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Sugar workers voting on contract

Photo: American Crystal, crystalsugar.com

Dec 1, 2012 at 4:21 pm

FARGO, N.D. (KNSI) American Crystal Sugar Co. workers are voting Saturday on whether to accept a contract they've rejected three times before.

The workers have been locked out of their jobs for 16 months. If they approve the contract, the lockout will end. It originally affected about 1,300 workers, but more than 500 have left since then.

Contract opponents say the proposal cuts health care benefits and weakens job security. The company says the offer would raise worker pay by 17 percent over five years.

Last year, more than 90 percent of the workers rejected the contract. In June, it was turned down with a 63 percent vote.

American Crystal runs five sugar beet processing plants in North Dakota and Minnesota. It is the nation's largest sugar beet processor.