On Monday, one of the largest meat packing plants in the US state of Colorado witnessed the participation of approximately 3,800 workers in a strike that union representatives described as the largest of its kind in an American meat slaughterhouse since the 1980s.
According to Claire Bountstone, an attorney representing the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 labor union, the strike began at the Swift Beef plant in Greeley, adding that she expected workers to continue participating in the strike until the evening.
This strike comes against the backdrop of accusations by union officials that the company that owns the factory, JBS USA, had practiced retaliatory and unfair acts towards the workers, during the contract renewal negotiations that ended at midnight on Sunday/Monday.
A request for comment was sent early Monday to a JBS USA spokesperson.
The strike coincides with US cattle numbers falling to their lowest levels in 75 years, at 86.2 million head on January 1, a 1% decline compared to the previous year.
Economic concerns have increased in the United States due to rising meat prices, which prompted the US government to move toward a trade agreement with Argentina in an attempt to reduce food prices, including meat.
