American Crystal Employees Continue Rallies in Opposition of Possible Lockout

• Rallying in EGF

Rallying in EGF

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Contract negotiations are continuing between American Crystal Sugar and its workers' union.

But, If no agreement is reached the company has threatened to lock out workers at its five plants in the region.

On Tuesday, workers in East Grand Forks and Moorhead rallied for what they call a fair contract.

"What do we want?"

"No lockout!"

"What else do we want?"

"Fair contracts!"

Those shouts could be heard Tuesday afternoon in East Grand Forks as American Crystal employees continued rallying for a conclusion to an ongoing labor dispute.

"We're just everyday people trying to make a living and we're just trying to go about making sugar," union worker Tony St. Michel said.

As the two sides negotiate this week in hopes of preventing a worker lockout, Crystal workers, many who have been at work for three decades, are concerned.

"It's our lives, it's our lives and dare I say that the greatest amount of the employees out there are proud of their jobs and it's just very scary to find another job right now," union worker Deb Lemke said.

With beet harvest just weeks away, the workers are worried.

Could contract workers replace longtime union members, or could an agreement come soon?

"If they go to the negotiating table, negotiate in good faith. Then they shouldn't have anything to worry about," assistant head steward Steve Walsh said.

Crystal representatives said Tuesday that their view remains the same: there's still time to reach an agreement and that workers have the full right to express their opinion.

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