Cargill initiated a lockout at its beef processing plant in Fort Morgan, Colorado, after workers rejected a proposed contract renewal. According to information released by the Teamsters Local 455 union, which represents the plant's employees, the company suspended payments to approximately 1,700 workers on Wednesday (20) amidst the impasse in negotiations. In a statement, Cargill said it had presented a proposal considered "fair," estimated at $33.4 million in investments for workers over the course of the contract. According to Dean Modecker, a union leader, the company offered a $0.70 per hour wage increase in the first year of a five-year contract, plus an additional $0.30 per hour increase in the fifth year. The workers, on the other hand, are demanding a $1 per hour increase in the first year and are advocating for a three-year contract, citing a greater need for protection given the volatility of the beef sector in the United States. Cargill also reported that slaughtering operations at the Fort Morgan unit have been suspended since April 23, with cattle being redirected to other company processing plants. According to the company, the unit's operating costs currently exceed the plant's profitability. "We cannot operate the facility safely and responsibly amidst the continued uncertainty of a possible shutdown," the company stated in a note. According to the union, Cargill maintained employee pay while slaughtering activities were interrupted. However, salaries ceased being paid after the rejection of the contractual proposal.
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.