Source:  Lisa M. Keefe, MEATINGPLACE, 7/20/11


Cargill Meat Solutions Corp. has agreed to settle a class-action donning-and-doffing lawsuit brought by employees of its meatpacking plant in Schuyler, Neb.

The terms of the settlement, according to papers filed in U.S. District Court in Omaha, call for the Wichita, Kan.-based subsidiary of Cargill Inc. to pay eligible current and former employees $4 to $6 for each week they were denied extra pay for the time they spent putting on required clothing and safety gear before their shift, and taking it off after the shift was finished. Cargill also will pay $2,000 each to two employees who filed lawsuits — and more than $820,000 in attorneys' fees.

The federal judge in the case approved the settlement on Tuesday.

In a statement provided to Meatingplace Cargill said, "We are pleased this has concluded and can now move forward with our excellent and fully engaged Schuyler, Neb., beef plant production team delivering outstanding products to meet our customers' expectations."

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