WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), which represents 1.2 million essential workers in grocery, meatpacking, food processing, retail, and other essential industries, released the following statement in response to Vice President Kamala Harris’s decision to select Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota as her running mate in the 2024 election.
UFCW International President Marc Perrone released the following statement:
“The UFCW strongly supports Vice President Harris’s decision to select Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as the Democratic party’s presumptive vice presidential nominee. We applaud Governor Walz’s appointment, who has a decades-long track record of supporting and prioritizing labor and working families. Over the years, when called on by our members, Governor Walz has always listened.
“During his tenure in Congress, Walz worked hard protecting workers and rural communities. As Governor of Minnesota, Governor Walz showed up for our members, signing into law paid family and medical leave and the first meat processing worker safety bill in the nation. His work on cannabis legalization has paved the way for good union jobs in the industry, expunging previous cannabis-related convictions, and outright banning corporate union-busting tactics like captive audience meetings. During the pandemic, when our members’ jobs and literal lives were on the line, Governor Walz provided critical relief funding through the CARES Act to help agricultural producers, meat processors, and farmers weather the storm and keep families fed.
Working families deserve a presidential ticket that will put them first and Vice President Harris and Governor Walz are the only ticket with a track record of truly delivering for everyday Americans. We look forward to working with our members across the country to elect Harris-Walz to the White House this fall.”
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The UFCW International is the largest private sector union in the United States, representing 1.2 million workers and their families in grocery, meatpacking, food processing, health care, cannabis, retail, and other essential industries. UFCW members serve our communities in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Learn more about the UFCW at ufcw.org.