Cargill Fort Morgan beef plant lockout nears resolution

Cargill Meat Solutions and Teamsters Local 455 have reached a tentative agreement to end the lockout at the Fort Morgan, Colorado, beef processing plant that began on May 20. The settlement, covering about 1,700 workers, must be ratified by union members in a vote expected early next week.

During the lockout, cattle were redirected to other Cargill facilities and the company continued paying employees under the previous contract terms, indicating no major disruption to producers or customers. Local officials warned that prolonged closure could cost Fort Morgan up to $15 million in revenue, underscoring the plant’s economic importance to the community.