Typical union thuggery.

(Grand Forks Herald) — Tensions continue to rise as the ongoing labor dispute between American Crystal Sugar Co. and its locked-out union workers shows no signs of letting up soon.

No new negotiations have been scheduled and the situation appears to be getting more heated as the lockout reaches the month-and-a-half mark.

Allegations of racial slurs and racist symbols directed at replacement workers and security personnel contracted by American Crystal have been leveled against union supporters picketing outside the company’s plants. A union representative disavowed reports of racist activity.

Traill County Sheriff Mike Crocker confirmed that “there have been racial statements made to security people” outside the company’s Hillsboro, N.D., plant.

Crocker also said he recently saw a monkey-like figure hanging from a noose attached to a large inflatable rat outside the plant. He said that by the next day the monkey and the noose had been removed.

A photo of the monkey hanging from the noose secured to one of the inflatable rat’s claws has also been circulating on the Internet. The photo features a sign with American Crystal President and CEO Dave Berg’s name on it. Some union backers have said the monkey figure was in reference to comments union members have attributed to the company’s management, in which management allegedly said the company could train monkeys to do union workers’ jobs.

Many of the replacement workers contracted by the company through Minnetonka, Minn.-based Strom Engineering are from Southern states and some are minorities. . . .

Froemke, who is associated with the AFL-CIO of Minnesota while on leave from the company’s East Grand Forks plant, said union leaders in East Grand Forks have been diligent in telling those present not to make racist comments or mock the ethnicity of the replacement workers.