Employees at a Cargill Inc. beef processing plant in Pennsylvania voted on Friday to end a labor dispute that had halted operations for more than a month, according to a union representative.
The vote, conducted by members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776, authorized a return to work at the Wyalusing facility, which had been idled since late June. The shutdown disrupted regional cattle supply chains and reduced processing capacity for the company’s beef division.
Cargill, one of the largest meat processors in the U.S., had not publicly commented on the timing of a restart as of Friday evening. The union stated that negotiations on unresolved contract terms would continue following the vote.
The dispute centered on wage and benefit proposals, with workers citing concerns over compensation and working conditions. The plant processes approximately 1,200 head of cattle daily when operational, according to industry estimates.
The resolution comes amid broader labor pressures in the U.S. meatpacking sector, where tight labor markets and inflation have driven wage negotiations in recent years. The Wyalusing facility’s closure contributed to tighter cattle supplies in the Northeast, traders said.
Market impact was limited as of late Friday, with Cargill’s beef operations remaining a fraction of its total business. The company operates 23 beef processing plants across North America.
