About 3,800 workers at JBS USA, the world's largest meat producer, are set to strike on Monday in what will be the first labour strike in the industry in decades. The walkout threatens to put further strain on US meat prices – ground beef prices soared 15% last year – and could prove a headache for the Trump administration as it struggles with poor polling on cost of living issues.
Pilgrim's Pride, a subsidiary of the JBS Brazilian meat processing conglomerate, donated $5m to the Trump-Vance inaugural committee, making it the largest single donor. Workers at a JBS USA beef processing plant in Greeley, Colorado, are set to begin an unfair labour practice strike on 16 March. The decision came after 99% of workers represented by United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 voted to authorise an unfair labour practice strike after nine months of negotiations over a new contract.
Kim Cordova, president of UFCW Local 7, said it will be the first strike action ever carried out at the plant. Workers say JBS has forced them to pay out of pocket for expensive personal protective equipment, discriminated against immigrant workers and tried to force through low-ball contract options. 'We have never had a labour dispute at this plant,' Cordova told the Guardian. 'The industry hasn't had a labour dispute for a very long time and it's because they hire a very vulnerable workforce and the expectations are they keep their head down. They're doing the work frankly no one in this country wants to do.'
Cordova accused JBS of dragging out negotiations, noting the company has offered less than 2% in average annual wage increases, while not addressing rising healthcare costs or allegations of systemic wage theft at the plant. Many of the workers at the plant are immigrants, many with refugee or protected immigration statuses. About 57 different languages are spoken at the plant. 'They were charging workers for the replacement of personal protective equipment, which they are required to buy for them. Some of this equipment is $1,100 and they are garnishing that at full cost for the equipment,' said Cordova.
The union cited an ongoing lawsuit against JBS alleging discrimination against Haitian workers at the plant by increasing line speeds on Haitian employees. The lawsuit alleges they were recruited under false pretences. Cleaning contractors have also faced fines by the US Department of Labor for illegally employing minors at the JBS Greeley plant. JBS agreed in January 2025 to settle the child labour violations without admitting wrongdoing for $4m. 'I think they are emboldened by their relationship with the administration. They were Trump's largest donor to the inauguration,' said Cordova.
JBS Beef North America reported record revenue of $7.2bn in the third quarter of 2025, the most recent quarter with financial results released. 'They've never raised economic issues with us that they can't afford it. They've had increased profits here and they've gone public. They are doing quite well,' added Cordova. 'We've had the most workers die during Covid, human trafficking allegations by workers, understaffing while increasing line speeds and the workers can't even afford, in most cases, to buy the meat they are processing.'
