3,800 JBS Meatpacking Workers Strike in Colorado Plant Amid Wage, Safety Disputes, Threatening Beef Supply Chain

GREELEY, Colo. — As dawn broke over the Rocky Mountain foothills, more than 3,800 unionized meatpacking workers streamed out of the gates of one of America’s most critical food production facilities, halting operations at the JBS Swift Beef Co. plant in Greeley. The walkout, which began Monday, marks the first strike at a U.S. beef slaughterhouse since 1985, thrusting a major employer, a vital segment of the food supply chain, and a long-simmering labor dispute into the national spotlight. Workers clad in winter jackets and carrying handmade signs marched in solidarity, chanting in Spanish and English, while union organizers warned that the strike could escalate if management fails to address concerns over wages, safety, and retaliation.

The strike comes amid a fragile moment for the U.S. beef industry, where cattle inventories have fallen to their lowest levels in 75 years, prices are surging, and consumer anxiety over affordability is rising. With the Greeley plant alone accounting for approximately 6% of the nation’s beef slaughtering capacity, the disruption threatens to ripple through grocery stores, restaurants, and dinner tables across the country. The stakes are especially high for Colorado, where JBS is the largest private employer in Greeley, a city of roughly 114,000 people. As the standoff unfolds, it encapsulates broader tensions in American labor, food production, and economic resilience.

Why 3,800 Workers Walked Out: Wages, Safety, and Retaliation Allegations

The strike was authorized by a 99% vote of the 3,800 members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 (UFCW Local 7), a union representing workers at the plant. Union leaders allege that JBS has engaged in unfair labor practices, including retaliating against employees who sought to form or maintain a union, and charging workers up to $1,100 annually to offset company expenses for personal protective equipment (PPE). These fees, they argue, effectively reduce take-home pay in an already hazardous work environment. According to Claire Poundstone, an attorney for UFCW Local 7, the company’s latest wage offer—a raise of less than 2% per year—fails to keep pace with Colorado’s inflation rate, which has consistently outpaced wage growth in recent years.

The union is demanding significant improvements in wages, healthcare coverage, and workplace safety standards, citing the physically demanding and dangerous nature of meatpacking work. Workers perform tasks that require repetitive motion, exposure to extreme temperatures, and proximity to heavy machinery. The stakes are personal for many, including Leticia Avalos, a union steward and Greeley native who has worked at the plant since 2020 and is supporting a 6-month-old child. "They don’t really value their workers," Avalos said in an interview with the Associated Press. "And we’re the ones that help them get all their profit." She added that she’s willing to make sacrifices—including financial ones—because the fight is about more than money: it’s about dignity and respect.

The Broken Trust: Union Claims of Intimidation and Retaliation

Union officials allege that JBS management has systematically tried to undermine the union, including through one-on-one meetings where workers were allegedly pressured to quit the union. Matt Shechter, the union’s general counsel, described these tactics as part of a broader strategy to destabilize worker solidarity. The allegations echo concerns raised in other high-profile labor disputes across industries such as automotive and tech, where workers increasingly cite retaliation as a barrier to organizing.

“Our team members want stability, they want to support their families, and they deserved the opportunity to vote on the company’s historic offer — an opportunity the union leadership has denied them.” — Nikki Richardson, JBS USA spokesperson

JBS denies any wrongdoing. In a statement emailed to the AP, Richardson emphasized that the company’s offer was fair and inclusive, and criticized the union for not allowing a membership vote on the proposal. She also noted that employees who chose not to strike would continue to receive pay and benefits. The company has indicated it would shift production to other JBS facilities to mitigate disruptions, though the feasibility of such a move during peak demand remains uncertain.

Beef Prices Are Already at Record Highs—Could This Strike Make It Worse?

The strike arrives as the U.S. beef industry faces its tightest supply in decades. On January 1, 2024, the U.S. cattle inventory stood at 86.2 million head—the lowest since 1949—down 1% from the previous year, according to USDA data. This contraction has been driven by prolonged drought in key cattle-producing regions, low prices paid to ranchers, and structural shifts in the industry. Meanwhile, retail beef prices have skyrocketed. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of 100% ground chuck beef has more than doubled over the past 20 years, from $2.55 per pound in 2004 to $6.07 per pound in 2024. Inflation in food prices has contributed to broader economic anxiety, with consumers increasingly vocal about the rising cost of living.

The strike threatens to further tighten supply and push prices even higher. Abby Greiman, a livestock market adviser with Ever.Ag, estimates that the Greeley plant alone handles about 6% of U.S. beef slaughter capacity. If the strike persists, it could force ranchers to hold onto cattle longer, increasing their feed costs and reducing availability for processing. Jennifer Martin, a livestock economist at Colorado State University, warned that prolonged delays could lead to higher consumer prices. "The feedlots, the people who have the cattle right now—the longer they sit in a holding pattern, the more expensive they become to feed," she said. "For consumers, it means that prices will likely go up."

A Fragile Industry: Cattle Shortages, Trade Policies, and Supply Chain Strain

The cattle shortage is not just a domestic issue. In response to rising food prices, former President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Brazilian beef imports in 2018, citing unfair trade practices. While intended to protect domestic producers, the tariffs have reduced alternative protein sources, contributing to higher prices and tighter supply. In January 2024, Trump called on the Department of Justice to investigate foreign-owned meatpacking companies, including JBS (which is majority-owned by Brazilian parent company JBS S.A.), accusing them of driving up U.S. beef prices.

Despite the Trump administration’s efforts to expand trade with Argentina through a new deal announced in 2023, beef imports remain constrained. The U.S. beef market is now more reliant on domestic processing, making facilities like the one in Greeley even more critical. However, the industry’s vulnerability was underscored in January when Tyson Foods announced the permanent closure of its plant in Lexington, Nebraska, citing a smaller herd and projected losses. That closure was expected to ripple through local feedlots and communities, affecting thousands of jobs and livestock transport networks.

The Historical Context: Why This Strike Is Unprecedented in Four Decades

The last strike at a U.S. beef slaughterhouse occurred in 1985 at a Hormel plant in Austin, Minnesota, according to historical records from the Minnesota Historical Society. That walkout lasted over a year and was marked by violent confrontations between striking workers, police, and strikebreakers. The current dispute at JBS’s Greeley plant echoes some of those tensions but unfolds in a vastly different economic and political climate. Today’s meatpacking workforce is more diverse—many workers are immigrants or people of color—and labor rights advocates say the industry’s reliance on low-wage labor has only intensified over the past 40 years.

JBS itself has a complicated history in the U.S. The company, which has a market capitalization of $17 billion on the New York Stock Exchange, faced intense scrutiny in 2023 after pleading guilty to federal charges of bribing Brazilian officials to secure financing for its U.S. expansion. Despite this, JBS has expanded aggressively in the American market, becoming one of the largest meat producers in the world. Its Greeley facility is a cornerstone of its operations, employing thousands and processing millions of pounds of beef annually.

The Human Cost: What a Prolonged Strike Means for Workers and Communities

For the 3,800 workers on strike—and the thousands more indirectly affected—the walkout is a high-stakes gamble. Many are the primary breadwinners in their households, supporting families that include young children, elderly relatives, and dependents with disabilities. Avalos, the union steward, said the strike has already taken an emotional toll. "I know a lot of us are worried, and hope that nothing goes even more south," she told reporters. The strike also sends shockwaves through the local economy in Greeley, where JBS is the largest employer. Small businesses, schools, and municipal services all benefit from the plant’s payroll and tax base. A prolonged shutdown could lead to layoffs in support industries and strain local social services.

Key Takeaways: What You Need to Know About the JBS Strike

• The strike at JBS’s Greeley, Colorado beef plant is the first at a U.S. slaughterhouse in 40 years, involving 3,800 unionized workers demanding better wages, healthcare, and safety conditions.
• The walkout comes amid record-high beef prices and the smallest U.S. cattle herd in 75 years, raising concerns about further supply disruptions and higher consumer costs.
• Union leaders allege JBS retaliated against workers and charged employees up to $1,100 annually for PPE, while the company calls its wage offer fair and claims the union blocked a membership vote.
• JBS, a $17 billion global meatpacker with a controversial history, is the top employer in Greeley, making the strike a major local economic event.
• An extended strike could tighten beef supply, increase feedlot costs, and push grocery prices even higher, especially if production cannot be easily shifted to other facilities.

Could the Strike Spread? Labor Tensions in the Meatpacking Industry

While the JBS strike is currently isolated to Greeley, labor analysts warn that it could inspire similar actions elsewhere. The meatpacking industry has long been known for grueling working conditions, low wages, and high turnover. In recent years, worker organizing has surged in sectors such as fast food, warehousing, and logistics. UFCW, which represents meatpacking workers across the country, has been particularly active in advocating for better pay and benefits. The outcome of the JBS dispute could set a precedent for labor negotiations in one of America’s most essential—and most scrutinized—industries.

What’s Next? Negotiations, Mediation, and the Path Forward

Both sides have expressed willingness to return to the negotiating table, but the gap remains wide. The union is seeking wage increases that match inflation, elimination of PPE fees, and stronger protections against retaliation. JBS, meanwhile, emphasizes its offer of stability and argues that the union has not allowed workers to vote on the latest proposal. With the strike now in its second week, federal mediators may be called in to help break the impasse. If no resolution is reached, the union has warned that the strike could be repeated, signaling a potential new era of labor activism in meatpacking.

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