JBS USA Food $200.2M Beef and Pork Worker Wage Settlement

Employees who worked at a beef or pork processing plant in the United States between Jan. 1, 2000, and Feb. 27, 2024, may be eligible to claim a share of a $202.8 million class action settlement.

JBS USA Food Co. and several other major meat processing companies agreed to pay $200,200,000 to resolve a class action lawsuit alleging they conspired to suppress wages for workers at beef and pork processing plants.

Who are the class members?

Class members must meet all of the following criteria:

• They worked at a beef or pork processing plant one of the defendant companies operated.
• Their employment occurred in the United States.
• Their employment occurred at any time between Jan. 1, 2000, and Feb. 27, 2024.

Defendant companies that agreed to settle include:

• American Foods Group LLC
• Cargill Inc. and Cargill Meat Solutions Corp.
• Hormel Foods Corp., Rochelle Foods LLC and Quality Pork Processors Inc.
• JBS USA Food Co.
• National Beef Packing Co. LLC
• Perdue Farms Inc.
• Seaboard Foods LLC
• Tyson Foods Inc.
• Webber, Meng, Sahl & Co. Inc. (WMS)
• Triumph Foods LLC

Class members can check the website to see if their name or workplace is included in the settlement.

There are two groups within the class:

• The main class: Anyone who worked at a defendant’s beef or pork processing plant in the United States between Jan. 1, 2000, and Feb. 27, 2024. This class is eligible for payments totaling $188.95 million.
• A subclass: Anyone who worked at a defendant’s beef or pork processing plant in the United States between Jan. 1, 2014, and Feb. 27, 2024. This class is eligible for payments totaling $11.25 million.

Individuals who received a notice by mail or email are included in the class. Those who did not receive a notice may still qualify and should check their eligibility online or by contacting the settlement administrator.

How much can class members get?

The total settlement fund is $200,200,000. The actual amount each class member receives depends on several factors:

• The number of eligible class members
• How long each person worked at a defendant’s plant
• Each person’s earnings during their employment
• Deductions for attorneys’ fees, costs, notice and administration expenses, and service awards for class representatives

After these deductions, the settlement administrator will distribute the remaining funds proportionally (pro rata) among class members. This means that the more years the employee worked and the higher their earnings, the larger their share of the settlement.

How to claim a class action payment

Class members who received a notice by mail or email do not need to file a claim form to receive compensation. However, they should update their contact, employment and earnings information to ensure they receive the correct payment amount.

Class members who did not receive a notice must complete a participation form to claim their payment. They may also request a paper form by calling the settlement administrator at 1-877-411-4775. Class members should mail completed paper forms to the settlement administrator. The claim deadline is Oct. 7, 2026.

Settlement administrator's mailing address: Beef Pork Wages Settlement, c/o A.B. Data Ltd., PO Box 173052, Milwaukee, WI 53217

Required information

• Class members who received a notice do not need to provide any information or submit a claim.
• Class members who did not receive a notice need to provide:
• A copy of an official photo identification (like a driver’s license or an employee ID from one of the companies) OR a copy of at least one paycheck/paystub from their time working at one of the companies
• Employment data, including the poultry company(ies) they worked for; their workplace(s); whether they worked in a plant, hatchery or feed mill; the dates they worked; how much the companies paid them per hour (or per year if they received an annual salary); their average weekly hours; and their job title(s)

Payout options

The settlement website does not detail specific payment methods.

$200.2 million settlement fund breakdown

The $200,200,000 settlement fund covers:

• Notice and administration costs: Up to $4,000,000
• Attorneys’ fees: Up to $66,726,660
• Lawsuit costs: Up to $6,000,000
• Service awards to class representatives: Up to $30,000 each
• Payments to eligible class members: The remainder of the funds (estimated at $126,073,340)

Important dates

• Opt-out deadline: April 10, 2026
• Final approval hearing: June 4, 2026
• Deadline to file a claim: Oct. 7, 2026

When is the beef and pork wages settlement payout date?

The settlement administrator will issue payments after the court resolves any appeals and approves the settlement.

Why is there a class action settlement?

The class action lawsuit alleged that several major beef and pork processing companies conspired to keep wages low for their workers, which is illegal under antitrust laws.

The companies denied any wrongdoing but agreed to settle to avoid the uncertainty and expense of continued litigation.

Sources

1. Class notice
2. Online claim form