Union workers at the JBS Beef processing plant in Greeley, Colorado, voted to authorize a strike primarily due to unfair labor practices claimed by their union, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 7.
The specific grievances that led to the 99% strike vote include:
- Increased chain speeds and dangerous conditions: Workers report being asked to work faster, which the union argues increases the risk of injury and creates dangerous working conditions.
- Reduced work hours: The company has allegedly been reducing worker hours, which cuts into their overall income.
- Improper wage deductions: The union claims JBS is attempting to "steal" workers' pay through improper wage deductions.
- Bad-faith bargaining and retaliation: The union states that JBS has been engaging in unfair labor practices during the eight months of contract negotiations, including going "backwards" on proposals at the bargaining table and retaliating against workers who try to assert their rights.
- Unilateral changes to policies: The union has also accused the company of unilaterally changing workplace policies without bargaining.
The workers feel they are being "asked to do more with less" and that the company has left them with "no alternative but to authorize a strike".
JBS has stated that it presented a comprehensive offer with meaningful wage increases and a pension plan and remains hopeful the union will accept the agreement. A strike notice has not yet been issued, and negotiations are ongoing.
