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JBS Workers Strike for Fair Wages After 40 Years

3/20/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Over 3,000 union workers at JBS's Greeley plant began a strike this week, the first in 40 years.
They demand higher wages and better conditions as pay lags behind rising living costs.
Workers report difficulty affording basics, including some who cannot buy the meat they process.
Kim Cordova, the union president, says the action was long overdue.

History

Historical Context

The United Farm Workers union organized a pivotal strike in 1983, advocating for improved wages and conditions in agriculture. Today, the JBS Greeley plant, employing over 3,000 workers, faces similar demands as inflation reached 7.9% in 2021. Union president Kim Cordova asserts this strike is crucial for addressing decades of stagnant pay, potentially influencing labor negotiations across the meatpacking industry.

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Story summary

Over 3,000 union workers at JBS's Greeley plant began a strike this week, the first in 40 years.
They demand higher wages and better conditions as pay lags behind rising living costs.
Workers report difficulty affording basics, including some who cannot buy the meat they process.
Kim Cordova, the union president, says the action was long overdue.

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