Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton is urging an end to the lockout of American Crystal Sugar employees in Minnesota, North Dakota and Iowa that has created hardship for 1,300 families.

Dayton also expressed concern about recent media reports that the company has begun hiring more replacement workers.

“As Thanksgiving approaches, my heart goes out to the 1,300 American Crystal Sugar workers in the Red River Valley, who have been locked out by their employer and are struggling to survive,” he said in a statement issued by his office. “After almost four months, the lockout has devastated families, communities and the economy in northwestern Minnesota.

“It is time for American Crystal’s management to reach a fair agreement with its workers, who have contributed so much to the company’s current profitability. The absence of meaningful negotiations is greatly disappointing, given the terrible divide this lockout has caused among people, who have lived and worked together. I strongly urge both parties to return to negotiations and find a solution that returns those locked out workers to their jobs and restores stability to the company and the communities in which it operates.”

Other lawmakers, including U.S. Senators Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar and Congressman Collin Peterson of Minnesota, have urged an end to the dispute.

American Crystal Sugar is the largest producer of sugar from beets in the country. Workers are represented by the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco & Grain Millers union.