JBS Greeley Workers Poised to Strike

Potential labor dispute at major meatpacking plant raises concerns about beef supply and prices

Mar. 13, 2026 at 1:26pm

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Workers at the JBS meatpacking plant in Greeley, Colorado, are set to go on strike on March 16 unless a last-minute settlement is reached. The union representing over 3,800 workers voted 99% in favor of the strike due to issues around unfair labor practices, wages not keeping up with inflation, safety violations, and rising healthcare costs. JBS, the world's largest meatpacker, has said it will try to reroute production to other facilities to maintain beef supply, but the strike is expected to impact processing capacity and potentially drive up prices.

Why it matters

The Greeley JBS plant is one of the largest beef processing facilities in the country, handling between 5,000-6,000 head of cattle per day. A prolonged strike at this plant could significantly disrupt beef supply and lead to higher prices for consumers, especially as fuel costs are also rising due to global conflicts. This labor dispute is another example of the volatility and uncertainty impacting agricultural markets.

The details

The union representing JBS workers in Greeley voted overwhelmingly to strike starting on March 16 at 5:30 am local time. JBS has said it will try to maintain production by rerouting to other facilities, but analysts expect the strike to slow purchasing activity and put pressure on the cash cattle market. The strike comes as the beef industry is already dealing with rising fuel costs, a weakened market over the past month, and uncertainty around global conflicts and their impact on energy and commodity prices.

  • The strike is set to begin on March 16, 2026 at 5:30 am local time in Greeley, Colorado.
  • The union voted 99% in favor of the strike on an unspecified date prior to the strike.

The players

JBS

The world's largest meatpacking company, which operates the Greeley, Colorado plant that is facing a potential strike.

Union

The labor union representing over 3,800 workers at the JBS Greeley plant, who voted 99% in favor of the strike.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the strike to proceed as planned.

The takeaway

This labor dispute at a major beef processing plant comes at a time of significant volatility and uncertainty in agricultural markets, with rising fuel costs, global conflicts, and weakening cattle prices all contributing to a challenging environment for the beef industry and consumers.