JBS Meatpacking Workers End 3-Week Strike with New Contract

Neither company nor union claim any concessions in new 2-year deal

Apr. 14, 2026 at 12:53am

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A minimalist studio still life featuring a stack of dollar bills, a metal butcher's hook, and heavy work gloves, symbolizing the financial and physical demands of the meatpacking industry.A labor dispute over wages and benefits at a major Colorado meatpacking plant underscores the high-stakes negotiations between workers and their employers in the industry.Greeley Today

Nearly 4,000 JBS meatpacking workers at the Greeley, Colorado plant ended a 3-week strike on Sunday after ratifying a new 2-year collective bargaining agreement. The union and company are both claiming victory, with the union saying the deal includes 33% higher wage increases than JBS's pre-strike offer, while the company says the increases came from the union forgoing a proposed pension benefit.

Why it matters

The strike at the major JBS beef processing plant in Greeley highlighted ongoing tensions between meatpacking workers and their employers over issues like wages, benefits, and working conditions in the industry. The outcome of this high-profile labor dispute could set precedents for future negotiations between unions and meatpacking companies.

The details

Under the new agreement, workers will receive a $0.70 hourly wage increase upon ratification, followed by $0.40 increases in July 2026 and July 2027. This is 10 cents higher per raise than JBS's pre-strike offer. Workers will also get a one-time $750 bonus and a $500 payment in April 2027. The union says this represents a 33% increase over JBS's previous offer. However, the company says the higher raises came from the union forgoing a proposed pension benefit.

  • The strike began on March 16, 2026.
  • The new contract was ratified on April 14, 2026, ending the 3-week strike.

The players

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7

The union representing nearly 4,000 meatpacking workers at the JBS plant in Greeley.

JBS

The major beef processing company that owns the Greeley, Colorado plant where the strike took place.

Kim Cordova

President of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7.

Nikki Richardson

Spokesperson for JBS USA.

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What they’re saying

“These workers stood together on the picket line for three weeks, through extreme weather, because they knew their worth and refused to be disrespected. Today, that sacrifice has been rewarded. This is what union power looks like.”

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

“JBS USA strongly disagrees with Local 7 leadership's decision to forgo the historic pension that was secured for workers at other major JBS facilities across the country.”

— Nikki Richardson, Spokesperson, JBS USA

What’s next

The new 2-year contract will go into effect immediately, with the first $0.70 hourly wage increase for workers taking effect upon ratification.

The takeaway

This high-profile labor dispute at a major meatpacking plant highlights the ongoing tensions between workers and employers in the industry over issues like wages, benefits, and working conditions. While both sides are claiming victory, the outcome could set precedents for future negotiations between unions and meatpacking companies.