Thousands of striking employees will return to work at the JBS meatpacking plant in Greeley on Tuesday after the company agreed to return to the negotiating table, union officials said Saturday.

The strike at one of the country’s largest meatpacking plants was set to enter its fourth week after 3,800 JBS workers walked off the job on March 16, which union officials said was caused by JBS refusing to increase minimum wages and committing unfair labor practices during contract negotiations.

JBS officials have pushed back on the union’s claims, stating union leaders are the ones who left the negotiating table and that the company made “meaningful movement” during negotiations.

In a Saturday news release, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 President Kim Cordova said JBS agreed to meet on Thursday and Friday to resume negotiations. The facility, also known by its subsidiary name, Swift Beef Company, processes as much as 8% of the country’s beef.

“Workers remain united and will continue to fight until JBS fully ends its unfair labor practices and gives workers a contract offer that protects them, shows workers the respect they deserve, and pays them a livable wage,” Cordova said in a statement.

The three-week strike marked the first walkout at an American meatpacking plant in four decades and the first walkout at the Greeley plant.

JBS officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

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