The 2023 Betty Bednarczyk Courage Award co-recipients are Senators Jim Abeler (R-Anoka) and John Hoffman (DFL-Champlin). 

SEIU HealthCare Minnesota and Iowa (SEIU HCMNIA) presents the award annually in honor of Betty Bednarczyk, a longtime union leader. She was one of the first woman leaders of any union in Minnesota. Nationally she rose to the top to become secretary/treasurer of SEIU, the first woman to hold a top position in the union.  

Each year the SEIU HCMNIA board members dedicates the “Betty Bednarczyk Courage Award” in her memory to an outstanding individual who is an ally to the union’s mission and goals. 

Hoffman is currently the chair of the Human Services Finance committee, the committee that voted to approve and fund a life-changing new contract for union home care members. A 48 percent wage increase moves members from $15.25 all the way to $20/$22.50 with real orientation program. 

Abeler and Hoffman work closely on many human services, staffing and disability service issues. Abeler is the ranking minority member on the Human Services Committee, and serves on Education Policy and Health and Human Services committees.