UFCW Union Members to Lobby Legislators at State Capitol
Feb 10, 2011, 07:00 ET
MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich., Feb. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, members of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW ) Locals 876 and 951 will descend on the Michigan state capitol to urge their elected officials to vote against two current house bills that would negatively impact consumers, workers and the state's overall economy.
Union members will voice their strong opposition to HB 4158, which would repeal the state's item pricing law, and HB 4054 which would allow for the establishment of right-to-work zones.
The repeal of item pricing negatively effects UFCW members as both shoppers, who will lose important consumer protections, and retail workers who will lose jobs, if HB 4158 is passed.
"Repealing item pricing will make it nearly impossible for consumers to comparison shop or verify they are being properly charged at checkout. It will also make is easy for retailers to change prices on goods several times a day, raising prices on a individual items based on shopping trends, or slightly increasing the cost of all items to make up for a sluggish sales day," Roger Robinson, UFCW Local 876's president, said. "Repelling the law will also mean the loss of jobs, since workers won't be needed to price items. We estimate 800 UFCW members will lose their jobs if the law is repealed, as will thousands of other Michigan retail workers. Additional workers will have their hours cut."
While HB 4054 would only affect public sector workers, UFCW members are strongly opposed to any right-to-work legislation as it will negatively impact all workers, regardless of their union affiliation.
"The data shows that the annual average wage of workers in right-to-work states is $5,000 less than workers in other states," Marv Russow, UFCW Local 951's president, said. "Right-to-work states also have greater poverty rates and lower performing schools. These are not conditions we want to encourage in Michigan."
UFCW Locals 951 and 876 represent over 46,000 Michigan workers in several industries including grocery, retail drug, food processing, automotive supply, and who work for a variety of employers including Meijer, Kroger, and Rite Aid.
SOURCE United Food and Commercial Workers Local 876; United Food and Commercial Workers Local 951
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