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GREELEY, Colo. — Colorado meat processing company JBS USA has reached a settlement in a lawsuit on behalf of workers who accused the company of price fixing and illegally suppressing wages and benefits.
Details of the settlement have not yet been made public, but the existence of the settlement was confirmed on the website of the legal team representing the workers in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit, filed by attorneys for Cohen Milstein, alleges that JBS USA has “conspired to modify and reduce compensation paid to red meat processing plant employees” since “at least 2014.” ing. Specifically, JBS USA executives hold secret meetings and contacts with other companies’ executives to determine wages and benefits, exchange compensation data every month, and have a “no-poaching policy” in which they do not mutually poach employees. The lawsuit alleges that the agreement was in place. Lawyers argued that these actions violated antitrust laws.
Magalie Licoli, a member of the Food Chain Workers Alliance and executive director of the Arkansas meatpacking workers group Venceremos, said the settlement gives hope to workers across the country fighting for better wages and working conditions. He told Denver7 that it would strengthen the situation.
“We see very clearly how these companies have this cozy relationship with each other that pretty much determines how they treat their employees and what they pay them. “I had a lot of fun,” Licoli said. “So these workers didn’t have the opportunity.”
The announcement of the JBS USA settlement gives workers hope and encourages them to “continue to hold companies accountable on the legal side,” Licoli said.
The terms of the settlement are not yet known, but Cohen Milstein said last year’s lawsuit against Seaboard Foods resulted in a $10 million settlement for workers.
Denver7 reached out to JBS USA about the settlement, but did not receive a response at the time of publication.
Settlement reached in wage unfairness lawsuit against Colorado meat processing company JBS USA
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