The Definition Of Insanity -- May 12, 2017

Regular readers will remember this one: American Crystal and the strike back in 2011 - 2012. As I said then: only story with longer legs than the Keystone XL story is the American Crystal Sugar story. [After looking at the tape below, one can add, another story with legs that never end: national health care.]

Or as Ronald Reagan would say, "Here we go again."

The Dickinson Press is reporting that American Crystal management and the union are again "far apart."

American Crystal Sugar Co. officials say eight days of talks with their union leave the parties "far apart," but that a "best and final" offer has been sent to union leaders.

The farmer-owned cooperative with five factories in the Red River Valley is negotiating with the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Union over a multi-year contract that ends July 31, 2017. The contract covers about 1,200 workers. A failed negotiation ended in a union lockout in 2011 that lasted two years.

"The parties remained very far apart in their proposals. In an effort to determine if there was a possible road to a settlement, a small group from both sides met in a sidebar discussion," she wrote. "Some good progress was made in narrowing the differences.

"Rather than giving the Company the courtesy of hearing the best and final offer, the Union simply walked away from the negotiations without notice. Accordingly, the Company has sent its best and final offer to the Union leaders this afternoon. We will be posting this final offer after the leadership has received it. We remain hopeful that our employees will be allowed to vote on this offer. That decision is up to the BCTGM."