American Crystal Sugar Company locks out it's workers

[MrE_Powers]

The contract offer includes a 13% pay increase over five years. A $2,000 signing bonus included in the previous contract offer is not part of the revised contract.
Thirteen-hundred workers at American Crystal Sugar were locked out by the company on August 1 after workers overwhelmingly rejected the company's contract offer.

the pay raise rate is higher then i got, and i didnt get a bonus

Officials from American Crystal point out the amended contract offer addresses two major union concerns. It revises the subcontracting language to guarantee that no employee or position will be eliminated due to subcontracting. The new offer would also delay by a year implementation of a new health care plan that would increase health care costs for union workers.

healthcare is going up for every one NOW so i dont see this one and sub contracting sounds like business is growing and cannot meet labor demand

 

[Ozwynn]

If I go in there to pick up a load the first one of you union hacks (this union, teamsters, any union) that touches my truck get run over and I won't even slow down.

 

[v-8power]

If I go in there to pick up a load the first one of you union hacks (this union, teamsters, any union) that touches my truck get run over and I won't even slow down.

That'll show em!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[wrecking-crew]

Workers fight lockout
imposed by American Crystal Sugar --
If that weren’t enough, the company has cut off medical coverage for locked-out workers. One sugar worker said that when she went to fill a prescription for heart medicine for her husband the evening of the contract vote, she was told the next 90-day supply will cost more than $500.--
They don't work there, why should they get it?
-- On the first day of the lockout, American Crystal began bringing in vanloads of “replacement workers.” They were hired by Strom Engineering, an anti-labor, scab-supply outfit.-- Good. More people are now employed.
--In a letter to all locals in Teamsters Joint Council 32, covering Minnesota, Iowa, and North and South Dakota, council president Susan Mauren wrote: “We are asking that Teamsters do not provide services or make deliveries to any of the American Crystal Sugar facilities during this lockout.” --So in other words, you want to screw people out of money, jobs and work because you think you deserve more. You also want to make it hard on the company you want to work for. Do you think they want your asses back there? Most likely... No. That is what I am getting from this.

A job is a job now a-days. Maybe this will be good for the company you "want" to work for.

 

[greaseyfingers]

American Crystal Sugar Company locking out Employees Videos

Here is your chance to listen some real talented guitar and harmonica playing songs, by an affected sugar worker, conceringing American Crystal Sugar Company locking out all of it's workers, that have made this Company 3.1 Billion Dollars Profit, for each of the four last years, prior to the lockout..

While the American Crystal sugar CEO, Dave Berg gives himself a big pay raise increase, so he can get paid a whopping 2.44 Million Dollars, a year, at the Company's Farmer Owned Share Holder's and Union Worker's expenxe..


Click on the Website links, below, and you can listen to these great songs..

American Crystal Sugar lockout song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE8uZrtC7VE

American Crystal Sugar CEO is 1% of a man
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IguX7mc5q8o

Dead Scab in The Middle of the road
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbJqRrk6GUM

Vote for the one who's Broke Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhQYjk1d9pY

American Crystal Sugar CEO loses it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwFzGCEb_-Q


American Crystal Sugar Company locking out Employees

Workday Minnesota coverage of the lockout at American Crystal Sugar.

More than 1,300 workers at American Crystal Sugar facilities in Minnesota, North Dakota and Iowa have been locked out of their jobs since Aug. 1. 2011.

They have helped make Crystal Sugar the largest and most profitable producer of sugar from beets in the United States, but the company is seeking to undercut their wages, benefits and job security.

American Crystal Sugar Company locking out EMPLOYEE VIDEOS

Here is the website link to watch the American Crystal Sugar Employee lockout Videos..
GREAT VIDEOS and VERY INTERESTING..
CLICK ON Website link below to Watch..
http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?article_1_278

 

[greaseyfingers]

Prior to the American Crystal Sugar ockout, the Union's Highly Skilled Sugar Processing Technician Workers made net profits of over 3.1 billion dollars, during each of the last four years for the Company, before the Union Workers were locked out by the American Crystal Sugar Company..

As a result, Dave Berg, CEO for American Crystal Sugar, has increased his pay to over 2.4million dollars, a year, at the Unioon Worker's Expense, while pretending to save the Company money..

The other upper management people, at American Crystal Sugar's Corporate Office, have aslo increased their yearly pay, at the Union Worker's Expense..

This Union lockout has cost the American Crystal Sugar Company many millions of dollars, due to many Rail Road cars full of unfit sugar being made, by non union, inexperienced workers, that did not meet specification standards for large industry customers, resulting in contracts being unfulfilled and lost..

American Crystal Sugar Company, is a co op owned by the farmers who grow the sugar beets for processing into sugar, that have been taking a loss on their beet crop payments, due to inefficient sugar processing by unskilled, non union workers..

Here is the website link to watch American Crystal Sugar lockout Videos, very interesting

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?article_1_278 6 VIDEOS to Watch

Workday Minnesota coverage of the lockout at American Crystal Sugar.

More than 1,300 workers at American Crystal Sugar facilities in Minnesota, North Dakota and Iowa have been locked out of their jobs since Aug. 1. 2011.

They have helped make Crystal Sugar the largest and most profitable producer of sugar from beets in the United States, but the company is seeking to undercut their wages, benefits and job security.

Here is the website link to watch American Crystal Sugar lockout Videos, very interesting

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?article_1_278 6 VIDEOS to Watch

Call American Crystal Sugar to Stop the Lockout

CALL 1-218-236-4400 and tell American Crystal Sugar's CEO, Dave Berg not to turn his back on workers and the community.

Here are some talking points to use during your call:

- My name is ______ and I'd like to share consumer feedback about your company.

- As a consumer who cares about the way a company treats its workers, I was disappointed to hear that American Crystal Sugar has locked out its employees in the Midwest.

- You are a profitable, successful company, and there's no excuse to squeeze your workers so hard when they are just asking for a fair deal for themselves and their families.

- I urge you to immediately end the company's strike against your workers and meet with their union representatives to negotiate, in good faith, a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement.

- Thank you.

 

[straycat]

I don't use added sugar. Don't buy it and have not in over 35 years. If you want to stop somebody from making a huge CEO profit...boycott them and stop using their products....best way to get their attention.

 

[CarsonChris]

Unions killed the twinkie

 

[v8nick]

No, unions did not kill the twinkie. Hostess's mismanagement of funds and greed did. The bakers union could have signed an interim agreement to continue to work while a new contract was hashed out. That's really what they should have done, especially with an imminent shut down looming. Think about this, the hostess ceo gives himself a 300% raise, the rest of the execs and management got a 100% raise, but then told the workers they have to take a pay cut of 8%, which they agreed to, but then they were told that they also needed to pay in 32% more to thier insurance. Yeah, I would be pissed too.

Oh, and American Crystal has employment ads posted down here in Missouri.

 

[daniel3507]

A frozen twinkie sounds amazing right now.

 

[det107]

I don't use added sugar. Don't buy it and have not in over........

Thread-jacking about the (south) Florida sugar cane business is coming to an end. Pretty much about restoring the swampland so the water can filter naturally.
Stray is right on the money about the honey being beneficial.
Greasey has a good point & I have been in the unions, no complaints-

 

[Tedybear]

No, unions did not kill the twinkie. Hostess's mismanagement of funds and greed did. The bakers union could have signed an interim agreement to continue to work while a new contract was hashed out. That's really what they should have done, especially with an imminent shut down looming. Think about this, the hostess ceo gives himself a 300% raise, the rest of the execs and management got a 100% raise, but then told the workers they have to take a pay cut of 8%, which they agreed to, but then they were told that they also needed to pay in 32% more to thier insurance. Yeah, I would be pissed too.

Oh, and American Crystal has employment ads posted down here in Missouri.

Actually the union did kill off Hostess. You know how things go down when the teamsters actually bent over backwards and worked WITH the company to maintain the jobs. And the teamsters went to bat for the company and urged the bakers union to accept the deal offered. The bakers union felt they could hold out and pressure Hostess into digging even deeper into the wallets. Hostess warned them---work with us...or everyone looses.

We all know what happened next. When you get your news sources from "Union Friendly" supporters? It's tainted. Unions used to serve a purpose--now they are just sucking companies dry--and the members honestly do not gain much from it---unlike the union BOSSES that love the power play.....

S-

 

[PanamaExpat]

For many years I have lived where the cane fields go on for miles and miles. And with workers in these locations making and average of $20 per day there is no way the American sugar industry can compete. Especially with union wages and benefits. I am going to come under a lot of fire for this but until the American worker quits whining and starts working you are going to see more and more of this exact same thing happening. What makes you feel you are so entitled to $35 plus per hour and the worlds best insurance and retirement packages? The days of the union are over. You either need to learn to compete or you will be sitting at home watching reruns of Happy Days.

Looks like a lot of northern farmers will be switching from sugar beets to soybeans this year.

 

[straycat]

No no no no no!!!! 'Video killed the radio star' lol

 

[FritzTKatt]

I work in a place that still needs a union because of poor management.

Seriously, every single employee would be fired within 6 months of hiring if the union didn't exist, and not because of poor performance, work ethic, or skill. Plain and simple the boss is just a scumbag only concerned about his bonus check.

The pay and benefits we get are deserved for our efforts, and the company makes at least 50 million a year, from about 20 skilled guys such as myself. The sister company (same owners), is likely making 100+ million a year (not to mention their 6 other locations, world-wide).

I think they can afford to pay for the guy whose busted his balls' heart medicine for the last 30 years. They can pay me an extra damn $.40 an hour every 6 months. It's a drop in the bucket to them. Or maybe they just won't be able to play 1 more round of golf this year... nevermind that, they'll just fly down to someplace that's sunny on their private plane.

It's all about greed. The rich getting richer while we (union or not), bust our balls and grind our knuckles still deal with their crap.

We had a holiday "party" this past year. One of the owners showed up and ate some of the crappy BBQ. He mentioned how it was better than one of his restaurants.

That's the cold hard truth. Albeit not saying a union couldn't push a company out of business, but in a situation like mine, they need to stop complaining and just give it up. We work hard to make them such massive profits, yet get little in return, sometimes even locked out. My company has made threats to open a plant down in Texas (major customers down there) that's non-union. They actually already own the place but don't use it!