Workers strike at Colorado beef plant
Union representatives say the walkout at Swift Beef Co. is the first at a US beef slaughterhouse in four decades.
GREELEY, Colo. — About 3,800 workers at Swift Beef Co. went on strike March 16, 2026, in what union representatives said was the first walkout at a US beef slaughterhouse in four decades.
Hundreds of strikers carried signs saying “please don’t patronize JBS” in both English and Spanish in front of the Swift Beef plant, which is by owned by JBS USA, according to news reports.
Union spokesmen in media announcements said the union failed to reach a labor agreement with the company related to employee allegations of a hostile and unsafe working environment.
The union says JBS has been charging many workers $1,100 or more to offset company expenses for personal protective equipment needed to ensure workers’ safety.
The United Food & Commercial Workers International Union Local 7 union represents the plant's 3,800 workers.
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