Cargill lockout at Fort Morgan beef plant persists after workers reject contract

After a 70‑day lockout at Cargill Meat Solutions' beef processing plant in Fort Morgan, Colorado, a tentative agreement reached earlier this week was voted down by more than 1,700 Teamsters Local 455 members. The lockout began on May 20 when workers rejected a prior offer; the facility, which processes about 4,000 head of cattle per day, has been idle and cattle have been redirected to other plants in Kansas, Nebraska and Texas. Neither side has disclosed the contract terms, but both Cargill and the union say they remain open to further negotiations. The dispute affects over 1,700 workers and has broader implications for the U.S. meat‑packing industry.