{"id":3395,"date":"2026-04-17T11:48:05","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T16:48:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ufcw663.org\/blog\/?p=3395"},"modified":"2026-04-17T12:53:47","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T17:53:47","slug":"how-one-steward-helped-a-coworker-recover-an-entire-year-of-backpay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ufcw663.org\/blog\/2026\/04\/17\/how-one-steward-helped-a-coworker-recover-an-entire-year-of-backpay\/","title":{"rendered":"How One Steward Helped a Coworker Recover An Entire Year of Backpay"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Following 22 years in the grocery industry and a historic contract in 2023, Union steward Sue from Cub Foods stepped up to help her coworkers fight for justice in the workplace.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI asked my coworker Sam if he had gotten his raise,\u201d Sue said. \u201cHe hadn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sam had been working for years as a pharmacy technician. His Union contract guaranteed him $30.33\/hr. That\u2019s nearly $8\/hr more than he was currently being paid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sue encouraged Sam to speak with his store director. His director promised Sam that he\u2019d look into it. Days turned into weeks, and he still wasn\u2019t given his raise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI told him that the contract is clear. You\u2019re owed that pay.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weeks turned into months, and Sam\u2019s paycheck didn\u2019t reflect his raise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sue connected Sam with the Member Action Center<\/a> (MAC), UFCW 663 members\u2019 resource for contract questions and enforcement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul Swanson, our MAC representative, contacted Cub Foods to let them know that Sam has been underpaid for nearly a year. After some back and forth, a settlement was reached. Sam\u2019s backpay arrived on his next paycheck. The total? $11,802.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLast March, I realized my paycheck didn\u2019t include the annual raise guaranteed in my contract. I kept asking about it, but for nearly a year my employer stalled\u201d said Sam. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t until I reached out to my Union steward that things finally moved, and I was paid what I was owed.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBe informed. Know your contract. Know your pay,\u201d Sue said. \u201cAnd if something doesn\u2019t seem right, talk to your steward. If you don\u2019t have a steward, call the MAC.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her involvement and the 663 steward program, Sue gained more than just knowledge of the contract. She built her confidence, communication skills, and a deeper understanding of how to advocate for others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen you\u2019re in a union, you\u2019re not alone,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd when you stand up for your rights, things can change for the better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re interested in becoming a steward, talk to your organizer, or reach out to the MAC by calling (800)-292-4105 or emailing us at MAC@ufcw663.org.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Following 22 years in the grocery industry and a historic contract in 2023, Union steward Sue from Cub Foods stepped up to help her coworkers fight for justice in the workplace. \u201cI asked my coworker Sam if he had gotten his raise,\u201d Sue said. \u201cHe hadn\u2019t.\u201d Sam had been working for years as a pharmacy … Continue reading How One Steward Helped a Coworker Recover An Entire Year of Backpay<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":3397,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[62,60,400],"tags":[190,26,200,15],"yoast_head":"\nHow One Steward Helped a Coworker Recover An Entire Year of Backpay - UFCW 663<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ufcw663.org\/blog\/2026\/04\/17\/how-one-steward-helped-a-coworker-recover-an-entire-year-of-backpay\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How One Steward Helped a Coworker Recover An Entire Year of Backpay - 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