On Feb. 4, union members working for the JBS beef processing facility in Greeley, Colorado, voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike at the plant, citing unfair labor practices.
The United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 7 union reported that 99% of the 3,800 workers at the Greeley plant voted in favor of a strike. The union claims JBS is violating federal labor laws and impeding employees’ abilities to secure a fair contract, calling the company’s recent behavior “ongoing illegal conduct at the bargaining table and inside the plant.” As of Feb. 10, the union has not determined the timing for an actual walkout.
Workers have reported increased chain speeds and other dangerous working conditions since the expiration of the previous contract between JBS and UFCW in July. In December, a group of Haitian immigrants employed at the Greeley plant filed a class action lawsuit against JBS alleging bad-faith housing promises and dangerous working conditions.
In a statement issued the morning after the union vote, JBS said the company had negotiated in good faith, offering “meaningful wage increases and a pension plan, providing both near-term and long-term financial security for team members,” terms the company says have been agreed upon by employees at other JBS locations around the country. The statement also reads, “We respect the collective bargaining process and remain hopeful that the local union will choose to move forward with this agreement.” JBS said it remains dedicated to reaching an agreement it considers fair while “supporting the long-term stability of our operations and the Greeley community.”
The union and company are scheduled to return to the bargaining table Feb. 20. If no agreement is reached, workers have the ability to provide seven days’ notice before striking.
JBS is the largest employer in Weld County, Colorado. The Greeley facility has the capacity to process an estimated 6,000 head of cattle per day – a number that, should a strike drag on for any extended period, could represent serious ramifications for both the local economy and the national beef industry.
