February 2012
The IUF Writes a Letter to CEO Dave Berg Condemning his Comments Likening the Union to a "Cancerous Tumor"
"Delegates were shocked in general to hear about the lockout you are imposing, but they were horrified to hear that at a shareholders meeting on November 7, 2011 in Grafton, North Dakota, you likened the American Crystal contract to a cancerous tumor..."
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November 2011
Congressman Ellison Urges American Crystal Sugar to Return to the Bargaining Table
This is a serious matter and it must be noted that this lockout jeaopardizes years of cooperation between union workers, management and farmers... It is my sincere desire that your company join the BCTGM workers at the bargaining table to resolve the issues that separate you...
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October 2011
A letter of thanks in response to donations to the ACS Lockout Fund
"On behalf of our BCTGM Locals 167G (Unit 264, Unit 266 and Unit 326), 265G, 267G, 269G and 372G the commitee for the distribution of donated monies would like to express our deep gratitude for your generosity. Mere words cannot convey how overwhelmed we are with the out pouring of support at this time. Just knowing that so many care about our plight and have stepped up to be there for us has bolstered the moral of many of our Brothers and Sisters throughout the Valley...
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September 6, 2011
Solidarity Greeting from Tanzania
"We will continue monitoring your struggle with the information provided by the IUF Global Sugar Program and are ready to provide our solidarity to the sisters and brothers and their families under the lockout by American Crystal..."
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August 26, 2011
A Letter from AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka to American Crystal Sugar CEO Dave Berg
"I want you to know that the AFL-CIO stands in complete solidarity with BCTGM in urging you to take all steps necessary to bring this unfortunate dispute to a swift and mutually accepable conclusion, in particular by negotiating, in good faith, a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement..."
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August 25, 2011
A Letter from National Consumer League to the American Sugar Alliance Executive Committee
"It seems, to us, that the American Sugar Alliance's arguments in favor of continuing sugar subsudies, that they help provide and protect thousands of good American jobs, dosn't square with the way workers at the American Crystal Sugar Company plant are being treated..."
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August 18, 2011
A Letter from BCTGM International President Frank Hurt to American Crystal Sugar CEO Dave Berg
"To carry on this charade any longer simply to squeese more profits off the backs of your employees would be a travesty and will have far reaching and adverse consequences for the company, the farmers, the workers and the communities involved..."
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The following are statements from the community in a show of solidarity for the locked out workers of American Crystal Sugar...
Gary Feist, Fargo, letter: Public workers’ union lends support to Crystal workers
August 5, 2011, Gary Feist, Grand Forks Herald
FARGO - "As an association of public workers who work for the state of North Dakota, local municipalities and on the campuses of our state’s colleges and universities, the North Dakota Public Employees Association and its members know that job No. 1 is service to our communities, providing the quality services North Dakotans have come to expect from a quality workforce. The workers at American Crystal Sugar know this same sense of sacrifice, providing a valuable service for the citizens of the Red River Valley region, and never failing at the Herculean task of receiving crops from local producers and refining it into sugar for American Crystal. These workers take great pride in always being prepared for every harvest, fueling economic prosperity across the Red River Valley. For this year’s fall harvest, they will not be prepared to meet that task, however, as management of American Crystal Sugar has locked their workers out from their jobs. Contract negotiations had been taking place, and while these discussions were ongoing, the workers wanted to stay at work and do their jobs. However, due to this unjust lockout, they cannot do so, and this action imperils them, their families and the communities that they support.
"We at NDPEA stand in solidarity with the members of BCTGM Local 167G and Local 372G, and we ask that management at American Crystal Sugar return to the negotiating table, so that their workers can get back to their jobs soon. Be fair to these hard-working men and women, and please recognize the great contributions that they are making to their communities. Fall harvest is quickly approaching, and sugar workers want to be ready."
Gary Feist Feist is president of the North Dakota Public Employees Association.
Lynn and Renae Fredrickson, Drayton, N.D, letter: Together we stand
August 4, 2011, Lynn and Renae Fredrickson, Grand Forks Herald
DRAYTON, N.D. — "Today, together we stand, our brothers and sisters of the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco and Grain Millers 167G, outside of the very gates that most of us have passed thousands of times to do the work to make the best sugar in the world with the best sugar beets grown in the world by our area farmers. And now, because we nearly unanimously voted no to the offer given us at the 11th hour by the company, we were asked to leave the company grounds at midnight Sunday and watch as a line was painted on the driveway and the gate locked from the inside. It was never about the money, we only wanted to keep our jobs and to continue to work to do what WE do better than anyone.
"Most of us have had to work shift work and holidays for 20, 30 and 40 years. We missed being home to tuck our kids in bed; go to their parent /teacher conferences; see their school concerts or ball games for example. This list could go on forever. Many of us have worked 32 or more hours during snowstorms, drove miles to get to work during flooding and worked overtime when something came up and the skills we have were needed to keep the factories running. We worked with pride and did our job. Now, this is what the company thinks of us. Just bring in anyone they think are capable to do the work and let us go one-by-one. But here we are UNITED, and TOGETHER, we will prevail."
Lynn and Renae Fredrickson The Fredricksons are members with the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco and Grain Millers Local 167G.
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