Workers' Strike Continues at Major US Meatpacking Plant

Thousands of workers at JBS Beef Plant in Greeley, Colorado extend walkout to third week amid wage and healthcare disputes.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 6:18pm

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Thousands of workers at the JBS Beef Plant in Greeley, Colorado have extended their strike to a third week as they push for higher wages and better health care benefits from the company. The strike, which began on March 16 with 99% of the plant's 3,800 workers participating, is the first major strike at a U.S. slaughterhouse since 1985. Industry experts say the strike could benefit JBS and other meatpackers by reducing excess slaughter capacity and increasing profit margins, though the long-term impact on beef prices for consumers remains unclear.

Why it matters

The strike at the JBS Beef Plant, one of the largest meatpacking facilities in the U.S., highlights ongoing tensions between workers and major meat companies over wages, benefits, and working conditions in the industry. The outcome of the strike could set precedents for future labor negotiations and have ripple effects on the broader beef supply chain.

The details

The striking workers, represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 7, are protesting JBS's offer of only a 2% wage increase, which they say is less than the current rate of inflation. Negotiations between the union and JBS have stalled, with the company saying it is operating the plant at limited capacity and shifting production to other facilities to meet customer demand. Industry experts note that the strike comes at a time when meatpacking companies are seeing increased profit margins due to reduced slaughter capacity at other plants, potentially weakening the workers' bargaining position.

  • The strike began on March 16, 2026.
  • The strike has now extended into its third week.

The players

JBS USA

The owner of the Swift Beef Co. plant in Greeley, Colorado, and one of the largest meatpacking companies in the world with a market capitalization of $17 billion.

United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 7

The union representing the 3,800 workers at the JBS Beef Plant in Greeley, Colorado who are on strike.

Kim Cordova

The president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 7.

Jennifer Martin

An expert in the animal sciences department at Colorado State University who has commented on the potential industry impacts of the strike.

Nikki Richardson

A spokesperson for JBS USA.

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What they’re saying

“The Union stands ready to meet with JBS at any time, but make no mistake, workers will continue to fight until JBS rights these wrongs.”

— Kim Cordova, President, United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 7

“We are maintaining supply, supporting the long-term stability of the beef chain, and minimizing disruption for producers, customers, and consumers. Our priority is to keep product moving while we work toward a resolution in Greeley.”

— Nikki Richardson, Spokesperson, JBS USA

“It's not necessarily in favor of the employees. The lack of harvest capacity at one facility right now might actually be a benefit to the larger industry in the sense of improving (profit) margins.”

— Jennifer Martin, Animal Sciences Expert, Colorado State University

What’s next

The union and JBS are expected to continue negotiations in the coming days and weeks in an effort to reach a resolution and end the strike.

The takeaway

This strike highlights the ongoing tensions between workers and major meatpacking companies over wages, benefits, and working conditions in the industry. The outcome could set precedents for future labor negotiations and have broader impacts on the beef supply chain.