American Crystal Sugar workers who have been locked out of their jobs since Aug. 1 are hopeful the company will listen to elected officials who are calling for them to return to the bargaining table.

No negotiations have been scheduled since last week, when Crystal Sugar executives made an offer that included health care and subcontracting provisions similar to those in their first proposal. On Tuesday, the offer was voted down, with 90 percent of the workers voting no.

The 1,300 workers, represented by the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco & Grain Millers union, are struggling to make ends meet while the company is continuing operations with replacement workers at processing plants in East Grand Forks, Crookston, and Moorhead, Minn.; Hillsboro and Drayton, N.D.; and packaging and transportation sites in Chaska, Minn. and Mason City, Iowa.

After Tuesday’s vote, U.S. Senator Kent Conrad of North Dakota and U.S. Senators Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Collin Peterson of Minnesota urged both sides to work toward an agreement.

“This lockout is taking a serious toll on families in North Dakota and Minnesota and the economic and social impact can be felt up and down the Red River Valley. We need cooler heads to prevail,” Conrad said. “I urge both labor and management to return to the negotiating table and continue to work towards an agreement that puts American Crystal Sugar workers back on the job as soon as possible."

Said Franken, “It’s imperative that both sides continue to work to come to an agreement that will end this lockout and get workers back on the job. The sugar industry is critically important to the economic well-being of the Red River Valley, and all sides play an important role in the industry’s success.”

Klobuchar and Peterson issued a joint statement that said, “Families and communities across the Red River Valley have felt the impact of this lockout. We continue to urge both Crystal Sugar management and workers to come together at the negotiating table to work out an agreement that allows workers to return to their jobs as soon as possible. American Crystal and these jobs are very important to the region.”

After hearing the statements, Local 167G President John Riskey said, “We’re happy the elected leaders who represent the Red River Valley share our desire that American Crystal Sugar executives join us at the negotiating table.

“We have always been and continue to be ready to negotiate in good faith on a contract that benefits workers, the company, growers, and the community. It was American Crystal Sugar executives who walked away from the table on July 28, Aug. 25 and Oct. 26.

“Nobody is gaining from this lockout. It is dividing the community, putting hardship on families, and costing the farmer-owned co-op money. We urge Crystal Sugar executives to listen to our elected leaders and return to the negotiating table as soon as possible. We are committed to staying at the table as long as it takes to negotiate a contract we can all agree on. We hope American Crystal will make that same commitment.”