Hundreds of Cargill employees filled Main Street in Fort Morgan at the Teamsters Local 455 office on Wednesday morning after workers arrived for their shifts at the Cargill plant in Fort Morgan and found the doors closed. An estimated 1,500 employees gathered outside the Teamsters’ office.
In a news release on Wednesday morning, Teamsters Local 455 stated that more than 1,700 members across the region had been locked out by Cargill. The union said the company refused to offer necessary improvements to wages, health care, and safety protections and described the company’s actions as a disgraceful move by a company that has long taken its workers for granted. Cargill has not confirmed whether the closure is a lockout.
At about 9 a.m., Teamsters Business Agent Servando Payan told the Morgan County Times from the Teamsters office that workers were not on strike.
“Cargill did a lockout. Itap not a strike,” Payan said. “Cargill shut the doors. Itap a lockout. We are not on strike.”
Denver Teamsters representatives Dean Modecker, Secretary‑Treasurer and Business Agent; Alan Frisbee, President and Business Agent; and Corey Wicks, Business Agent, were on hand along with several others to assist workers throughout the day. Modecker said in the release that Cargill can afford to reach a fair agreement with workers who keep the plant operating every day. He said the union will continue supporting members until negotiations resume.
As the crowd outside the Teamsters office grew, Fort Morgan Police blocked off the area after too many people attempted to cross Main Street during traffic, and the group was moved to Glenn Miller Park across the street.
The Fort Morgan facility processes millions of pounds of beef each year and is one of the region’s largest employers. Many workers said the situation affects not only their families but the wider community. Chris Bell, a maintenance worker who has spent 33 years at Cargill, said he plans to remain outside as long as needed. “I am just a few months away from retirement, but I want to be out here supporting the younger workers who are fighting for their future,” Bell said. “We will be out here every day making our voices heard.”
All media were directed to Cargill.com for an official statement. The Morgan County Times has reached out to Cargill for comment but has not yet received a response.
Teamsters Local 455, headquartered in Denver, represents more than 10,000 members across the Rocky Mountain region. Union officials said workers will continue gathering in Fort Morgan until the company returns to the bargaining table
