Union workers voting on latest Crystal Sugar offer

Wayne Jacobson
Wayne Jacobson, who's worked at American Crystal Sugar for more than 25 years, waves to a passing car outside of a company processing plant in Moorhead, Minn. on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011.
MPR Photo/Nathaniel Minor

American Crystal Sugar Co. workers in three states who have been locked out for three months were voting Tuesday on the latest contract proposal from the sugar beet refiner.

About 1,300 workers have been locked out at plants in North Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa since Aug 1. The company has been processing this year's crop with replacement workers.

American Crystal officials and the workers met with a mediator last week but didn't agree on contract terms.

Union representatives for the locked-out workers have said they are not happy with the company's latest proposals, but they will not recommend how the workers should vote.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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