AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka is giving unconditional support to the 1,300 union members who have been locked out of their worksites in three states for more than a year by American Crystal Sugar.
Calling the company “a poster child for corporate greed,” Trumka promised to coordinate the federation’s efforts with those of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco and Grain Millers Union (BCTGM), an MTD affiliate who represents the workers.
Speaking in July at a news conference in St. Paul, MN, Trumka said, “Generations of families worked to make American Crystal Sugar a profitable and productive producer of sugar. This abysmal display shows total disregard for those employees and the community who made Crystal Sugar a well renowned brand and a leader in sugar production in the country.
“We stand with the workers at American Crystal Sugar and community who are trying to get a fair shake and prevent corporate management from driving this company into the ground,” added Trumka.
American Crystal Sugar is the largest sugar beet processor in the country. Bakery Workers have rejected three times contract proposals which included benefit cuts as well as seniority and job security concerns. The lockout affects five BCTGM locals in Minnesota, North Dakota and Iowa. For more information, go to www.bctgm.org .