Dayton to meet with American Crystal execs

• American Crystal Sugar

Crystal Sugar says its workers have not had to pay health insurance premiums in the past. Executives say they are asking workers to pay $73 a month for a family plan.

Talk about it

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Mark Dayton is traveling to Moorhead Saturday to meet with American Crystal Sugar Co. executives, and to attend a meeting organized by union workers who've been locked out of jobs there since Aug. 1 on a contract dispute.

Dayton's spokeswoman says Friday that the governor will meet with officials at company headquarters at their invitation. Spokeswoman Katharine Tinucci (tuh-NEW'-chee) says the Democratic governor will reiterate comments he made a week ago urging executives and locked-out factory workers to return to the bargaining table.

Dayton said the lockout has devastated families, communities and the Red River Valley economy.

On Saturday afternoon, Dayton is attending a public forum at Minnesota State University-Moorhead put on by locked-out workers. Tinucci says Dayton's main goal is to hear their concerns.

Tags: american crystal sugar, minnesota legislature, news, business, agriculture