JBS beef facility in Souderton to transition to a value-added and case-ready facility, instead of shuttering permanently this week
SOUDERTON, Pa. – Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) and UFCW Local 1776 Keystone State, which represents essential workers across Pennsylvania, released a statement in response to JBS’s decision to transition its Souderton plant to a case-ready facility rather than close permanently.
UFCW Local 1776KS President Wendell Young IV said:
“We are grateful for the collaborative efforts that made this outcome possible and want to thank Governor Shapiro, Congressman Fitzpatrick, the Montgomery County Commissioners, and everyone who worked diligently on behalf of our members to keep the Souderton facility open. While this announcement provides stability for hundreds of workers and their families, UFCW Local 1776KS stands with our members who will still be out of a job come Friday. JBS’ investment in this facility rightly identifies the indispensable role meatpacking workers play in Montgomery County and beyond, and we look forward to continuing to work with JBS as the facility transitions to case-ready operations.”
UFCW International President Milton Jones said:
“Stakeholders from the UFCW and JBS worked together with lawmakers from all levels of government to make sure the JBS Souderton facility has a future. That is the approach we need to take because having good, union jobs in our communities benefits everyone. We will continue to work with our partners to support the UFCW members who are still losing their jobs during this transition. Workers need long-term solutions to the headwinds the beef industry faces, or else plants will continue to shutter and communities will continue to lose jobs.”
In June, the plant was originally slated to shut down permanently, but now JBS will invest $30 million to modernize the facility. The plant will keep 400 jobs in Souderton as it joins the company’s value-added and case-ready operations, with harvesting and processing operations at the facility concluding on Friday, August 14, 2026.
CONTACTS: Finn Storer – UFCW International press@ufcw.org
Nicole Young – UFCW Local 1776KS NicoleYoung@ufcw1776.org
The UFCW International is the largest private sector union in the United States, representing 1.2 million workers and their families in grocery, meatpacking, food processing, healthcare, cannabis, retail, and other essential industries. UFCW members serve our communities in all 50 states, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Learn more about the UFCW at ufcw.org.
UFCW Local 1776 Keystone State represents more than 30,000 workers throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New York, Ohio, and New Jersey. Their members provide essential services in grocery stores, drugstores, food processing plants, government services, manufacturing facilities, nursing homes, professional offices, Pennsylvania’s Wine and Spirits Shops, and medical cannabis facilities. They fight for higher pay, groundbreaking benefits, and dignity on the job for all working people.
