Tyson reaches preliminary settlement to pay workers

Tyson Foods has agreed to pay workers in its Goodletteville, Tenn., beef and pork processing plant a $7.75 million settlement. A federal judge has given preliminary approval of the donning-and-doffing settlement reached this week.


As part of the settlement, the meat giant will pay $7.75 million into a fund to cover awards to employees “under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state law breach of contract claims,” as well as attorneys’ fees and costs and the settlement administrator fees. Tyson also will cover the employer’s portion of payroll taxes for the payout, according to documents filed in federal court.

This deal ends seven months of negotiations, and avoids a trial that was slated to begin in August.