JBS USA announced April 12 it has reached a new collective bargaining agreement with UFCW Local 7, allowing the Greeley, Colorado, beef production facility to return to normal operations and providing team members with clarity and stability after weeks of uncertainty.
The agreement covers nearly 3,800 workers, and the tentative agreement comes after the union secured JBS’s return to the bargaining table at the end of a three-week unfair labor practice strike.
The agreement, which runs through April 2028, reflects the same economic framework JBS USA presented in its last offer—an offer that remained unchanged economically throughout the bargaining process, the company stated in a news release. While JBS USA is pleased an agreement has been reached, the company expressed disappointment in a news release 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.
UFCW Local 7 had a different take.
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.
“This tentative agreement is a testament to the incredible resolve of our members at the JBS Greeley plant,” said Kim Cordova, president of UFCW Local 7. “These workers stood together on the picket line for three weeks, through extreme weather, because they knew their worth and refused to be disrespected. Today, that sacrifice has been rewarded. This is what union power looks like.”
The new agreement secures JBS-leading wage increases, defends workers against increases in health care costs and protects workers from having to pay for personal protective equipment that should be paid for by the company. By standing together, workers secured wage increases over the next two years some 33 percent higher in this tentative agreement than JBS had offered Greeley workers in its pre-strike final offer.
The company is relieved to move forward and restore stability for team members, it stated. At the same time, JBS USA strongly disagrees with Local 7 leadership’s decision to forgo the historic pension secured for workers at other major JBS facilities across the country.
The pension was designed in partnership with UFCW International to strengthen long-term retirement security for the workforce. Instead, Local 7 chose to shift those dollars into short-term wage increases—an approach that appears to prioritize the Local 7 leadership’s immediate agenda over the long-term financial future of team members.
As part of the agreement, Local 7 is also withdrawing seven alleged unfair labor practice charges—further underscoring this was a strike about the economics of the deal, not to stop ULPs as the union repeatedly claimed. Despite this, Local 7 continued to make public statements that did not reflect the facts and contributed to unnecessary confusion among team members.
The strike ultimately ended without any major changes to the company’s offer, and the final agreement remains entirely within the economic framework JBS USA presented months ago, with no economic terms added or expanded from the company’s “Last, Best and Final” offer. Instead, UFCW Local 7 opted to reallocate pension contributions to wages, resulting in the following structure.
Key terms of the agreement
- Term: July 21, 2025 to April 2028
- Base wage increases: $0.70 at ratification (no retroactive pay); $0.40 in July 2026; and $0.40 in July 2027 (All increases above the company’s offer were due to shifting the pension contributions)
- Bonuses: $750 one-time payment at ratification; $500 one-time payment in April 2027 (Eligibility requires employment at ratification and at time of payment)
- Retirement: No pension; continuation of legacy 401(k) plan
JBS USA noted workers at other JBS beef facilities across the country have already accepted and are benefiting from the historic pension and other enhancements negotiated in partnership with UFCW International. The company reiterated the strike at Greeley could have been avoided entirely had Local 7 leadership allowed its members to vote on the same offer presented months earlier.
With the agreement now finalized, JBS USA looks forward to restoring stability, supporting its workforce and continuing to invest in the Greeley facility for the future.
UFCW Local 7 announced April 10 that state Sen. Robert Rodriguez introduced a worker safety bill in the Colorado Legislature. This bill would protect workers from wage garnishment for personal protective equipment and would hold meatpacking companies accountable for allowing workers access to restrooms. Both pieces are critical protections that preserve human dignity for this industry.
For more information, visit https://jbsfoodsgroup.com/ or https://www.ufcw7.org/
