American Crystal Sugar Co. officials say the
company's chief executive officer will not be attending a proposed
meeting with locked-out union workers.
The union has invited Crystal Sugar CEO Dave Berg to an Aug. 16
gathering that union negotiator Steven Bertelli on Wednesday
described as an ``informative, constructive discussion that could
contribute to productive negotiations.''
In a letter posted on the Crystal website, a lawyer for the
company says the issues have been outlined in 21 negotiating
sessions and a public meeting will not resolve the dispute.
About 1,300 workers have been locked out of their jobs for more
than a year at facilities in Minnesota, North Dakota and Iowa.
The union says the contract offer is unfair, particularly on
seniority and job security, and voted against it three times.
