The Milwaukee Post

By SARAH PRYOR Conley News Service WAUKESHA – The shuttered Golden Guernsey plant should be up and run- ning again later this year, but a spokes- woman said it's not clear if it will be within one month or six months. Recently, Lifeway Foods spacewoman Hanni Itah said crews are still working on preparing the machines at the plant to produce Lifeway's signature Kefir bever- age, and no staff has been hired yet. In January, a public relations fir m associated with Illinois-based Lifeway Foods said the dairy would be reopened by the end of the month. The plant closed suddenly on Jan. 5, 2013, leaving more than 100 workers out of a job. In November, the state Department of Workforce Development declared that for mer Golden Guer nsey owner OpenGate Capital broke the law by sud- denly closing the plant without giving the required 60 days' notice, and the com- pany owes workers more than $1 million in wages, vacation pay and more. Back then, DWD Communications Director John Dipko said the company owes actual wages of about $335,000 to the approximately 100 employees who were affected by the shutdown, and the DWD also assesses "increased wages" for OpenGate's failure to give notice, in the amount the employees would have been paid had they been allowed to work those 60 days. That grand total comes to about $1.2 million, Dipko said. Califor nia-based OpenGate Capital purchased the iconic Delafield Street dairy in 2011 following an antitrust action by the U.S. Department of Justice, together with the states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois, that ordered Dean Foods to sell the plant. Soon after its clos- ing, the 83-year-old plant filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Delaware. At the time, OpenGate CEO Andrew Nikou issued a statement blaming oper- ating expenses, the union and a pressure to lower prices for the decision to close the plant. Golden Guernsey employee Bob Storm filed the initial complaint against the plant with the DWD but many other employees came forward as well. In May 2013, Lifeway Foods acquired the bank- rupt plant at a New Jersey auction, with a winning bid of $7.4 million. In July 2013, Lifeway representatives said they hoped to have the plant up and running by August. No such luck. Contact Sarah Pryor spryor@conleynet.com 12 • Milwaukee County Post • May 30, 2014 Golden Guernsey plans to open 'later this year' Lifeway spokeswoman says timetable uncertain; no staff hired yet GRACE KNOW CHRIST MAKE HIM KNOWN GATHER GROW&SOW Summer Schedule Begins 9AM Worship with Communion Welcome To Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church 3030 W. Oklahoma Ave. 414-384-3520 238335169 •Full Service Grooming •Full Line of Supplies & Gifts •Vet Recommended •Evening & Sat. Appointments •30 Years Experience Making The World a Happier Place, 4 Paws at a Time! Located in Layton Mart Mall 3068 E. 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