomes more expensive and wages stagnate, Minnesota needs to be doing more to stand strong for working men and women. We are closely monitoring the situation at Blandin and remain hopeful the bargaining process will play itself out in a productive manner with agreement reached on a new contract in the near future.”