On Monday, August 3, the Members of Teamsters Local 455 voted to reject Cargill's latest offer to return to work, meaning the lockout at the company's Fort Morgan beef processing plant will continue.

Union Business Agent Chris Suazo says members felt the company's latest proposal did not represent a significant enough improvement over the offer made previously. After the vote was counted in front of union observers, Teamsters leaders notified Cargill and asked if the company would be willing to continue negotiating or modify its proposal. According to Suazo, the company's response was simply, "OK, thank you."

Suazo says the union plans to remain on the picket line while continuing to seek renewed negotiations, adding, "I would say that it is a lockout until otherwise stated."

The rejected proposal came after company and union negotiators reached a recommended settlement on Tuesday, July 28. While the terms were never made public, union officials had said it included more money than Cargill's previous offer.

The labor dispute began May 20 after workers rejected a contract proposal over concerns about wages, health care and workplace safety. Cargill then locked out roughly 1,700 employees, saying uncertainty over a possible work stoppage made it unsafe to operate the plant.

The Teamsters have been providing locked-out workers with $1,250 a week in union benefits while negotiations continue.