Minnesota Public Radio, October 10, 2011, Monday

Minnesota Public Radio

October 10, 2011, Monday

Minnesota Public Radio (full article)

Union seeks to resume talks with American Crystal

Union workers contend American Crystal simply wants to break the union. And it's not a time when unions are speaking from a position of strength.

Kate Bronfenbrenner, director of labor education research at Cornell University's Industrial and Labor Relations School, studies the tactics companies use to fight unions. She said a few recent strikes show the willingness of companies to replace even highly skilled workers.

"Employers will import doctors and nurses to break a hospital strike — and they have," she said. "If they're willing to do that, then I don't know who's hard to replace."