A federal appeals court has upheld a decision that faults the owner of 10 Jimmy John's franchises in the Twin Cities for violating the union organizing rights of six employees.

The National Labor Relations Board had found that Mik Lin Enterprises illegally fired or disciplined workers involved in union activity. The workers had distributed fliers about a dispute over sick leave.

The franchise owner appealed to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, which denied the petition and said the board's decision was supported by "substantial evidence."

The board had also said the six fired Jimmy John's workers should get their jobs back, along with back pay.

It took five years for the dispute to make it through the legal process.