Workers Halt Strike at Major US Meatpacking Plant, Resume Negotiations

Union and JBS USA agree to reopen talks after 3-week walkout at Swift Beef Co. plant in Colorado

Apr. 5, 2026 at 9:06am

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Workers at one of the nation's largest meatpacking plants have agreed to return to work and halt a three-week strike after plant owner JBS USA agreed to resume negotiations, labor union representatives announced. The strike by thousands of workers at the Swift Beef Co. plant in Greeley, Colorado, began on March 16 in coordination with the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 union in a bid for higher wages and better health care.

Why it matters

The strike at the Greeley plant, which accounts for 6% of total U.S. beef slaughtering capacity, threatened to disrupt the industry and potentially drive up consumer beef prices. The walkout followed the recent closure of another major meatpacking plant in Nebraska, underscoring the challenges facing the sector.

The details

The union said workers will return to the plant on Tuesday morning after JBS USA agreed to reopen talks later this week. The company said its 'Last, Best and Final offer' remains on the table, though terms were not disclosed. The strike was the first at a U.S. slaughterhouse since a 1985 walkout at a Hormel plant in Minnesota that lasted over a year.

  • The strike began on March 16, 2026.
  • Workers will return to the plant on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.

The players

JBS USA

The world's largest meatpacking company, with a market capitalization of $17 billion. It is the top employer in Greeley, Colorado.

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7

The labor union representing workers at the Swift Beef Co. plant in Greeley.

Kim Cordova

President of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 union.

Nikki Richardson

Spokesperson for JBS USA.

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What they’re saying

“Workers remain united and will continue to fight.”

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

“Our Last, Best and Final offer remains on the table. We hope employees will have the opportunity to review and vote on it soon.”

— Nikki Richardson, Spokesperson, JBS USA

What’s next

The union and JBS USA are scheduled to resume negotiations later this week.

The takeaway

The resolution of the strike at the Greeley meatpacking plant, which accounts for a significant portion of U.S. beef production, averts further disruption to the industry and potential price increases for consumers. However, the underlying labor tensions and economic pressures facing the sector remain unresolved.