BEMIDJI — A workplace culture allegedly permitting sexual harassment may have cost PotlatchDeltic Land and Lumber, a major employer in the Bemidji region, its third-party responsible forestry certification for all its mills.
Two lawsuits from current and former Bemidji PotlatchDeltic employees claim operator Calvin Kurtz sexually harassed them and other female employees, both while at work and outside the workplace. Filed Friday, Nov. 14, the complaints allege Kurtz commenced a pattern of sexually harassing conduct toward women employees under his supervision.
In answers to the complaints filed Tuesday, Kurtz denies any and all allegations of wrongdoing. Requests for comment from Kurtz and Potlatch’s legal team were not returned Wednesday.
Two women are individually suing PotlatchDeltic and Kurtz in Beltrami County District Court, seeking damages in excess of $50,000, plus legal fees.
“Multiple other women have complained to management about defendant Kurtz and his continuous sexual harassment," stated a complaint. “In spite of plaintiff's multiple complaints, and notwithstanding multiple complaints from other women, defendant Kurtz was not terminated and was allowed to continue to work the floor and harass plaintiff.”
Kurtz allegedly requested women employees socialize with him after work, sent explicit texts and Snapchat messages, placed his hands on women coworker’s bodies without consent and made comments that made women feel uncomfortable.
“Snapchats about, ‘Are you interested? What kind of sexual positions do you like best?’” one of the women in the lawsuit told KAXE in a Tuesday interview.
"Very, like, in your personal space, making unnecessary comments about your appearance,” another woman told KAXE.
“If something went wrong, he'd come up right behind me and, like, put his arms around me and do things, and it's like, bad,” one of the women said.
KAXE agreed not to identify the women involved in the lawsuit in our story, as they said they fear retribution.
PotlatchDeltic's Bemidji plant creates precision studs with spruce, pine and fir. PotlatchDeltic Land and Lumber’s Forest Stewardship Council certification was terminated as of Nov. 1, in response to claims of workplace harassment at the Bemidji mill and elsewhere.
The international nonprofit formed in the 1990s in response to timber boycotts amid deforestation. It ensures wood products with its certification "come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social and economic benefits.”
PotlatchDeltic’s business holdings include millions of acres of forested land in Idaho, Washington and Arkansas, a real estate broker network and numerous mills producing lumber and strand boards. PotlatchDeltic’s forest holdings continue to have valid FSC certification through May 15, 2029.
Major brands like International Paper, Lowe’s and The Home Depot will only purchase wood products with FSC certification.
A request for comment from the Forest Stewardship Council was not returned as of Wednesday.
In an Aug. 11 letter from Bureau Veritas Certification Holding — the international authority for investigating complaints against Forest Stewardship Council certificate holders — Forestry Accreditation Manager Krzystof Wypij described the investigation into discriminatory practices at Bemidji PotlatchDeltic.
“This activity included detailed analysis of the allegations, stakeholders’ interviews, cross-check with all the affected parties, including certificate holder key personnel and specialized agencies dealing with the workers’ rights defending,” Wypij wrote. “Immediate suspension of the certificate was recommended by investigator due to direct threat to the credibility, image and reputation of FSC and Bureau Veritas.”
In October, PotlatchDeltic announced it was merging with Rayonier, another international wood products company with several valid FSC certifications.
“The combination will bring together two leading land resources companies, leveraging significant timberland and real estate expertise as well as operational excellence in lumber manufacturing," stated a news release. "Together, the combined company will have a productive and diverse timberland portfolio comprising approximately 4.2 million acres, including 3.2 million acres in the U.S. South and 931,000 acres in the U.S. Northwest.”
A request for comment from Rayonier was not returned by Wednesday.
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