BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) _ A lawmaker says he's expecting the North
Dakota Legislature to take up the issue of whether workers who are
locked out of their jobs should get unemployment benefits.
The North Dakota Supreme Court is considering whether state law
provides jobless benefits for about 400 locked-out workers at
American Crystal Sugar Co.
Job Service North Dakota says the law doesn't allow benefits for
the Crystal workers, and they're appealing that decision.
Democratic Rep. Lee Kaldor represents a number of the workers,
and American Crystal's Hillsboro sugar beet processing plant is in
his district.
He says the law should be more explicit about whether locked-out
workers should get unemployment payments.
Kaldor says state policy is favoring management by denying
benefits to the sugar workers.
