Union Seeks To Resume Talks With American Crystal

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) -- The union representing 1,300 locked out American Crystal Sugar Co. workers plans to bring new proposals to the company in an attempt to end the lockout that has lasted for more than 70 days.

Union spokesman Mark Froemke tells the Grand Forks Herald that the union plans this week to contact the federal mediator assigned to the case to request a negotiating session with company management.

Froemke said negotiators representing workers planned to bring new proposals to the table, but declined to go into specifics.

Brian Ingulsrud with American Crystal said the company would agree to meet with union representatives if requested.

The union workers have been locked out of five sugar processing plants in Minnesota, North Dakota and Iowa in the company's first labor impasse in 30 years.

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