1,300 workers locked out at American Crystal Sugar

[xchrom]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_AMERICAN_CRYSTAL_SUGAR_VOTE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-08-01-14-30-56

MOORHEAD, Minn. (AP) -- Replacement workers were on the job at seven American Crystal Sugar plants and some employees were picketing outside them Monday, after about 1,300 union members were locked out of facilities in Minnesota, North Dakota and Iowa.

The union's contract expired at midnight Sunday after workers overwhelmingly rejected what the company called its final offer. The largest beet sugar processor in the U.S. had offered a 17 percent pay increase over five years, but workers were upset about provisions covering job security and health care costs.

Although American Crystal accounts for 38 percent of the country's production of sugar from beets and 15 percent overall, the company said it doesn't believe the lockout will affect sugar production or the industry outlook. Brian Ingulsrud, vice president for administration, said experienced workers are coming in from around the country and many will receive additional training.

"We don't intend to miss a beat," Ingulsrud said.

[Brickbat]

1. Fucking scabs.

[xchrom]

2. +1

[Brickbat]

3. I wrote American Crystal about how I wouldn't buy their sugar anymore if it were made by scabs.

Haven't heard back from them, of course. I've been buying from them for 20 years.

[w8liftinglady]

4. I plan to do the same.

[RC]

5. Many generic brands are packaged by Crystal Sugar.

You can't tell by the package either. Best bet, buy cane sugar. But that is most likely imported.

And then there is all the sugar in our processed 'foods'. Oh well, back to corn syrup.


A few years ago, Crystal Sugar sold a big batch of table sugar that had not been properly dried. The 4 pound packages in the stores were like bricks. Hammer time. Crystal Sugar never did anything about it. The generic brands were ok though.