American Crystal Sugar Company has rejected a proposal to end the cooperative’s lengthy lockout of its union employees.  The company posted a statement Monday calling the union’s proposal a “publicity stunt” by its leadership.  The company has locked out its 1,300 union-represented employees since August as part of a contract dispute.  In the statement, the company says they and union representatives met informally with a federal mediator last week, after which the union followed up with a proposal.  American Crystal says the proposal ignored the company’s suggestions for ending the lockout.