JBS reaches labor deal with Greeley meatpacking workers

A local union at JBS's Greeley, Colorado, beef plant reached a new labor agreement after a three-week strike; the pact, ratified by about 93% of members, runs through April 2028 and includes immediate and scheduled wage increases.

Workers at JBS's Greeley, Colorado beef plant approved a new labor agreement after a three-week strike that began on March 16. The local United Food and Commercial Workers chapter represents about 3,800 employees at the facility. Employees returned to work last week and the company and union announced the pact on Sunday. JBS said the deal largely matches an earlier offer and runs through April 2028. Key facts: - The strike involved roughly 3,800 workers at the Greeley plant and lasted about three weeks, described as the largest U.S. meat-processing plant strike in decades. - The agreement provides an immediate $0.70-per-hour base-wage increase, plus $0.40-per-hour increases in both 2026 and 2027; JBS says starting pay at the facility is $23.25 an hour with an average of $26 an hour. - About 93% of the local union members ratified the tentative agreement. - The pact includes protections against increases in healthcare costs and prevents employees from paying for certain protective equipment, according to the union. - The Greeley plant can slaughter about 6,000 cattle a day, which JBS estimates is roughly 5% of U.S. beef-processing capacity. - The Greeley local declined to join a broader national pension plan; JBS said funds originally set for pensions were shifted to wage increases. Summary: The agreement ends a three-week work stoppage at one of the nation's larger beef plants and sets wage increases and other protections through April 2028. The deal was ratified by a strong majority of local members and allowed the facility to resume operations. Undetermined at this time.