Dive Brief:

• Workers at one of JBS’ largest U.S. meatpacking plants agreed to end a three-week strike after the beef giant said it would return to the negotiating table.
• United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7, which represents around 3,800 JBS workers, said that workers will return to JBS’ plant in Greeley, Colorado, on Tuesday.
• The union said the plant has “been almost completely idle” since thousands of workers walked off the job on March 16 to push for increased pay, as well as demanding the beef giant stop garnishing wages for personal protective gear.

Dive Insight:

JBS workers walked out at a time when beef prices reached an all-time high and meat producers have faced heavy losses from an ongoing cattle shortage.

The Greeley plant is responsible for roughly 7% of total beef processing capacity in the U.S. The meatpacker has been running a partial shift at the Greeley plant during the strike and has temporarily shifted production to other facilities where it has excess processing capacity, JBS told Food Dive in a statement.

“We are pleased to welcome our team members back and are preparing to resume and ramp up operations at the Greeley plant next week,” a spokesperson said.

Workers are pushing for wages to keep pace with inflation and higher living costs. They also claim JBS takes a portion of income to pay for masks and other personal protective equipment needed for the job.

JBS will resume contract negotiations later this week, according to a union statement. The meatpacker, however, seems poised to stand by its presented contract, which it called its last, best and final offer.

“This comprehensive proposal includes meaningful wage increases, a pension, and other valuable benefits designed to support our team members and their families,” the spokesperson said. “We believe this is a strong and competitive package, and we hope employees will have the opportunity to review and vote on it soon.”

The union says since late 2021, workers have had to increase their healthcare contributions by as much as 37%. Meanwhile, wages increased just 7% over the same period.

“Workers remain united and will continue to fight until JBS fully ends its unfair labor practices and gives workers a contract offer that protects them, shows workers the respect they deserve, and pays them a livable wage,” UFCW Local 7 President Kim Cordova said in a statement.