Nearly 4,000 US meatpacking workers to strike at plant run by top Trump donor | Meat industry
About 3,800 workers at JBS US, the world’s largest meat producer, will go on strike on Monday in what would be the industry’s first labor strike in decades.
Work stoppage threatens to put further pressure on US meat prices minced meat prices It rose 15 percent last year and could be a headache for the Trump administration, which is struggling with weak polls on cost of living issues.
Pilgrim’s Pride, a subsidiary of JBS Brazilian meat processing conglomerate donated $5 million Trump-Vance joined the inaugural committee, becoming the largest single donor.
Workers at the JBS USA beef processing plant in Greeley, Colorado, will begin an unfair labor practice strike on March 16. The decision came after 99% of the workers were represented by United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7. voted Authorizing an unfair labor practices strike after nine months of negotiations over a new contract.
Kim Cordova, president of UFCW Local 7, which was a union organizer when plant workers first unionized in the early 1990s, said this will be the first strike action taken at the facility.
Workers say JBS forces them to pay out of pocket for expensive personal protective equipment, discriminates against migrant workers and tries to offer cheap contract options.
“We have never had a labor dispute in this factory,” Cordova told the Guardian. “The industry hasn’t had a labor dispute in a very long time, and that’s because they employ a very vulnerable workforce and keep their heads down on expectations. Frankly, they’re doing the job that no one in this country wants to do.”
Cordova accused JBS of dragging out negotiations, noting that the company offered less than 2% in average annual wage increases but did not address rising health care costs or allegations of systemic wage theft at the facility. Most of the workers at the factory are immigrants, many of whom are refugees or have protected immigration status. Approximately 57 different languages It is talked about in the factory.
“They were charging workers to replace personal protective equipment that they had to purchase for themselves. Some of that equipment costs $1,100 and they’re garnishing it with the full cost of the equipment,” Cordova said. “They engaged in unfair labor practices, fired bargaining committee members, tried to take options off the table, payment bonus“If the workers don’t accept their low offer.”
The union issued a quote ongoing litigation A lawsuit was filed alleging that JBS discriminated against Haitian workers at the facility by increasing line speeds for Haitian employees. The lawsuit alleges that these individuals were hired under false pretenses. Cleaning contractors also encountered fines by the U.S. Department of Labor for the illegal employment of minors at the JBS Greeley plant. JBS acknowledged in January 2025 that: settle In exchange for $4 million, we eliminate child labor violations without admitting guilt.
“I think they’re encouraged by their relationship with the administration. They were Trump’s biggest donor to the inauguration,” Cordova said.
The company later approved After years of attempts for a public market debut on the New York Stock Exchange. Pilgrims’ Pride defended this was part of “a long bipartisan history of participation in the civil process.”
JBS co-owner Joesley Batista met with Donald Trump in September 2025. reported Reuters concluded that the US president took a more positive stance towards Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The Trump administration also recently proposed a rule allowing increased line speeds at poultry and pork plants. claim It will reduce costs for families. owned by UFCW criticized The proposal, he argues, puts the safety of meat processing workers across the United States at risk.
JBS Cattle North America reported A record revenue of $7.2 billion was achieved in the third quarter of 2025, the last quarter in which financial results were announced.
“They never brought up economic issues with us that they couldn’t afford. They increased profits here and went public. They’re doing pretty well,” Cordova added. “We experienced this: Most workers die during Covid, human trafficking Workers’ claims are that while line speeds have been increased, staff numbers are insufficient and in many cases workers cannot even afford to buy the meat they process.”
Labor dispute between JBS and UFCW Local 7 finalized Last year, contracts were signed with other UFCW locals covering 26,000 workers in the United States.
A spokesperson for JBS did not comment directly on the pending litigation. Trying to be dismissed or allegations of wage theft, but said: “JBS Greeley operates in full compliance with all applicable federal and state labor and employment laws.”
They said that in the event of a strike, the company plans to temporarily shift its operations to other facilities to minimize disruption to customers.
“Despite our ongoing efforts to reach a fair and responsible agreement, Local 7 has chosen to terminate negotiations and cancel the contract in force,” a JBS spokesperson said. “We stand by the proposal we submitted. It is strong, fair, and consistent with the historic national agreement signed in partnership with UFCW International in 2025, which has already provided higher wages, a secure retirement, and long-term financial stability to team members at our other major facilities. UFCW Local 7 did not allow team members to vote on this proposal.”
