FARGO, N.D. (AP) – Negotiations between American Crystal Sugar Co. and its union workers are scheduled to resume later this month.

A federal mediation service in Minneapolis announced Friday that talks have been scheduled for Oct. 24. The time and place was not disclosed.

About 1,300 union workers have been locked out since Aug. 1 at five sugar processing plants in Minnesota, North Dakota and Iowa.

American Crystal’s last offer was a 17 percent pay increase over five years, but workers rejected it over job security provisions, health care costs and language in the contract they say will hurt workers in future years.

It would be the second time the two sides have met since the impasse.

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