Neogen Workers to Rally for First Contract Amid Stalled Negotiations

LANSING, MI – March 26, 2026 – Warehouse workers at food safety giant Neogen are set to rally on Friday morning, escalating a prolonged battle for their first union contract. Represented by Teamsters Local 243, the employees plan to gather outside the company’s warehouse on East Shiawassee Street to demand what they call a fair agreement, accusing the multimillion-dollar corporation of engaging in unfair labor practices that have stalled negotiations.

The rally, scheduled for 10 a.m. on March 27, marks a public escalation in the tense relationship between the union and Neogen, a key player in the global food safety supply chain. According to a statement from Teamsters Local 243, workers are fighting for improved wages, respect in the workplace, and an equal voice with the company. The union contends that management's actions are actively preventing them from reaching a fair agreement.

“Teamsters are fighting for improved wages, respect in the workplace, and an equal voice with the company,” the union stated in its announcement, calling for community allies to join the demonstration.

A Protracted Battle for Representation

Friday's planned rally is the latest chapter in a labor dispute that stretches back several years. The warehouse workers officially voted to organize with Teamsters Local 243 in June 2025, a victory that the union described as the culmination of a “two-year battle for representation.” Workers had first approached the local in 2023, initiating a contentious organizing drive.

Throughout 2024, the process was fraught with legal challenges. The union filed Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges against Neogen, alleging that company officials, including its CEO and Human Resources Officer, intimidated workers and threatened them with the loss of jobs and benefits if they voted to unionize. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) initially ordered Neogen to bargain with the union in August 2024 under its Cemex decision, a significant but short-lived win for the Teamsters. The NLRB later rescinded that order and mandated a new election.

In February 2025, Neogen announced that the NLRB had withdrawn its ULP claim following a mutual agreement between the company and the union, with the company noting there was no admission of wrongdoing. At the time, Neogen's Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, Amy Rocklin, stated the company was “dedicated to fostering a supportive and equitable workplace” and respected employees' rights to choose representation. However, with contract negotiations for a first agreement now seemingly deadlocked, the union's latest press release resurrects the allegations of unfair practices, signaling that tensions remain high.

A Critical Player in Public Health

The labor dispute unfolds at a company whose operations are integral to public health and safety. Neogen, a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ, specializes in developing and marketing a vast portfolio of test kits used to detect dangerous substances in food, including pathogens, allergens, and toxins. With projected revenues for fiscal year 2026 between $845 million and $855 million, the company is a major force in the rapidly growing global food safety testing market, which was valued at over $26 billion in 2025.

This critical role places the labor conflict in a broader context. Any significant disruption at Neogen, such as a prolonged work stoppage, could potentially impact the food industry's ability to conduct essential safety checks, creating bottlenecks in a supply chain designed to protect consumers. The workers' demands for higher wages are set against the backdrop of this profitable and essential industry.

The company has also faced other challenges. In July 2025, a federal securities class action lawsuit was filed against Neogen, alleging the company made misleading statements regarding the complex integration of 3M's Food Safety Division, which it acquired in 2022. While separate from the labor dispute, it adds another layer to the corporate pressures facing the Lansing-based firm.

Community Crossroads and a Shifting Labor Landscape

Neogen’s relationship with labor and the local community is complex. While under investigation for the initial ULP allegations in September 2024, the Lansing City Council approved a multi-million-dollar Brownfield Redevelopment plan to support the company's expansion. The decision was not without controversy, as some council members voiced concern over the union-busting accusations. The approved plan reportedly included a provision that tax credits could be paused or rescinded if Neogen were ultimately found to have committed ULP violations.

In defending its labor practices at the time, Neogen pointed out that its expansion-related construction project was “100% union,” arguing that the company is not inherently anti-union but believes in a fair process for employees to decide on representation. This highlights the nuanced position of a major local employer navigating labor relations.

The dispute at Neogen is reflective of a broader trend in Michigan, where the labor movement has seen renewed energy. In 2023, the state repealed its controversial “right-to-work” law, a move that labor advocates hailed as a major victory. By 2025, Michigan’s union membership rate stood at 13.0%, significantly above the national average of 10.0%. Teamsters Local 243 has been an active participant in this environment, engaging in contract fights and organizing drives across various industries, including recent disputes involving Costco and Marathon. As Neogen workers and their allies prepare their picket signs, their fight for a first contract becomes another focal point in the state's evolving labor story.