Justin Sanchez, steward at Vons 2597 in Chino Hills, is a busy man.

In addition to being a full-time student at Chaffey Community College in Rancho Cucamonga, Sanchez plays softball at least twice a week and golf as often as he can. He is also an off-road enthusiast and works with his father to restore old cars.

In spite of his active lifestyle, the Chino resident is never too busy to help his union.

“It is important to keep our union strong,” Sanchez says. “That’s why I am a steward and why I recently volunteered to work as a SPUR to recruit members for the Active Ballot Club, so we can help elect labor-friendly people to political office.”

Sanchez also has volunteered for the union’s Fresh & Easy and anti-Wal-Mart campaigns.

“We have to pitch- in to make sure that we maintain the rights and benefits we fought so hard for in the past,” Sanchez says. “I never say no when my union needs help.”

Sanchez learned about unions from his father, who is a warehouse worker and a member of the Teamsters union.

“Our family would not have the standard of living that we have if we didn’t have those union-negotiated benefits,” Sanchez says. “Not many part-time jobs offer the kind of benefits we have through our union.”

Sanchez hopes to attend a four-year college and earn a degree in architecture.

Even though he does not plan to make a career in the industry, Sanchez wants to keep his union strong so that supermarkets can continue being places for people to earn good wages and benefits.

“People should have a place where they can work, so that they maintain a middle-class lifestyle,” Sanchez says.