Workers at 'Largest' Beef Processing Plant in US Authorize Strike

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Workers at 'Largest' Beef Processing Plant in US Authorize Strike originally appeared on Parade.
Workers at a Texas-based beef processing plant just "voted by a 98 percent margin" to authorize a strike at the facility amid ongoing negotiations, and the timing couldn't be worse as Independence Day, the unofficial hot dog and burger holiday, approaches.
On Friday, Teamsters Local 577 members at Tyson Foods of Amarillo–described as the "largest beef processing plant in the United States" and "essential to the beef supply chain"–announced that its some 3,100 members had voted to authorize a strike at the facility and should the strike happen, it could create a domino effect of chaos.
"This facility is essential to the beef supply chain," said Al Brito, the president of Local 577, in the June 27 statement, explaining that if the company and union cannot agree, the union "will be forced to take action."
What exact ramifications a strike at the facility would have is currently unclear, but presumably, it would add stress to the supply, making it harder for the company to keep up with demand, potentially to the point of raising prices, which is certainly not what shoppers want to hear so close to July 4 hot dog eating contests and planned cookouts.
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Though famous for its frozen chicken nuggets, Tyson owns several other meat brands that could be impacted by a potential strike, including Jimmy Dean, BallPark, Aidells, Gallo, Star Ranch Angus, Wright, and Hillshire Farm.
According to the June 27 statement, employees are seeking higher wages and "improved benefits." The union said it also filed a number of unfair labor practices against Tyson for violating labor law.
"We're not just fighting for more money," added Keisha Carey, a member of the Tyson Teamsters Negotiating Committee. "We're tired of seeing people suffer. We're tired of seeing people hurting."
A spokesperson for Tyson did not immediately respond to Parade's request for comment.
Local reporters at NewsChannel10 were told members of the negotiating committee have one more meeting with Tyson to negotiate a deal. But further details, including the date of that meeting, were not provided.
The outcome of that meeting will ultimately–and whether or not they can come to a deal– decide whether or not the Teamsters will strike.
"Tyson has a saying that we've got your back, but as far as I can see right now, we have to have our own backs. If they really had our backs, we wouldn't have to go this far, but now we're tired of talking, and we're tired of hearing this and hearing that. We want solutions and we want them now,' Angela Moore, Teamsters Local 577 member at Tyson Foods of Amarillo, told the outlet.
"We don't want to strike, we don't want to. We want to be able to come to the table like adults and just understand what we, just see what we're going through, what our people are going through," Moore added. "The people who are working to make sure you have money, you know, we want them to see that and without all of this striking and things like that, but just in case they don't, we have to be prepared."
Parade is closely following this developing story, so if any timely updates are shared, we'll be among the first to let you know.
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Workers at 'Largest' Beef Processing Plant in US Authorize Strike first appeared on Parade on Jun 28, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.