Union Workers To Vote A 3rd Time On Crystal Offer
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) -- Locked-out workers at American Crystal Sugar Co. factories in North Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa will vote on the company's contract offer a third time.
Local union President John Riskey says the vote is Saturday, June 23. Union members overwhelmingly rejected the contract offer last July 31 and Nov. 1, saying it takes away job security and that wage increases would be offset by health insurance costs.
The decision to hold another vote came after representatives of the two sides met last week for a fourth time with a federal mediator but couldn't end the impasse.
The dispute has lingered more than 10 months. American Crystal last Aug. 1 locked out about 1,300 union workers at sugar beet processing plants in the three states and filled their positions with replacement workers.
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