ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The president of the AFL-CIO is pledging his support for locked-out union workers at American Crystal Sugar.

Richard Trumka was in St. Paul Wednesday for what was billed as a major announcement. Trumka said the AFL-CIO would coordinate with the union for American Crystal Workers, but announced no specific actions.

More than 1,300 workers have been locked out of their jobs since last Aug. 1 at facilities in Minnesota, North Dakota and Iowa.

Union representative Mark Froemke (FRAHM’-kee) calls the AFL-CIO support “extremely useful.”

Moorhead-based American Crystal Sugar is the largest sugar beet processor in the country. Union workers have rejected its contract proposal three times over seniority and job security concerns. The company says it’s a good offer with substantial increases in wages and benefits.

No talks are scheduled.

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