American Crystal Sugar union members approve new contract

Union workers at American Crystal Sugar Company have approved a new labor contract.

WDAY-TV reports the agreement covers about 1,200 employees at sugar refinery plants in Moorhead, Crookston and East Grand Forks, Minn., and Hillsboro and Drayton in North Dakota — and at storage facilities in Chaska, Minn., and Mason City, Iowa.

The agreement for members of the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers local includes a 3 percent raise the first four years and a 2.7 percent hike the last year.

The union says it also includes a signing bonus of $2,250. Failed contract negotiations in 2011 ended in a union lockout that lasted two years.

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