Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
FARGO, N.D. (AP)

Crystal Sugar CEO will not attend union meeting

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Obvious signs of the labor dispute
Obvious signs of the labor dispute between American Crystal Sugar Co. and union workers have dwindled over the past 12 months. No longer are locked-out workers staffing informational demonstrations outside the company's sugar beet processing plant in Hillsboro, N.D. This sign was on display in a residential area in Hillsboro on Thursday, July 19, 2012. (MPR Photo/Ann Arbor Miller)
Ann Arbor Miller/Ann Arbor Miller

American Crystal Sugar Co. officials say the company's chief executive officer will not be attending a proposed meeting with locked-out union workers.

The union has invited Crystal Sugar CEO Dave Berg to an Aug. 18 gathering that union negotiator Steven Bertelli on Wednesday described as an "informative, constructive discussion that could contribute to productive negotiations."

In a letter posted on the Crystal website, a lawyer for the company says the issues have been outlined in 21 negotiating sessions and a public meeting will not resolve the dispute.

About 1,300 workers have been locked out of their jobs for more than a year at facilities in Minnesota, North Dakota and Iowa.

The union says the contract offer is unfair, particularly on seniority and job security, and voted against it three times.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story included an incorrect date for the meeting in question. The current version is correct.

Gallery
1 of 2
Obvious signs of the labor dispute
Obvious signs of the labor dispute between American Crystal Sugar Co. and union workers have dwindled over the past 12 months. No longer are locked-out workers staffing informational demonstrations outside the company's sugar beet processing plant in Hillsboro, N.D. This sign was on display in a residential area in Hillsboro on Thursday, July 19, 2012. (MPR Photo/Ann Arbor Miller)
Ann Arbor Miller/Ann Arbor Miller
2 of 2
American Crystal rally
Locked-out American Crystal union members gather for a rally Wednesday, June 6, 2012, in the Moorhead Center Mall parking lot across from American Crystal headquarters in Moorhead, Minn. The contract dispute has lingered for 10 months, since American Crystal last Aug. 1 locked out about 1,300 union workers at sugar beet processing plants in North Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa. The two sides have not met since February.
AP Photo/The Forum, David Samson