Following a three-week-long unfair labor practices strike at a beef plant in Colorado, JBS and union workers announced a tentative agreement through April 2028.
On April 12, JBS and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 7 announced they agreed to a new, two-year collective bargaining agreement for nearly 3,800 workers at the JBS plant in Greeley, CO.
“The tentative agreement represents a contract with all gains, countless improvements, and not a single concession—a direct reflection of the power built by Local 7 members who refused to accept anything less than the fair treatment and working conditions they deserve,” UFCW Local 7 said.
The union said the new agreement secures wage increases, defends workers against increases in healthcare costs and protects workers from having to pay for their personal protective equipment.
“By standing together, workers secured wage increases over the next two years, some 33% higher in this tentative agreement than JBS had offered Greeley workers in its pre-strike final offer,” UFCW Local 7 said.
As part of the agreement, UFCW Local 7 is also withdrawing seven alleged unfair labor practice charges.
JBS said the agreement reflects the same framework that it presented in its final offer to the union, calling the offer “unchanged economically throughout the bargaining process.”
“While JBS USA is pleased that an agreement has finally been reached, the company expressed disappointment that UFCW Local 7 leadership chose to eliminate the historic pension benefit that was part of the national agreement negotiated last year in partnership with UFCW International,” JBS said.
The company said the pension was designed with UFCW International to strengthen long-term retirement security for the workforce, but UFCW Local 7 “chose to shift those dollars into short-term wage increases.”
According to JBS, key terms of the agreement include the following:
• Base wage increases (70 cents at ratification, 40 cents in July 2026 and 40 cents in July 2027).
• $750 one-time bonus payment at ratification.
• $500 one-time bonus payment in April 2027.
• No pension.
• Continuation of legacy 401(k) plans. — Anna Miller Fortozo, WLJ managing editor
