Workers at the world's largest meat producer, JBS, will return to their jobs at a beef plant in Greely, Colorado after the company agreed to reopen negotiations, the plant's union said in a statement on Saturday. The decision ends a three-week picket that had idled the facility.
The union, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7, which represents about 3,800 employees at the plant, said the next sessions are scheduled for April 9 and 10. Those talks follow last month's strike, which the union staged to press JBS for higher pay tied to inflation and to stop company charges for replacing protective equipment.
In its statement, the union repeated its core demands and emphasized worker solidarity. "Workers remain united and will continue to fight until JBS fully ends its unfair labor practices," said Kim Cordova, president of the local union representing the Greeley workers. The union said it is seeking a contract proposal that protects workers, demonstrates respect, and provides a livable wage.
A JBS spokesperson told Reuters there had been no new agreement and no change to the company's original offer. The spokesperson added by email: "We are pleased to welcome our team members back and are preparing to resume and ramp up operations at the Greeley plant next week," indicating the company expects to restore production after the workforce returns.
Industry conditions factored into the backdrop of the labor dispute. Beef prices hit record highs this year after the nation's cattle supply fell to a 75-year low. That tighter supply pushed meatpackers, including JBS, to pay record prices for cattle to slaughter even as they benefited from higher retail meat prices.
The Greeley stoppage added strain to U.S. processing capacity already under pressure this year. Tyson Foods, another major processor, closed a beef plant in Nebraska earlier in the year and has reduced operations at a Texas facility, further tightening processing availability.
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No new contract has been announced, and the union said the workforce will continue to press its demands during the planned April talks.