CHICAGO, March 9 (Reuters) - About 3,800 JBS meatpacking

workers in Greeley, Colorado, plan to go on strike starting on

March 16, the workers' union said on Monday, crippling

production at one of the largest U.S. beef plants as consumers

face record-high prices.

The labor disruption pits a workforce made up largely of

immigrants against the world's largest meat company, and it has

already driven ranchers to deliver cattle to alternate

facilities.

Beef prices set records this year after the nation's cattle

supply dropped to a 75-year low. Meatpackers including JBS

benefit from climbing prices but also must pay record costs to

buy cattle to slaughter.

JBS in November reported third-quarter profit of $581

million, down from $693 million a year earlier.

"While customers are paying more than they ever have, none

of that is trickling down to the frontline worker that's

actually doing all the heavy work," said Kim Cordova, president

of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 union that

represents workers in Greeley.

JBS has participated in unfair labor practices and not

negotiated fairly on a new contract over the past eight months,

Cordova said. Workers sought wages that keep pace with inflation

and wanted the company to stop charging them for replacing

protective equipment they wear to do their jobs safely, she

said.

JBS said it complies with labor laws, sought to reach a fair

agreement, and charges employees for protective equipment that

is lost or maliciously damaged.

"We stand by the offer we presented," JBS said. "It is

strong, fair, and consistent with the historic national contract

reached in 2025."

Last year, unionized meatpacking workers at multiple plants

ratified a first-ever national contract with JBS. However,

workers in Greeley already had some benefits in that contract,

including sick leave, Cordova said.

JBS said it was now adjusting cattle deliveries and

processing schedules at Greeley and shifting production to other

facilities to meet customer needs.

The company did not slaughter cattle at the plant on Monday.

Cattle feeders said JBS canceled slaughtering in Greeley for the

whole week, and one feeder said he was delivering livestock to a

company facility in Cactus, Texas, instead.

"We've got way more kill space than finished cattle ready to

slaughter," said Corbitt Wall, a livestock market analyst for

DVAuction. Ranchers will "just move them somewhere else."

Rival meatpacker Tyson Foods ( TSN ) closed a massive beef

plant in Nebraska this year.