Thousands of JBS Workers Begin to Strike in Colorado as They Urge for Better Pay and Benefits

Thousands of workers at one of the country’s largest beef processing plants are on the picket line this morning.

3,800 at the JBS plant in Greely, Colorado have walked off the job. Union officials say talks have been underway since July, but note they have hit a stalemate. Workers are calling for better safety protocols, pay, and healthcare costs.

Traders have been watching negotiations closely since contracts there expired last summer, and they warn that plant may never see production again.

“3,800 workers will be displaced as they go on strike, and there’s a lot of talk that plant may not open again. They may just shift and divert slaughter to another facility and they may not ever open this plant, unfortunately,” said Brian Hoops with Midwest Market Solutions.

Hoops says this strike opens the door for JBS to relocate to a state that is considered more business-friendly.

“You hear a lot of businesses moving out of Florida or state of Washington, California, certainly into more tax-friendly states like Texas, Florida. Maybe JBS is looking at this as an opportunity to relocate, like you said, down into Texas. Of course, South Dakota has no income tax, and I believe Missouri is going in that direction as well back in 2027.”

Related Stories
USDA Rural Development Director for Kentucky, Travis Burton, joined us to discuss the Princeton facility (formerly Porter Road Meats), now backed by the USDA, and its role in expanding domestic meat processing capacity.
Farm CPA Paul Neiffer joined us to break down the recent Fifth Circuit Court decision overturning a prior Tax Court decision on self-employment tax for limited partners, the ruling’s impact on farmers, and potential next steps in Congress.
Americans for Prosperity Arkansas Director Ryan Norris talks energy infrastructure, regulatory reform, and the role of critical minerals in supporting rural America.
Congressman Adrian Smith of Nebraska joined us with the latest on efforts to secure year-round E15 sales.
Nearly everyone in the South Texas ag community appears extremely worried about the potential of a New World screwworm epidemic, according to a local veterinarian. RFD NEWS Correspondent Frank McCaffrey reports.
Jack Hubbard, with the Center for the Environment and Welfare, shares context and perspective on the controversial letter about Prop 12 circulating in Washington and how a review shows it misled the public.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

NRECA CEO Jim Matheson reacts to the U.S. House’s passage of the SPEED Act, which aims to streamline federal permitting for energy and infrastructure projects, and discusses its potential impact on rural communities.
Cattle markets are watching the Cattle-on-Feed Report for signs of tighter supplies, while USMEF warns limited China access is cutting producer profits.
USDA Undersecretary Luke Lindberg outlines the Farm Bridge Assistance Program and responds to calls from lawmakers and ag leaders for more assistance and expanded trade opportunities for farmers.
Callahan is no stranger to agricultural trade and has been with the U.S. Trade Representative’s office since 2016.
The Pet and Livestock Protection Act now moves to the Senate for consideration.