Possible end to Cargill labor dispute - workers expected to vote next week

After months of uncertainty, there may be an end in sight to the labor dispute at Cargill's Fort Morgan beef processing plant.

Cargill announced it has reached a tentative agreement with Teamsters Local 455, the union representing about 1,700 workers at the facility. The two sides met on Tuesday, July 28. The proposed settlement still must be approved by union members, who are expected to vote early next week.

The dispute began on May 20^th when Cargill locked out union employees, saying it faced uncertainty over a possible work stoppage after workers rejected the company's latest contract offer.

The union argued Cargill failed to provide needed improvements in wages, healthcare and workplace safety. In June, Teamsters Local 455 filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing the company of violating federal labor laws protecting workers' rights to organize and bargain collectively.

The lengthy shutdown has also taken a toll on the Fort Morgan community.

At the July 7^th Fort Morgan City Council meeting, City Manager Brent Nation warned the Council that every city department should prepare for a 15 percent budget reduction in 2027 if the plant remained closed. Nation estimated that the city could lose as much as $15 million in revenue in a worst-case scenario.

Cargill has not released details of the proposed agreement, saying the terms will remain confidential until union members have an opportunity to vote.

If approved, the deal would end a labor dispute that has affected not only hundreds of workers and their families, but also the broader economy of Fort Morgan and northeast Colorado.