The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 789 unveiled an office at 512 Litchfield Ave. during an open house Thursday. Organizers said “increasing support for a union in the Jennie-O processing plants has prompted a need for an office in the city of Willmar.”

Organizer Jake Baxter told the Tribune the union currently has about half of the support it needs to localize the workers at the Jennie-O Turkey Store.

“We’re taking our time here. It’s important to talk to each and every worker,” said Jennifer Christensen, director of organizing, in an interview with the Tribune. “(They) asked us to be here.”

She said UFCW did an informational piece on workers’ right to form a union, and received a “very strong response” from a mail-back survey.

“We’re not here to push anything on anybody,” Christensen said. Instead, union organizers hope to work with the community in general to improve the standard of living for everybody.

“We’re trying just to make it fair,” Baxter added.

Representatives are able to speak Spanish, Somali and English. Office staffers include a campaign coordinator and bilingual Somali and Spanish organizers. Their job is to help organize and educate workers.

“Primarily what we’re interested in is ensuring that workers get accurate information on their workplace rights,” Christensen explained.

She said any workers can access the Willmar office to seek help from organizers like Juan Sandoval. He hopes to educate workers about openly communicating their interests in improved benefits, wages, equality and respect.

“We’d like to work at getting those issues addressed,” Christensen said, because processing plant workers have “tough work” that makes them prone to injuries.

Yusuf Kodar, Somali organizer, said many immigrants don’t know their workplace rights because they are not able to speak, read or write English.

“We have different communities working here,” he said. “They’re here to work, make a living.”

UFCW Local 789 is based in South St. Paul and has a membership of 7,500. It represents workers in processing plants in Long Prairie and South St. Paul as well as manufacturing, retail and healthcare workers throughout central and southeast Minnesota.

“The United Food and Commercial Workers is very excited about their work in Willmar, and looking forward to building strong relationships in the community,” organizers stated in a news release.

Office hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to noon Friday.