American Crystal Sugar Workers Locked Out

BCTGM Local 167G President John Riskey issued the following statement today:

“Today, American Crystal Sugar workers in Moorhead, East Grand Forks, Crookston, and Chaska, MN, Hillsboro and Drayton, ND, and Mason City, IA showed up to work only to find their company has locked them out. Instead of letting 1300 people continue working while a fair contract is negotiated, American Crystal Sugar executives have instead decided to hurt our communities with an unnecessary lockout.

The company has the power to immediately end this lockout and return to the negotiating table. We want to get back to work and back to the negotiating table as soon as possible.

We’re not asking for much. We’re asking for a contract that doesn’t put our jobs in jeopardy. We’re asking to continue health coverage that won’t put our families in financial ruin if someone gets sick. We’re asking to continue the short-term disability coverage we’ve been paying for nearly 30 years. We’re asking for an agreement that benefits the company, farmers, workers, and the entire community.

For years, Sugar Workers have stood shoulder to shoulder with the company to protect the sugar industry from harmful government policies and unfair trade agreements. This partnership has allowed farmers to get a good price for their crop, the company to make record profits, and for the workers to earn a living to support their families and local businesses. It has been a win-win situation. We want to continue this partnership and want to go back to work.”

If you haven't already, sign our petition supporting sugar workers.