Colorado Meatpackers End Strike, Negotiations Resume

Workers at JBS’s beef plant in Greeley, Colorado, voted on Saturday, April 4, 2026, to end a strike that had lasted three weeks and to return to their jobs. The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 union, which represents about 3,800 employees at the facility, said the decision followed a company commitment to restart negotiations.

According to the union, bargaining sessions are now set for April 9 and 10. The walkout began as workers sought pay increases that they said should keep pace with inflation, and they also pushed to end company charges tied to replacing protective equipment. The union said employees remain aligned around goals that include fair labor practices, respect on the job, and wages it described as livable.

The stoppage drew attention because JBS is the world’s largest meat company and the Greeley plant is part of U.S. beef processing capacity. Officials said the strike reduced processing availability during a period of tight supply conditions in the broader cattle market. The disruption came after U.S. cattle supplies hit a 75-year low, a backdrop that has been linked to record beef prices.

Meatpackers, including JBS, have been operating in an environment where cattle procurement has been costly while consumer prices for beef have remained elevated. The strike added another constraint on the system by limiting output at a major facility, underscoring how labor negotiations can intersect with supply conditions and pricing pressures in food markets.

Even with the return-to-work decision, the parties have not announced a new agreement. No changes to the original contract offer have been reported by JBS, despite the commitment to resume talks. That leaves key issues raised by workers—wages and charges related to protective equipment—still unresolved ahead of the scheduled bargaining dates.

JBS said it was prepared to welcome employees back and increase operations at the Greeley plant in the coming week. The union, meanwhile, framed the return as a step that allows negotiations to continue while maintaining pressure for a contract it says meets worker priorities. The next clear milestone is the April 9–10 negotiating window, when it should become clearer whether the resumed discussions can produce a revised proposal or a settlement.