Tyson workers in Texas approve deal after strike threat

Workers at Tyson Foods’ Amarillo beef plant, one of the largest meatpacking facilities in the U.S., have ratified a new four-year contract that significantly raises wages and expands benefits. The agreement, approved by members of Teamsters Local 577, comes after a period of tense negotiations and a credible strike threat that pressured management to reach a deal.

According to union leaders, the new contract includes a 32 percent wage increase over four years, expanded paid time off, and improved retirement benefits — notable gains in an industry often criticized for grueling work conditions and modest compensation. The Amarillo facility employs thousands of workers and plays a central role in the U.S. beef supply chain.

“This victory is what Texas Teamsters are all about — coming together as one so we can fight for a better life for ourselves and our families,” said Al Brito, President of Local 577. Jesse Case, Director of the Teamsters Food Processing Division, added, “If you work in one of the most dangerous industries in the nation, you should be able to support your family and look forward to retirement.”

The contract also includes more robust health and safety language, according to the union, though Tyson Foods has not issued a formal statement on the deal. While the union has celebrated the agreement as a hard-fought win, it also underscores growing labor pressure across the food processing sector, where workforce shortages, rising costs, and demanding conditions have sparked unrest.

Connie Hernandez, a member of the Tyson Teamsters Negotiating Committee, said the deal reflects the commitment and resilience of the workforce. “We’re the top plant there is, the people who work here are some of the hardest workers there are, and we deserve the best contract,” she said. “We finally got it, and that makes me proud to be a Teamster.”

Still, some observers note that while the new agreement improves conditions for Tyson’s Amarillo workers, broader systemic challenges in the meatpacking industry remain — including high injury rates, fast production speeds, and limited regulatory oversight. For workers in similar plants without union representation, progress may be slower or harder to achieve.

Teamsters Local 577 represents workers in a range of industries across North Texas. The Amarillo agreement could signal a shift in collective bargaining momentum in the region, particularly as labor organizing activity increases in sectors historically seen as difficult to unionize.