Union Applauds Legal Action Filed Today to Protect Workers at JBS Meat Plant

For Immediate Release

October 11, 2024

 Union Applauds Legal Action Filed Today to Protect Workers at JBS Meat Plant

CONTACT: Matt Shechter, 303-521-7010

Greeley, CO – As another step in the story around allegations of human trafficking and violations of US Labor law, UFCW Local 7, which represents thousands of workers at JBS plants, applauded the filing of charges today with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) by the Denver-based Towards Justice, a public interest law firm.

“We have repeatedly sought government action to both better protect these workers from further harm and to hold JBS accountable for its actions,” stated Kim Cordova, President of UFCW local 7. “These situations, where workers are subjected to inhumane and abusive treatment, is far too common, not just here in Greeley, but across the nation, and must be stopped for the sake of the workers and the sake of the future of the food systems we rely on.”

This allegation of systematic mistreatment of workers against JBS, one of the “big 5” meat producers in the US, who combined produce nearly 80% of the beef supply and nearly 70% of the pork supply in the nation, is not the first. The company made national headlines during the COVID 19 pandemic for how they failed to protect workers against the outbreak in the slaughterhouses and eventually led to plant closures after the deaths of many workers. JBS, as one of these big national meat companies, is also charged in the recently announced lawsuit alleging that they colluded with each other to drive down supply and drive-up profits. The EEOC has likewise brought legal claims in the past against JBS over systematic mistreatment of other minority groups at the Greeley plant.

The filing of charges today by Towards Justice at the EEOC is one action that can attempt to change the behavior of these companies. “The workers at the Greeley, Colorado JBS plant have been taken advantage of, and we have raised and will continue to raise their voices and concerns to the appropriate state and federal agencies. But that is not enough. We are grateful that workers themselves, with Towards Justice’s able assistance are seeking to hold JBS to account. JBS should not be allowed to violate laws and mistreat workers just because they are an enormous corporation,” concluded Cordova.