JBS, Union Reach Tentative Deal After Historic Greeley Strike
Workers to vote Sunday on agreement following three-week walkout at major U.S. beef plant
A tentative labor agreement has been reached between JBS and the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7, potentially ending a high-profile strike at the company’s flagship beef processing facility in Greeley, according to reporting from Denver Post journalist Katie Langford.
Union officials announced the tentative deal Friday after two days of renewed negotiations, which followed a three-week strike involving roughly 3,800 workers. The walkout began March 16, with workers citing unsafe conditions, insufficient wages, and alleged unfair labor practices — claims the company has denied.
While specific terms of the agreement have not been disclosed, union leadership said the proposal will be presented to rank-and-file members for a ratification vote on Sunday, a critical step that will determine whether operations fully normalize at the facility.
The strike marked a significant moment for the U.S. meatpacking industry — described as the first major walkout at an American meatpacking plant in roughly four decades and the first ever at the Greeley facility. The plant, operating as Swift Beef Co., is a key node in the national protein supply chain, accounting for up to 8% of U.S. beef production.
Meanwhile, the disruption has raised broader concerns about labor conditions, supply chain resilience, and potential downstream impacts on beef prices, particularly as the industry navigates tight cattle supplies and elevated processing margins.
JBS has not yet publicly commented on the tentative agreement, but the outcome of Sunday’s vote will likely shape near-term labor dynamics across the sector and could set a precedent for future negotiations in U.S. meat processing.
