Just Food

JBS workers at US meat plant vote to strike

The UFCW union said it has been in talks with JBS for more than eight months over a new contract.

Unionised employees at a JBS meatpacking plant in the US have voted for strike action.

The staff at the site in Greeley, Colorado backed the move “overwhelmingly”, according to a statement issued on Wednesday (4 February) by the UFCW union.

UFCW, which said 99% of members voted to strike, added any decision on when a walkout could begin would be made "at a later date".

Brazil-headquartered JBS has its US corporate headquarters in Greeley, where it operates what the union described as their “flagship location and largest feed-beef plant” in the US.

UFCW, which says it represents about 3,800 workers at the site, added it has been in talks with JBS for more than eight months over a new contract.

Kim Cordova, president of UFCW Local 7 which represents food-processing workers in the state, said the union had filed several unfair labour practice charges during negotiations.

“These range from regressive bargaining, to threats to withhold a proposed bonus and lump sum pension payment if workers exercise their democratic right to strike, to illegal intimidation and retaliation against workers and bargaining committee members,” Cordova said.

In response, JBS said it had been negotiating in “good faith” and had put forward an offer aligned with a national arrangement.

The company said its agreement includes “meaningful wage increases and a pension plan, providing both near-term and long-term financial security for team members, in addition to other strong benefits".

It added: “Workers at our other locations have already agreed to these terms and are benefiting from these improvements today.”

The union statement quoted Leticia Avalos, a JBS worker, who accused the company of creating “dangerous working conditions all while reducing hours for workers”.

“JBS has left us no alternative but to authorise a strike. Enough is enough,” Avalos added, according to the statement.

JBS said it remained focused on reaching an agreement it considers “fair”, while “supporting the long-term stability of our operations and the Greeley community”.