A majority of union members voted down American Crystal Sugar Co.’s contract for a third time on Sunday.
According to Mark Froemke, 56, a representative from the American Federation of Labor, 63 percent of the union members who voted opted to reject it.
“The workers’ voice was loud and clear…I hope it means that American Crystal Sugar and the union can sit down, negotiate and come to a reasonable conclusion to this 11-month walkout,” says Mr. Froemke. “We as workers needed to send a message that we will not be browbeaten into a substandard contract.”
American Crystal Sugar Co. Chairman Robert Green, 58, who owns a beet, wheat and navy bean farm in North Dakota, said that the company will continue to move forward after Saturday’s vote.
“We are quite happy with the new workforce, and they are learning the job. We think they’ll do just fine,” Mr. Green says on Saturday evening.