Almost 4,000 employees at a Colorado meatpacking plant went on strike on Monday, marking the primary labor strike at a U.S. slaughterhouse in additional than 4 many years.
The strike started early Monday morning on the Swift Beef Co. plant, which is owned by JBS USA, a subsidiary of the most important meatpacking firm and protein producer on the earth.
About 3,800 employees, represented by United Meals and Industrial Staff (UFCW) Native 7, are concerned within the strike. The union says that the corporate has dedicated a number of unfair labor practices—together with retaliation towards employees, threats to withhold bonuses or pension funds if employees strike, and intimidation.
The Colorado motion is the primary at a U.S. slaughterhouse since employees went on strike at a Hormel plant in Minnesota in 1985, which ended up lasting for greater than a 12 months.
JBS has additionally charged employees to offset the prices of security gear, has proposed wage will increase of lower than 2% per 12 months, and has raised well being care premiums in a manner that employees say is consuming their wages as the overall price of residing rises, the union says.
In a press release to Quick Firm, JBS says its Greeley, Colorado, location “complies totally with all federal and state labor and employment legal guidelines,” and that it’s dedicated to open communication with employees and to protected operations.
What’s the meat?
The union and JBS have been negotiating a brand new contract for 9 months. In February, 99% of union members voted to authorize a strike; the earlier contract expired Sunday evening.
“They proceed to extend chain speeds and create harmful working circumstances, all whereas decreasing hours for employees,” Leticia Avalos, a JBS employee, stated in a press release in early February.
Security circumstances are a giant concern for such employees. Meatpacking is taken into account one of many most dangerous jobs within the nation.
At poultry, beef, and pork processing vegetation, workers are exposed to harmful gear, slippery flooring, and organic hazards associated to feces and blood; they can even breathe in bacteria from contaminated animals or be uncovered by cuts.
Regardless of these circumstances, labor disputes within the business are uncommon. Union employees say that’s as a result of such vegetation typically depend on weak employees like refugees and immigrants—together with those that are undocumented, who make up anywhere from 30% to 50% of the meatpacking workforce.
“The business hasn’t had a labor dispute for a really very long time, and it’s as a result of they hire a really weak workforce and the expectations are they maintain their head down,” Kim Cordova, president of UFCW Native 7, advised The Guardian. “They’re doing the work, frankly, that nobody on this nation desires to do.”
Cordova additionally suggests the corporate has been “emboldened” by the Trump administration. Pilgrim’s Satisfaction, a subsidiary of the JBS conglomerate, donated $5 million to the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee—which is extra, Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s office noted, than contributions from Apple’s CEO plus Amazon, Meta, and Google mixed.
Meat costs are hovering in 2026
Looming within the background of the strike is the truth that U.S. meat costs are skyrocketing. In December 2025, costs for beef specifically have been up 15% 12 months over 12 months, and people costs have continued to rise almost 7% to this point in 2026.
Consultants say these will increase are affected by total inflation, a parasitic fly disaster in Mexico, and the truth that the U.S. cattle herd is at a 75-year low.
It’s not but clear if the strike will have an effect on these costs much more. A JBS spokesperson stated the corporate is adjusting manufacturing throughout its community with a purpose to decrease disruptions.
