Cargill Fort Morgan beef plant lockout

The lockout at Cargill Meat Solutions' beef processing plant in Fort Morgan, Colorado, began on May 20 after workers rejected an initial contract offer. By late July, the company and Teamsters Local 455 had negotiated a tentative agreement covering roughly 1,700 employees, and Cargill continued to pay workers under the previous terms while redirecting cattle to other facilities.

A vote scheduled for early August was expected to ratify the deal, but on August 2 union members rejected the proposal. The plant, which processes about 4,000 head of cattle per day, remained idle, with livestock diverted to plants in Kansas, Nebraska and Texas. Local officials warned that a prolonged shutdown could cost the community up to $15 million in revenue, underscoring the broader implications for the U.S. meat‑packing industry.

Negotiations remain open, and the lockout persists as both sides seek a new agreement.