JBS USA Workers Strike Over Pay and Safety at Colorado Meatpacking Plant
Around 3,800 workers at JBS USA's Greeley, Colorado, plant have gone on strike after contract talks broke down. The dispute centres on demands for better pay, safer working conditions, and improved healthcare. Employees claim the company has also targeted those involved in union organising efforts.
The walkout began in March 2026 and is set to last at least two weeks, though an extension remains possible.
JBS USA operates the largest beef processing facility in the country, responsible for 85% of US production. Its workforce of 25,000 across nine plants is largely made up of immigrant employees. The Greeley plant, run under the Swift Beef Co. name, is the only confirmed site affected by the strike so far.
Workers argue that their current wages fail to provide a dignified standard of living. They are also pushing for better safety gear and healthcare provisions. JBS has countered by highlighting its existing offers, which include wage increases, pension security, and long-term financial stability for unionised staff at other locations.
The strike follows a separate legal issue in January, when JBS agreed to pay $83.5 million for its role in a price-fixing conspiracy with other meatpackers. Meanwhile, beef prices have surged by 15.2% over the past year, partly due to the smallest cattle herd in 75 years. To ease pressure on prices, the Trump administration previously quadrupled beef imports from Argentina.
Workers at the Colorado plant have accused JBS of retaliating against those involved in union activities. The company has not publicly responded to these allegations.
Tyson Foods, Cargill, and National Beef Packing Company—the three other largest US beef processors—are not currently affected by the strike.
The strike at JBS's Greeley facility is now in its second week, with no immediate resolution in sight. If extended, it could further disrupt beef production and supply chains. The outcome may also set a precedent for labour negotiations across the wider meatpacking industry.
