GREELEY, Colo. (AP) — About 3,800 workers at one of the nation’s largest meatpacking plants went on strike Monday in Colorado in what union representatives said was the first walkout at a U.S. beef slaughterhouse in four decades.

Hundreds of strikers picketed in front of the Swift Beef Co. plant in Greeley, owned by JBS USA, as the sun rose Monday. They walked back and forth in the morning cold, bundled in blankets as some yelled “huelga!” — Spanish for “strike.” Others carried signs saying “please don’t patronize JBS,” written in both English and Spanish.

The strike follows accusations from union officials that the company retaliated against workers and committed other unfair labor practices amid contract negotiations. A previous contract expired Sunday night.

“They don’t really value their workers and we’re the ones that help them get all their profit,” said Leticia Avalos, a 34-year-old union steward and Greeley native who has been working at the plant since 2020.

Avalos said she depends on the job to support her family, including a 6-month-old baby, but she’s willing to make sacrifices to get the company to listen.

“It’s the number one place where all of Greeley works,” she said. “It’s a huge impact in the community for us to be striking. I know a lot of us are worried, and hope that nothing goes even more south.”

Smoke was rising from parts of the plant but it was unclear if it was still operating.

A spokesperson at JBS USA said the company stands by its contract offer, describing it as fair, despite the ongoing protests.

The strike comes at a critical moment for the local economy, as the low U.S. cattle population heightens the pressures on prices, and many families are feeling the pinch of rising costs.

Union leaders emphasize that workers deserve wage increases that match inflation, sufficient healthcare, and respect for their contributions. The labor action marks a pivotal moment in labor relations within the meatpacking industry, reflecting broader struggles faced by workers nationwide.

As the strike unfolds, it remains to be seen how it will affect operations at the Greeley plant and the surrounding community.