Sugar company American Crystal Sugar and representatives from the union resumed talks on Monday. A federal mediation service said that talks between the two parties would resume for the second time since the lockout. The company has locked out workers since August 1. Workers rejected the company's last offer, which included a 17% pay increase over the next five years, saying that health care costs were too high and that the contract included language that would hurt workers. The company produces 15% of sugar in the United States.
See "Talks resume between sugar company, workers", Dave Kolpack, Business Week, October 24, 2011