American Crystal Sugar Co., union negotiating new labor agreement

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.agweek.com/event/article/id/18604/

Published June 21, 2011, 11:00 AM

By: Mikkel Pates, Agweek

FARGO, N.D. — American Crystal Sugar Co. of Moorhead, Minn., is in the midst of labor negotiations with the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union to replace a contract that expires July 31.

The expiring contract was a seven-year contract that featured annual 2 percent pay raises, among other things. The contract before that ran for two years.

Still early

A source knowledgeable about the negotiations says there have been opening proposals from the farmer-owned cooperative and from the union, but it is so early in the process that there is nothing newsworthy and too soon to say what is vital for either side.

Brian Ingulsrud, American Crystal’s vice president for administration, says the company is optimistic it can reach an agreement that will serve its employees and the company well. An agreement would cover Crystal’s 930 year-round workers, as well as 385 seasonal employees and 50 others that are United Sugars L.L.C. employees. The company has five factories in the Red River Valley as well as the United Sugars storage/liquefying facility in Chaska, Minn., and a storage/transfer station in Mason City, Iowa. Those employees would have to ratify any agreement. It is possible they’d vote on it in late July, but agreements sometimes are extended.


FULL story at link.