The JBS beef plant in Greeley, Colorado, faces an unfair labor practice strike by about 3,800 workers following a 99% union vote after nine months of bargaining. Workers allege under 2% wage offers, employer charges for protective gear up to $1,100, discrimination, and other unfair practices. The dispute is amplified by a $4 million child labor settlement and political scrutiny over a $5 million Pilgrim's Pride donation to the Trump‑Vance inaugural committee. JBS says it complies with laws and will shift production to reduce customer disruption.
Nearly 3,800 JBS Workers In Greeley Vote 99% To Strike — Political And Legal Fallout Looms
A worker wearing a protective mask walks past the JBS SA pork processing plant in Louisville, Kentucky, on 5 June 2020.Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images(Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images)
About 3,800 employees at the JBS USA beef processing plant in Greeley, Colorado, are set to begin an unfair labor practice strike on 16 March after a 99% union vote. The action follows nine months of negotiations with United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 7 and marks the first major strike at the facility in decades.
Union leaders accuse JBS of offering average annual wage increases below 2%, forcing workers to pay out of pocket for required personal protective equipment (with some replacements reportedly costing as much as $1,100), discriminating against immigrant employees, and engaging in other unfair labor practices. Workers say bargaining committee members were terminated and that the company sought to remove certain payout bonuses from negotiations.
The union also points to an ongoing lawsuit alleging discrimination against Haitian employees through increased line speeds and claims they were recruited under false pretenses. Separately, cleaning contractors at the plant were fined by the US Department of Labor for unlawfully employing minors; JBS agreed in January 2025 to a $4 million settlement of those child labor claims without admitting wrongdoing.
Political and industry context
Pilgrim's Pride, a US unit linked to the JBS conglomerate, donated $5 million to the Trump‑Vance inaugural committee, a contribution union leaders and critics highlight as part of broader political ties. Reuters also reported that JBS co‑owner Joesley Batista met with President Donald Trump in September 2025, a meeting that coincided with a reportedly more conciliatory US tone toward Brazil's president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The Trump administration has proposed rules to permit higher line speeds in poultry and pork plants, arguing the change could reduce consumer costs. UFCW has criticized the proposal, warning it could compromise worker safety.
Company response and potential impact
JBS has said the Greeley plant operates in compliance with applicable federal and state labor and employment laws and that it stands by the offer presented to Local 7. The company indicated that, if a strike occurs, it would temporarily shift operations to other facilities to minimize disruptions for customers. JBS Beef North America reported record revenue of $7.2 billion in Q3 2025.
Analysts and industry observers say a strike at a major beef plant could put upward pressure on meat prices already affected by recent supply and cost factors; ground beef prices rose roughly 15% last year. The dispute therefore has both economic consequences for consumers and political implications for an administration facing scrutiny over cost of living and industry regulation.
Union leaders emphasize the strike is driven by long‑running workplace and bargaining grievances, while the company points to a broader national contract and recent deals covering tens of thousands of workers.
What to watch
- Whether the strike begins as scheduled on 16 March and how long it lasts.
- Any temporary production shifts enacted by JBS and resulting supply impacts.
- Developments in the discrimination and wage‑theft allegations, and in the lawsuit involving Haitian workers.
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