|
|
AFL-CIO escalates campaign for fairness at American Crystal Sugar
25 July 2012
| ST. PAUL - Calling American Crystal Sugar “a poster child for corporate greed,” national AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka announced the labor movement will escalate the campaign to push for an end to the company’s year-long lockout of 1,300 workers. |
“Generations of families have worked here to make American Crystal Sugar a profitable and productive producer of sugar,” Trumka said at a news conference held in St. Paul. “This abysmal display shows total disregard for those employees and the community who have made Crystal Sugar a well renowned brand and a leader in sugar production in this country.”
For decades, members of Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco and Grain Millers locals across the Red River Valley worked hand in hand with farmers and management to help the industry prosper and thrive. But on Aug. 1, 2011, the company locked out workers at seven Crystal Sugar production plants and other facilities in Minnesota, North Dakota and Iowa.
BCTGM members had rejected a contract offer that they said threatened the future of jobs in their communities.
Trumka pledged the ongoing support and coordination of efforts with the union to put a spotlight on the company’s actions. He said the AFL-CIO and BCTGM will make American Crystal Sugar a poster child for corporate greed and profit above employees.
“This misguided campaign undertaken by this company is doing grave damage to not only its locked out employees and their families but also to American Crystal Sugar’s cooperative farmers and the community of the Red River Valley,” Trumka added. “We stand with the workers at American Crystal Sugar and community who are trying to get a fair shake and prevent the corporate management from driving this company into the ground.” |
|
|
|
