Meet UFCW Local 663

Antonio Jimenez (He/Him)

Vice President

Antonio moved to the U.S. in 1995 from Jalisco, Mexico. He’s worked since 1996 worked at JBS. He began in the night ham division and in 2002, began the day shift in long boning. He’s been on the E-Board since 2018, and a steward for 13 years. Antonio’s union activism began when he began helping out a union steward years ago. The union steward didn’t know English at the time, while Antonio understood a little bit, so he began helping others be understood. Meat Packing Director Mike Potter saw that he was helping others, and Antonio became a steward too. Antonio says, “I like to help others, and I don’t like to see when people are treated bad because they don’t know English. I like that as a union, we are stronger now because we didn’t have power back then like we do now.” He and his wife and four children live in Worthington.

Courtney Huber (She/Her)

Vice President

Courtney began her grocery industry career in 2001 at Rainbow foods and worked just about every position within its’ walls. Many times she travelled to other stores helping to price during audits and remodels. Always making sure to vote on her contracts, Courtney began to attend union meetings, and gives credit to another longtime union member, Lori Wayman, for encouraging Huber’s union activism. Courtney has sat on three negotiating committees since 2010--most recently in 2018 where she was a part of the negotiating committee with President Utecht that was able to secure historic contract gains for members. Huber is inspired by new organizing and was able to be a part of testifying at City Hall for $15 an hour minimum wage as well as participated in Seward Co-op’s March on the Boss. She looks forward to continuing to grow and strengthen Local 663.

Michael Karnes (He/Him)

Vice President

Amber Allen (She/Her)

Membership Specialist

Amber Allen started in the industry in September 1996 as a bakery clerk for McGlynn's Bakery. In 1998 she joined Local 663 and was promoted to bakery manager; Amber has worked for several different companies since then, all under the Rainbow banner. Amber became involved with the union by attending regular membership meetings and union activities. Amber has served on over half a dozen negotiating committees and looks forward to many more. Amber lives in Minneapolis with her 2 children; Amber enjoys spending time with them and being involved in all of their activities.

Jess Alexander (He/Him)

Member Organizer & Vice President

Jess Alexander began at UFCW Local 663 in 2017. His goals include making life better for the people in our union’s industries because that working families work hard, do a good job and should earn a fair slice of the pie. Jess has always been driven to join with the people around him to make things better. As a teenager in high school, Jess was active in different community projects and campaigns. His first job was at a co-operative grocery store in his hometown of Corvallis, Oregon. In 1991, Jess graduated high school and moved to California to attend college. He quit school after a year for financial reasons, and was happy to be living in a bigger city and be involved in new community organizing opportunities. After a few jobs in the food industry (bakery delivery and refrigerated foods distribution), Jess started working in construction as an electrician. He experienced the stark difference between doing the same job with a union and without a union, and soon joined the Electricians union. He was an active member of his local for ten years, using his experience and skills as an organizer to make his union stronger. Jess moved to Minnesota in 2011 and made the transition from full-time electrician to Organizer. He has worked for community/labor coalitions and other unions as well. Jess is excited to serve the members and the leadership of Local 663 to grow our membership strength by organizing new members and therefore improving the lives of all Minnesotans.

Paul Swanson (He/Him)

Union Representative and Member Action Center