The BCTGM Union employees of American Crystal Sugar Company voted yesterday to ratify a new four-year collective bargaining agreement. Representatives of the union and American Crystal reached a tentative agreement last week, which was presented to the full membership for a vote on Tuesday.
“We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with our employees,” said Lisa Borgen, Vice President of Administration at American Crystal. “The new agreement increases wages by 17% over four years, enhances vacation and time-off, increases the pension payout, adds a new vision insurance plan, and brings other positive benefits to our employees.”
Today’s agreement includes wage increases of 8%, 3%, 3%, and 3% over the term of the contract, meaning no full-time worker would be making less than $20.60. It also calls for immediate accrual of vacation time, new policies for temporary employment, 40 hours of paid leave when an employee has a “birth or adoption of a child,” and a $1,000 retention bonus. “We are a key economic driver in the Red River Valley, and the agreement helps us secure prosperity for our employees and shareholders that live and work in several communities across the valley,” said Borgen.
John Riskey, president of the BCTGM Local 167G, said he could not reveal how many members voted or the vote percentage but could confirm that a majority had voted in favor of the agreement.
Pre-pile beet harvest is underway, and full beet harvest is set to begin on October 1, 2022. Factory operations are fully underway at Moorhead, Crookston, and East Grand Forks in Minnesota and Hillsboro and Drayton in North Dakota. All locations are processing sugarbeets for the 2022-23 campaign. Borgen added, “Reaching an agreement with our employees to ensure steady operations for the next four years is very satisfying for our customers, employees, and shareholders.”
