It’s Better in a Union
June 1st, 2026
JBS Worker Reclassified After 3 Years, Union Wins Backpay
Sebastiana Panjoj Gonsalez, a meatpacking worker at JBS in Worthington, recently won $11,805 in backpay after discovering she had been underpaid for years.
After talking with coworkers, Sebastiana realized she was making less money for the same work. She brought the issue to her walking steward, Maria, and Union representative, Osmin. Together, they found that Sebastiana had been misclassified three years earlier and was being paid below the rate guaranteed in her Union contract.
Osmin filed a grievance and pushed the case through multiple conversations with HR. At first, the company only offered a few months of backpay. But our Union kept fighting until Sebastiana received the full three years of lost wages, totaling $11,805.
Worker at Cub Foods Wins Job Back, With Backpay
David Benford has spent the last two years working part-time at Cub Northside. Having grown up in North Minneapolis, David takes pride in serving the same community that he was raised in. He relies on this job to be able to pay his rent.
Earlier this year, a miscommunication between managers led to David being wrongly terminated, leaving him without the income he depends on. David reached out to his coworker and Union steward, Nic. Recognizing the situation as a clear contract violation, Nic connected David with our Union’s Member Action Center (MAC).
After nearly a month off the job, our MAC representative, Paul Swanson, stepped in and made things right. David not only got his job back, but also received more than $1,300 in backpay. Reflecting on the experience, David shared how much the support meant to him:
“I grew up here, and I care about this job and this community. Without this job, I would struggle to afford my rent. Luckily my steward and my Union had my back.”
Hormel ESST Class Action Remains in Minnesota State Court
Employees involved in the class action lawsuit against Hormel Foods recently received an important update: the case will remain in Minnesota state court as litigation continues.
The lawsuit, alleging violations of Minnesota’s Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) law by forcing workers to use vacation time if they called in sick, was originally filed in July 2025 in Minnesota state court. Shortly after filing, Hormel’s attorneys attempted to move the case into federal court. Attorneys representing the employees then asked the federal judge to send the case back to state court, arguing that Minnesota was the proper venue for the dispute.
Following a hearing earlier this year, the federal court agreed and ordered the case be returned to Minnesota state court, where it remains today. Because the claims are focused on Minnesota’s strong labor protections, the lawsuit will continue to be litigated locally. This is a positive development for the workers affected.
Visit our blog for an FAQ about the lawsuit.
UFCW 663 Provides Wins for Workers
If you’re having an issue at work, please contact your steward, your Union representative, or the Member Action Center at 1-800-292-4105 or mac@ufcw663.org.
This report includes several highlights from the representation work performed at UFCW 663 – this is not an exhaustive list of all grievances and settlements.