Over a month after locking out workers, American Crystal Sugar Company will begin processing beets at its plants this week with replacement workers. While the company says that they expect to be on schedule, the union is questioning whether production will be at a normal pace and if inexperienced workers will get hurt. The company, which produces about 15% of American sugar, locked workers out after they rejected a contract offer. Workers say that the offer would hurt them in the long run. The two sides met with a federal mediator, but no further negotiations have been scheduled.
See "American Crystal ready for harvest with fill-ins", Dave Kolpack, msnbc.com, September 5, 2011