JBS faces renewed disruption in the US as union members at its Denver meatpacking plant voted to strike, alleging labour law violations.
The workers at Denver Processing, represented by labour union UFCW Local 7, voted 97% to authorise the walkout.
Denver Processing is a beef and pork processing facility, owned by JBS’ US division.
The facility supplies several Kroger-owned chains, including King Soopers and City Market in Colorado, as well as Fry’s Food and Drug Stores in Arizona and Ralphs Grocery Company in California, according to a statement from UFCW Local 7.
The union has filed multiple “unfair labour practice” charges against the company, alleging “interference and retaliation by issuing discipline to a bargaining committee member for attending bargaining sessions on behalf of their fellow workers”.
It further accused the management of engaging in “bad-faith and surface bargaining”.
Just Food has asked JBS for comment today (27 April).
According to UFCW Local 7, the company stalled negotiations, failed to address safety and work-life balance concerns, and rushed to declare a final offer before “meaningful bargaining”.
The dispute comes after JBS reached a separate wage agreement with its Greeley, Colorado, workers earlier this month, which included base wage increases and one-time bonuses but no retroactive pay.
Under that deal, base wages will rise by $0.70 at ratification, followed by $0.40 in July this year and $0.40 in July 2027. The agreement includes no provision for retroactive pay.
The package also includes a $750 one-time bonus payment at ratification and a further $500 one-time payment in April 2027, with eligibility requiring workers to be employed at ratification and at the time of payment.
However, the Brazilian meat giant said the deal does not include a pension benefit that it said had featured in a national agreement negotiated last year between the company and UFCW International covering other US sites.
Union leadership said the Denver Processing plant is now blocking progress toward a similar fair contract.
“This strike authorisation is the direct result of Denver Processing’s unlawful and bad-faith conduct,” said Kim Cordova, the president of UFCW Local 7.
The union has not yet set a specific date for the walkout.
“JBS faces another US strike” was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand.
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