How much money is in the beef and pork settlement now?

The settling companies have agreed to pay about $202.7 million in total, up from the $200.2 million reported earlier as additional companies settled. After court-approved deductions for attorney fees, litigation costs, administration, and class representative service awards, the remaining money is distributed to class members proportionally based on how long they worked and how much they earned.

Do I need to file a claim to get money from the beef and pork settlement?

It depends. If you received a notice by mail or email, you do not need to file anything — you will automatically receive money if the settlement is approved, though you should update your contact and employment information at BeefPorkWages.com. If you did NOT receive a notice, you must submit a participation form by February 4, 2027 to be eligible for payment. Confirm the current deadline on the official settlement website, because the schedule has been extended as more companies settled.

Which companies are paying the beef and pork wages settlement?

The monetary settlements include Tyson Foods ($72.5 million), JBS USA ($55 million), Cargill ($29.75 million), National Beef ($14.2 million), Hormel/Rochelle/Quality Pork ($13.5 million), Seaboard Foods ($10 million), American Foods Group ($4 million), Perdue Farms ($1.25 million), Agri Beef and Washington Beef ($1.4 million), and Indiana Packers ($1.1 million). Greater Omaha Packing ($100,000) is seeking approval. Agri Stats and WMS settled by agreeing to cooperate without paying. Smithfield is the only remaining defendant still being litigated.

When will I get paid from the beef and pork settlement?

Payment comes after the court grants final approval and any appeals are resolved. The final approval hearing is currently scheduled for October 2, 2026; final approval has not yet been granted, and distribution of checks has not begun. Because the payments are wage-based, the administrator withholds any required payroll taxes and issues an IRS Form W-2.

Beef & Pork Workers $202.7M Wage-Fixing Settlement

Q: Who qualifies for the beef and pork wages settlement?

You qualify if you worked at any of the defendant companies' beef or pork processing plants in the United States between January 1, 2000 and February 27, 2024. This includes workers at plants owned by Tyson Foods, JBS, Cargill, Hormel, National Beef, Seaboard Foods, Perdue Farms, American Foods Group, Agri Beef, Washington Beef, Indiana Packers, and other defendants. You can be part of the class even if you only worked for one of these companies for a short period. If you received a postcard or email notice, records already show you are in the class.

Q: What was the beef and pork wage-fixing lawsuit about?

The lawsuit, Brown v. JBS USA Food Co., alleged that major beef and pork processing companies conspired to keep wages low for their plant workers in violation of federal antitrust law (the Sherman Act). The complaint alleged the companies shared confidential wage data through third-party firms such as Agri Stats and WMS, and entered into no-poach agreements. The defendants deny the allegations and any wrongdoing.

Q: Will my information be shared with immigration authorities?

No. The court has ordered that any information you provide in this case will be treated as confidential and used only for settlement administration. Your information cannot be shared with any immigration or law enforcement authority without a court order.

Published February 26, 2026

Updated July 16, 2026

This class action accuses major beef and pork processors of conspiring to hold down plant-worker pay. If you worked at a covered plant since 2000, you may be owed a share of $202.7 million — and if you received a notice, you are paid automatically.

By Steve Levine

Editor-in-Chief

What Is This Settlement About?

If you worked at a beef or pork processing plant in the United States between January 1, 2000 and February 27, 2024, you may be eligible to receive money from a class action settlement that has now grown to about $202.7 million. Major meat processing companies — including Tyson Foods, JBS, Cargill, Hormel, National Beef, and others — agreed to pay after being accused of conspiring to keep workers' wages artificially low.

This is one of the largest wage-fixing settlements in U.S. history. The lawsuit alleged that some of the biggest names in the beef and pork industry shared confidential wage data, entered into no-poach agreements, and coordinated to suppress pay for hundreds of thousands of plant workers across the country. All defendants deny any wrongdoing.

If you received a notice by mail or email, you are already in the class and will receive money automatically if the settlement is approved. If you did not receive a notice, you must submit a participation form to be eligible. The case is Brown v. JBS USA Food Co., No. 1:22-cv-02946, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado.

Status Pending Final Approval Settlements reached; final approval not yet granted.

Total Settlements $202.7 million Across the settling companies · Smithfield still being litigated.

Participation Deadline February 4, 2027 Only if you did NOT receive a notice — confirm the current date on the official site.

Proof Required Yes Photo ID or a paystub to file a participation form · noticed members are paid automatically.

Final Approval Hearing October 2, 2026 District of Colorado, Denver · schedule extended as companies settled.

Who Qualifies for the Beef and Pork Wages Settlement?

You are part of the settlement class if you worked at any of the defendant companies' beef or pork processing plants in the United States between January 1, 2000 and February 27, 2024. You qualify even if you only worked for one of these companies for a short period during that time.

If you received a postcard or email notice, records already show you are in the class. If you did not receive a notice, you can check your eligibility at BeefPorkWages.com by searching your name or checking whether your employer is on the list.

There are two groups within the class. The main class covers workers employed at any defendant's beef or pork processing plant between January 1, 2000 and February 27, 2024. A smaller subclass covers workers employed between January 1, 2014 and February 27, 2024, who share in the amounts from certain later settlements. If you worked during the 2014–2024 period, you may qualify for payments from more than one pool.

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Which Companies Are Paying the Settlement?

The settling companies have agreed to pay about $202.7 million in total. Here is the breakdown of the monetary settlements:

• Tyson Foods, Inc. — $72.5 million
• JBS USA Food Company — $55 million
• Cargill, Inc. & Cargill Meat Solutions Corp. — $29.75 million
• National Beef Packing Company, LLC — $14.2 million
• Hormel Foods Corp., Rochelle Foods, LLC & Quality Pork Processors, Inc. — $13.5 million
• Seaboard Foods, LLC — $10 million
• American Foods Group, LLC — $4 million
• Agri Beef Co. & Washington Beef, LLC — $1.4 million
• Perdue Farms, Inc. — $1.25 million
• Indiana Packers Corporation — $1.1 million
• Greater Omaha Packing Company — $100,000 (seeking court approval)

Two other defendants, Agri Stats, Inc. and Webber, Meng, Sahl & Company (WMS), settled by agreeing to cooperate with the plaintiffs rather than by paying money. Smithfield Foods is now the only remaining defendant still being litigated. Even if you only worked for Smithfield or another non-settling company, you can still receive money from the settling companies' funds if you are part of the class.

How Much Will I Get from the Beef and Pork Settlement?

The exact payment amounts are not yet known. The total fund is about $202.7 million, but the following deductions are taken before money is distributed to workers: attorney fees (a percentage set by the court), litigation costs, notice and administration costs, and service awards for the class representatives (subject to court approval).

After these deductions, the remaining money (the Net Settlement Fund) is distributed pro rata — proportionally — to all class members. Your individual payment depends on how long you worked at any of the defendants' plants, how much you earned during the class period, and how many total class members there are. Workers employed for longer periods and who earned higher wages during the class period receive larger payments. That is why it helps to update your employment and earnings information at the settlement website so you receive the full amount you are owed.

How to Get Paid

Your next steps depend on whether you received a notice:

If you received a notice by mail or email: You do not need to submit anything. You are already included and will receive money automatically if the settlement is approved. Go to BeefPorkWages.com and update your contact information, employment history, and earnings data so you receive the correct payment amount.

If you did NOT receive a notice: You must submit a participation form to be eligible. You can file online at BeefPorkWages.com or print a paper form and mail it in. When filing a participation form, you may need to provide a copy of an official photo ID (such as a driver's license or a company employee ID) or a copy of at least one paycheck or paystub from your time working at one of the plants.

The participation form deadline is currently February 4, 2027. Because the schedule has been extended as more companies settled, confirm the current deadline on the official settlement website before you file.

What Was the Beef and Pork Wage-Fixing Lawsuit About?

The lawsuit, filed in 2022, alleged that major beef and pork processing companies violated the Sherman Antitrust Act by conspiring to suppress wages for their plant workers. According to the complaint, the companies used several methods to coordinate their alleged wage-fixing:

They allegedly exchanged confidential wage data through third-party consulting firms — specifically Agri Stats and Webber, Meng, Sahl & Company (WMS) — which collected and distributed reports containing detailed compensation information across the industry.

They allegedly entered into "no-poach" agreements in which companies agreed not to recruit or hire each other's employees, removing competitive pressure to raise wages, and allegedly coordinated pay decisions so that no single company broke ranks by offering significantly higher compensation.

The lawsuit claimed this alleged conspiracy affected hundreds of thousands of workers at roughly 140 beef and pork processing plants across the United States, causing workers to earn less than they would have in a competitive labor market. The defendants together produced approximately 80% of the red meat sold in the U.S. All defendants denied the allegations and any wrongdoing.

Will My Information Be Shared with Immigration Authorities?

No. The court specifically ordered that any information you provide in this case will be treated as confidential and used only for settlement administration purposes. Your information will not be shared with any immigration or law enforcement authority. The court ruled that information provided by class members cannot be given to anyone else without a court order. This protection applies whether you submit your information online, on paper, or through the settlement website.

What Happens If I Do Nothing?

If you received a notice by mail or email and do nothing, you will still receive money if the settlement is approved — though you should update your information at the settlement website so you get the correct amount. If you did not receive a notice and do nothing, you will not get any money; you must submit a participation form by the deadline to be included. Either way, if you stay in the class and do not opt out, you give up the right to sue the settling defendants separately over the same claims.

Beef and Pork Wages Settlement: Key Dates

• January 1, 2000 – February 27, 2024: Class period (eligible employment dates)
• November 14, 2022: Lawsuit filed (Brown v. JBS USA Food Co.)
• August 10, 2026: Deadline to opt out of or object to the settlements
• October 2, 2026: Final approval hearing (Denver, CO)
• February 4, 2027: Deadline to submit a participation form (if you did not receive notice)

These dates reflect the extended, consolidated schedule after additional companies settled, and can change by court order. Confirm the current dates on the official settlement website before you rely on any deadline. Because the payments are wage-based, the settlement administrator withholds any required payroll taxes and issues an IRS Form W-2.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who qualifies?

Anyone who worked at any of the defendant companies' beef or pork processing plants in the United States between January 1, 2000 and February 27, 2024.

Do I need to file a form?

If you received a notice by mail or email, no — you are automatically included. If you did not receive a notice, you must submit a participation form by the deadline (currently February 4, 2027).

How much will I get?

Payment amounts depend on how long you worked at the defendants' plants, how much you earned, and how many total class members there are. The total fund is about $202.7 million before deductions.

When will payments be sent?

After the court grants final approval and any appeals are resolved. The final approval hearing is currently set for October 2, 2026; distribution has not yet begun.

Is my information safe?

Yes. The court ordered that all information provided by class members is confidential and will not be shared with immigration or law enforcement authorities.

What if I worked for a company that hasn't settled?

You can still receive money from the companies that have settled if you are part of the class. Smithfield is the only defendant still being litigated.

Official Settlement Notice

Sources and Resources

Official Settlement Website — BeefPorkWages.com
Co-Lead Class Counsel Announcement — $202.7 Million in Settlements for Beef and Pork Processing Plant Workers
U.S. District Court, District of Colorado — Brown v. JBS USA Food Co., No. 1:22-cv-02946

For more class actions keep scrolling below.

Settlement Amount $202.7 million (settling companies)

Case Title Brown v. JBS USA Food Co.

Case Number 1:22-cv-02946

Court U.S. District Court, District of Colorado

Final Approval Hearing October 2, 2026 Denver, CO · schedule extended — confirm on the official site

Participation Deadline February 4, 2027 (if not noticed)

Administrator A.B. Data, Ltd.

Official Website BeefPorkWages.com

Beef & Pork Processing Workers — $202.7 Million Wage-Fixing Settlement