Cargill workers apply for unemployment as lockout continues in Fort Morgan

Nearly 1,700 workers remain locked out of the Cargill beef processing plant in Fort Morgan as a contract dispute between the company and Teamsters Local 455 continues.

The lockout began after union members voted down Cargill's latest contract offer. The company says it implemented the lockout to prevent an unexpected work stoppage and has shifted cattle operations to other facilities while negotiations continue.

For workers, the financial strain is growing. After three weeks without work, many employees have started filing for unemployment benefits. Workers say they're unable to return to their jobs, have lost access to insurance benefits, and face increasing uncertainty about when — or if — they'll be back on the job.

At the center of the disagreement are wages and healthcare benefits. Union members say Cargill's proposal includes a 70-cent-per-hour raise when the contract takes effect and a 30-cent increase in the fifth year of the agreement. Workers argue those increases do not keep pace with rising living costs and inflation.

Cargill says average wages at the Fort Morgan facility have increased by more than 50 percent since 2018. However, union leaders maintain that compensation and healthcare coverage remain key concerns.

Workers have spent recent weeks demonstrating in downtown Fort Morgan while negotiations remain stalled. Cargill and Teamsters representatives last met at the bargaining table on May 27 but did not reach an agreement.

For now, employees are relying on unemployment benefits and support from fellow workers as they wait for both sides to return to negotiations.