JBS Swift Beef Co. Plant Workers Strike in Greeley, Colorado
Approximately 3,800 workers at the Swift Beef Co. plant in Greeley, Colorado, owned by JBS USA, initiated a strike on Monday, March 16. The stoppage began after their previous contract expired on Sunday, following several months of negotiations. The union alleges unfair labor practices and a failure by JBS to meet demands for improved wages, healthcare, and safety equipment.
Represented by United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 (UFCW Local 7), the workers began the stoppage following several months of negotiations. JBS USA states its offer includes wage increases and that it operates in compliance with labor laws.
This action marks a significant development in the industry. It is the first strike at a U.S. beef slaughterhouse since the 1980s and is described as the largest labor stoppage in the meatpacking industry in decades. The Greeley facility itself plays a crucial role, contributing approximately 5% to the U.S. beef-processing capacity.
Union Alleges Unfair Practices and Demands Improvements
UFCW Local 7, representing the striking workers, asserts that JBS USA engaged in unfair labor practices during contract negotiations. These allegations include retaliation against workers and attempts to intimidate employees to leave the union through one-on-one meetings. Union general counsel Matt Shechter and President Kim Cordova have highlighted these points. Workers reportedly voted 99% in favor of authorizing the strike.
The union's demands during negotiations included higher wages, improved safety equipment, and better healthcare. Specific points of contention during negotiations included:
Key Union Demands:- Wages: The union states JBS offered average annual wage increases of less than 2 percent. Kim Cordova noted that current high consumer prices are not translating into benefits for frontline workers.
- Healthcare Costs: The union alleges that rising health insurance costs have been shifted to employees. They claim JBS maintained current wage levels while transferring the risk of increasing healthcare costs to workers.
- Safety Equipment: Workers are reportedly charged up to $1,100 for replacement personal protective equipment (PPE) needed for their jobs.
The union also stated that JBS declined a request to negotiate on Saturday, leading to no formal negotiations over the weekend. The previous contract expired at midnight on Sunday, following an earlier contract expiration last summer and a temporary extension. The strike at the Greeley plant is planned for two weeks but could be extended.
JBS USA Responds, Maintains Operations
JBS USA issued a statement asserting its full compliance with federal and state labor and employment laws. The company indicated that its current offer provides wage increases, a secure pension, and long-term financial stability to its other unionized employees.
JBS officials state their current offer in Greeley reflects a national agreement negotiated by the UFCW in 2025 that covered approximately 26,000 JBS workers across fourteen U.S. facilities. However, Local 7 argues that Greeley workers already had some of these provisions and are being asked to accept less favorable terms.
JBS USA stated that any employee choosing not to strike would be provided work and compensation. The company planned to operate two shifts at the Greeley plant on Monday and indicated it might temporarily relocate production to other JBS facilities as necessary.
JBS has reportedly initiated the reallocation of cattle deliveries and production to other plants in anticipation of the work stoppage. The company's stated goal is to "minimize impact to our customers, our partners, and the broader marketplace while we work toward a fair resolution in Greeley."
Broader Economic and Industry Landscape
The strike occurs amid a 75-year low in the U.S. cattle population, with 86.2 million animals recorded on January 1, a 1% decrease from the previous year. Beef prices have increased by 15.2% over the last year, a rise attributed by the American Farm Bureau Federation to the smallest herd size in 75 years. In February, the Trump administration announced an 80,000 metric ton increase in beef imports from Argentina to help offset higher prices.
The U.S. beef industry is highly concentrated. The four largest meatpacking companies controlled approximately 85% of U.S. steer and heifer slaughter by 2019. JBS USA employs 25,000 individuals across nine facilities nationwide. In January, JBS agreed to pay $83.5 million in a settlement related to allegations of conspiring to fix prices with other meatpackers.
Historically, the meatpacking industry has seen significant labor shifts. While the United Packinghouse Workers of America achieved higher wages and safer conditions in the mid-20th century, companies relocated plants from union strongholds to rural towns from the 1970s through the 1980s. The workforce at the Greeley plant is notably diverse, with up to 57 languages spoken, including by many refugees and asylum seekers.