3,800 Workers Strike at One of Nation’s Largest Beef Plants (Connecting the Dots: The AFL–CIO, America Votes, The U.S. Department of Agriculture, The U.S. Department of Labor & The Carnegie/Soros Network)
The
local union rejected a national labor deal, arguing it did not reflect
Colorado’s higher cost of living.
The
Epoch Times
Bill
Pan Reporter
3/16/2026|Updated:
3/16/2026
The
strike started before sunrise outside the company’s flagship beef plant in
Greeley, Colorado, one of the largest facilities of its kind in the United
States by volume. A video shared by United Food and Commercial
Workers (UFCW) Local
7, the union representing the workers, showed participants forming picket lines
in the dark as the morning shift was about to begin.
The
workers are seeking higher wages, safer working conditions, and better health
benefits. Local 7 said nearly all members who voted supported the walkout after
about nine months of contract negotiations failed to produce a deal that met
their demands.
The
national UFCW last year agreed to a long-term labor contract covering about
26,000 workers across more than a dozen U.S. facilities. But Local 7 opted out
of that deal, saying it did not reflect Colorado’s higher cost of living.
According
to the union, JBS offered terms similar to the national agreement, including a
60-cent hourly wage increase in the first year and 30-cent raises in each of
the following two years. Local 7 argued that was not enough to keep pace with
inflation and rising health care costs.
Since
health care costs have increased by 22 cents an hour, the union said, a 30-cent
raise would provide little meaningful gain.
The
union also accused the company of making workers pay to replace required
personal protective equipment. Some of that equipment can cost as much as
$1,100, Local 7 said, with workers allegedly charged the full replacement cost.
“JBS
workers absolutely deserve wage increases that keep pace with inflation, that
support their health, that protect their retirement, and that allow the workers
to work with dignity and respect,” the union said in a statement announcing the
strike.
JBS
USA, a subsidiary of Brazil-based JBS S.A., did not respond to a request for
comment, but previously said it had complied with labor laws and offered a
“strong, fair and consistent” contract in line with the broader national deal
with UFCW.
“We do
not believe a strike is in the best interest of our team members or their
families,” the company said in a statement provided to media outlets. “For any
Greeley beef team members who do not wish to strike and want to continue
working, we will ensure they have work available and are paid.”
The
company also said it planned to temporarily divert production to other plants
with “excess processing capacity.”
The
strike adds pressure to an already strained U.S. beef market, where prices have
surged as ranchers reduced herds in response to years of drought in the West
that dried up grazing land and raised feed costs. The U.S.
Department of Agriculture said
the nation’s cattle inventory stood at 86.2 million head as of Jan. 1, 2026,
including 27.6 million beef cows, the smallest herd in 75 years.
The
Greeley facility is capable of processing roughly 5,500 cattle per day,
according to a study by Colorado State University. For comparison, USDA’s most
recent weekly report on federally inspected slaughter showed 528,642 head of
cattle slaughtered nationwide in the week ending Feb. 28, 2026, or about 75,500
head per day.
On that
basis, the Greeley plant accounts for roughly 7 percent of the nation’s cattle
processing capacity.
For
consumers, the tighter profit margin for meatpackers has contributed to pushing
beef prices to record highs. Ground beef prices were up 15.7 percent in
February from a year earlier, while beef roasts were up 11.6 percent, and steak
prices were 17.2 percent higher, according to the U.S.
Department of Labor.
United
Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Food_and_Commercial_Workers
The United
Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) is a labor union representing
approximately 1.2 million workers[1] in the United States and Canada in
industries including retail; meatpacking, food processing and manufacturing;
hospitality; agriculture; cannabis; chemical trades; security; textile, and
health care. UFCW is affiliated with the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and the
AFL–CIO; it disaffiliated from the AFL–CIO in 2005 but reaffiliated in 2013.
UFCW is also affiliated to UNI Global Union and the IUF.
Connecting
the Dots:
United Food and Commercial Workers
International Union (UFCW)
is affiliated with the AFL–CIO.
Kirk Adams was
the organizing director for the AFL-CIO and married to Cecile
Richards.
AFL-CIO is
a Catalist client.
George Soros was an investor in Catalist, a
contributor for the American Bridge 21st Century, a supporter
for America Coming Together and a contributor for MoveOn.org.
American
Bridge 21st Century was a contributor for the AFL-CIO.
Steve Rosenthal was
the founder for America Coming Together and a political director
for the AFL-CIO.
Tom Matzzie was
the Washington director for MoveOn.org and the online mobilization
director for the AFL-CIO.
Barbara Shailor was the international director for the AFL-CIO and a governor for the Roosevelt Institute.
Jonathan Soros is a senior
fellow at the Roosevelt Institute, George Soros’s son
and was the vice chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.
George Soros is Jonathan Soros’s father, the
founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations and
was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Roosevelt
Institute.
Anna Eleanor
Roosevelt was the chair for the Roosevelt Institute and an
advisory board member for the Wheelchair Foundation.
Mikhail Gorbachev was
an advisory board member for the Wheelchair Foundation,
the
president of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), a
general secretary for the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and
the founder for the Green Cross International.
Ted Turner is an honorary
board member for Green Cross International, the founder
of CNN, the chairman for the Turner Foundation and a
co-chairman for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).
Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a
funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).
Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.
Ted Lieu was honored with
the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrants Award, has
represented California's 36th congressional district in the United
States House of Representatives since 2023 and is a member of
the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie
Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah
Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).
Andrew Carnegie was
the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think
tank) and the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace (think tank).
George Soros was the Chairman for the Foundation to
Promote Open Society and is the founder & chairman for the Open
Society Foundations.
Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the Planned
Parenthood Federation of America.
Cecile Richards was
the president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of
America, a grant overseer for the Turner Foundation, Nancy
Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff, the president of the Planned
Parenthood Action Fund, the founder & president for America
Votes and is married to Kirk Adams.
Planned
Parenthood Action Fund is a national partner with America
Votes.
Service
Employees International Union (SEIU) is a national partner
with America Votes.
AFL-CIO is a
national partner with America Votes.
Kirk Adams is
the international EVP for the Service Employees International Union
(SEIU), married to Cecile Richards and was an organizing
director for the AFL-CIO.
United Food and Commercial Workers
International Union (UFCW) is
affiliated with the AFL–CIO.
Richard L. Trumka was
the president for the AFL-CIO and a director at the Economic
Policy Institute.
Anna Burger is
a director at the Economic Policy Institute and was the
secretary-treasurer for the Service Employees International Union
(SEIU).
Alexis M. Herman is
a director at the Economic Policy Institute and was the
secretary for the U.S. Department of Labor.
Ray Marshall is
a director at the Economic Policy Institute and was the
secretary for the U.S. Department of Labor.
Alexis M. Herman is
a director at the Economic Policy Institute and was the
secretary for the U.S. Department of Labor.
Robert B. Reich is
a director at the Economic Policy Institute and was the
secretary for the U.S. Department of Labor.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Economic
Policy Institute.
George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to
Promote Open Society and is the founder & chairman for the Open
Society Foundations.
Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Economic
Policy Institute.
National
Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform is a paid for staff by
the Economic Policy Institute.
Richard J. Durbin is a
member of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform,
a U.S. Senate senator and Charles E. Schumer’s Washington
housemate.
Charles E. Schumer is Richard
J. Durbin’s Washington Housemate, the Senate Minority leader
and Josh Isay was his political consultant.
Josh Isay was a
political consultant for Charles E. Schumer and Michael R.
Bloomberg.
Michael R.
Bloomberg’s political consultant was Josh Isay and is an
advocate for the ONE Campaign.
International
Rescue Committee is a partner with the ONE Campaign.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the International
Rescue Committee and the Roosevelt Institute.
George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to
Promote Open Society and an investor in Catalist.
Barbara Shailor was
the overseer at the International Rescue Committee, a governor for
the Roosevelt Institute and the international director for
the AFL-CIO.
AFL-CIO is
a Catalist client.
George Soros was an investor in Catalist.
Michael Podhorzer is
a board of manager’s member for Catalist and a political director
at the AFL-CIO.
Kirk Adams is a
board of manager’s member for Catalist, married to Cecile
Richards, was an organizing director for the AFL-CIO
and an international EVP for the Service Employees International Union
(SEIU).
AFL-CIO is
a Catalist client and a national partner with America
Votes.
Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is a national partner with America Votes.
Richard L. Trumka is the president of the AFL-CIO, and the
chairman for the Economic Policy Institute (think tank).
Mary Kay Henry is
a director at the Economic Policy Institute (think tank) and the
president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Economic
Policy Institute.
George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to
Promote Open Society and is the founder & chairman for the Open
Society Foundations.
Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Economic
Policy Institute.
National
Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform is a paid for staff by
the Economic Policy Institute (think tank).
Richard J. Durbin is a
member of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform,
a U.S. Senate senator and Charles E. Schumer’s Washington
housemate.
Paul Ryan is a
member of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform,
a member of the Republican Study Committee, was a guest at
the Koch Industries annual conference and a recipient of
"Defender of the American Dream" award from the Americans for
Prosperity.
Mike Pence was a member of the Republican Study Committee and a guest at the Koch Industries annual conference.
Thomas A. Coburn is a member of the National Commission on
Fiscal Responsibility and Reform and was a guest at the Koch
Industries annual conference.
Koch Industries is
the sponsor for the Koch Industries annual conference.
David H. Koch is
the EVP for Koch Industries, the chairman for the Americans
for Prosperity Foundation, a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think
tank) and was a donor for the Americans for Prosperity.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Aspen
Institute (think tank).
George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to
Promote Open Society.
Daniel R.
Glickman is a director of the Congressional Program for the Aspen
Institute (think tank) and was the agriculture secretary at the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the William
J. Clinton administration.
Bloomberg
Family Foundation was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think
tank).
Michael R.
Bloomberg is the founder of the Bloomberg Family Foundation,
an advocate for the ONE Campaign and his political consultant was Josh
Isay.
International
Rescue Committee is a partner with the ONE Campaign.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the International
Rescue Committee and the Roosevelt Institute.
George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote
Open Society and an investor in Catalist.
Barbara Shailor was
the overseer at the International Rescue Committee, a governor for
the Roosevelt Institute and the international director for
the AFL-CIO.
Michael Podhorzer is
a political director at the AFL-CIO and a board of manager’s member
for Catalist.
Resources:
Past Research
AFL-CIO:
Not Worth the Cost to Invest in South for 2014 Elections
Wednesday,
February 26, 2014
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2014/02/afl-cio-not-worth-cost-to-invest-in.html
Schumer
Demands Trump Fire 'Stubborn,' 'Pigheaded' RFK Jr. (Connecting the Dots: Senate
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Richard Durbin, Josh Isay, Michael Bloomberg, Al
Sharpton, The CDC & Soros Funding, All Networking) (Past Research on Chuck Schumer, Richard Durbin & the Economic
Policy Institute)
Saturday,
August 30, 2025
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2025/08/schumer-demands-trump-fire-stubborn.html
Exxon
Mobil Files Defamation Lawsuit Against California Attorney General,
Environmental Groups (Connecting the Dots: Exxon Mobil Corp, The Sierra Club,
Brazil & Soros Funding, All Networking) (Past
Research on the Turner Foundation)
Wednesday,
January 8, 2025
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2025/01/exxon-mobil-files-defamation-lawsuit.html
Pepsi
- Obama Logo Controversey (Connecting the Dots: PepsiCo, Inc., The Center for
American Progress, Barack Obama administration, The Carnegie Corporation of New
York & the Carnegie/Soros Network) (Past Research
on the Carnegie Corporation of New York & the Nuclear Threat Initiative
(think tank))
Saturday,
March 14, 2026
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2026/03/pepsi-obama-logo-controversey.html
Smaller
Bites - America Votes (Connecting the Dots: America Votes, The Unions &
Soros) (Past Research on America Votes)
Tuesday,
October 25, 2022
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2022/10/smaller-bites-america-votes-connecting.html
Charleston:
CNN’s Sick Pattern of Using the Dead as Political Weapons Against the Right (Past Research on CNN)
Saturday,
June 20, 2015
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2015/06/charleston-cnns-sick-pattern-of-using.html
“Tear
Down This Wall” (Connecting the Dots: Mikhail Gorbachev, Wheelchair Foundation,
Roosevelt Institute, Green Cross International, Global Green USA & Soros
Funding, All Networking) (Past Research on the Roosevelt
Institute, Wheelchair Foundation, Green Cross International & Mikhail
Gorbachev)
Monday,
January 6, 2025
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2025/01/tear-down-this-wall-connecting-dots.html
Former
Abortionist: ‘We Have Shifted Our Priorities from Basic Human Rights to Women’s
Rights’ (Past Research on the National Commission
on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, the Economic Policy Institute (think tank)
& Catalist)
Wednesday,
November 1, 2017
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2017/11/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none_1.html
Will
Trump announce Pence as VP pick Tuesday? (Past
Research on National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform)
Tuesday,
July 12, 2016
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2016/07/will-trump-announce-pence-as-vp-pick.html
Jeb
Bush: Michael Bloomberg A ‘Good Man’ And A ’Patriot’ (Past
Research on Michael Bloomberg)
Sunday,
January 24, 2016
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2016/01/jeb-bush-michael-bloomberg-good-man-and.html
Second
Type of Bird Flu Detected in US Dairy Cows (Connecting the Dots: Agriculture
Department (USDA), United Dairy Farmers, Inc., St. Jude Children’s Research
Hospital, Barack Obama, Sidley Austin LLP, Abbott Laboratories, CDC, COVID
& Soros Funding, All Networking) (Past Research
on the Aspen Institute (think tank) & the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA))
Wednesday,
July 30, 2025
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2025/07/second-type-of-bird-flu-detected-in-us.html
No
Surprise Here: Biden's Agenda Driven Labor Pick Bad for U.S. (Connecting the
Dots: U.S. Department of Labor & Soros Funding, All Networking) (Past Research on the U.S. Department of Labor)
Friday,
February 14, 2025
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2025/02/no-surprise-here-bidens-agenda-driven.html
