An estimated 3,800 workers at one of the United States’ largest meatpacking plants are expected to go on strike Monday (March 16) morning during what would be the first walkout at a U.S. beef slaughterhouse since 1980s.
Workers at the Swift Beef Co. plant in Greenley, Colorado, were set to begin their strike at 5:30 a.m. local time, Kim Cordova, president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7, which represents the striking employees, told the Associated Press. The strike follows accusations from union officials that JBS USA, the owner of the meatpacking plant, retaliated against workers and committed other unfair labor practices when the two sides attempted negotiations before their previous contract was set to expire at midnight Sunday (March 15).
The company was reported to have tried to intimidate workers to quit the union when one-on-one meetings were held, according to union general counsel Matt Schechter. Cordova confirmed that 99% of workers voted in favor of authorizing the strike and no formal negotiations took place over the weekend after the company refused the union’s request to restart negotiations on Saturday (March 14), according to Schecter.
The expected strike will coincide with the United States already facing a 75-year low for cattle production, with an estimated inventory of 86.2 million animals as of January 1, a decrease of 1% from the previous year, as beef prices have been among the products skyrocketing in price. President Donald Trump has turned to a trade deal with Argentina in an effort to lower prices on several popular foods including beef.
A meatpacking plant in Lexington, Nebraska, had already faced closure in January, which is expected to have a ripple effect on the economy.
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