DaMN Interview: Ken Lamberson

Who are you? Where do you work? How old are you?

My name is Ken Lamberson. I am a locked out worker at American Crystal Sugar in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. I am 35 years old.

What was your call to action as a young worker?

I am a member of the BCTGM Local 167g at American Crystal Sugar. On, August 1st the management locked us out. The lockout really got me going and involved.

Had you been active in other issues before this time?

I wasn’t really all that involved until the lockout. It was ignorance on my part, not being involved in the union beforehand. My brother is an IBEW member, and moved back to the Red River Valley to be closer to who was working in Alaska came back to be closer to family to work. He told me, “If you’re going to be part of the union, you have to be involved!” I believed him. It has been a crash course!

Steve Walsh also pushed me to be active and make your voice heard.

Both Steve and my brother got me to open my eyes.

 The AFL-CIO Next Up Youth Summit also got me to stand up and keep fighting for the rights of the American worker.

What leadership roles do you have in your union (or community) right now? How did you get to this point?

I am on the Solidarity committee, where we work hand in hand with the negotiating committee to spread communications. I also help out with food drives and phone blitzing.

Then, you know, help out with everyday things that go along with lockout, keeping the picket lines full, contacting people, talk with people to see if they need help with hardship fund. I help to build the warming shed, made signs, attend rallies, bring firewood to the lines, that kind of stuff.

What were the most important things you learned from Next Up Conference in Minneapolis this fall?

The biggest thing I learned is that the BCTGM locked out workers have support for all brothers and sisters from all across the nation. The support I felt from them, not even knowing them personally, and seeing them all wanting to help uswas really good for me.

Two of the Next Up workshops were most beneficial to me. One on the history of the unions where I learned that the labor movement fought and won for us the 40 hour work week, child labor laws, and holiday pay, to name a few. As a young union member, I know that a lot of us young people take those things for granted. The workshop gave me a lot of respect for previous generations and what they fought for us.

I also really liked the tactics workshop, where the idea of phone blitzing came from.

Why should young people give a damn?

Because if we don’t we’ll all be working for minimum wage and poor working conditions. We have a chance to win it back. If we don’t stand up and fight for it now, corporate greed will swallow us whole. 

What is your favorite saying or quote?

Just another day in paradise, keep your chin up and keep moving ahead.

What is your favorite TV show?

I really enjoy cooking shows on food network, there is something about cooking and eating that is so interesting to me. My wife and my kids like to cook and we we do a lot of trying out of new stuff. Our big thing right now is sushi!