WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), which represents 1.3 million essential workers in grocery, meatpacking, retail, and other essential industries across North America, released the following statement following the announcement of a merger between southeastern retail grocers, Aldi, Winn-Dixie, and Harveys Supermarket.
UFCW International President Marc Perrone released the following statement:
“We are firmly against the Aldi Winn-Dixie proposed merger, and any merger that further consolidates the grocery industry at the expense of essential workers, our communities, and customers. With food inflation at record levels, consumers need more choices, not fewer, and more food access, not less. Given the role of essential grocery workers in our communities, it is inexplicable that one would propose mergers that will lead to a loss of these critical jobs. As we have seen for decades, grocery store mergers are a clear threat to both workers and consumers.
The fact that companies like Aldi and Winn-Dixie seek to hide is that when large grocery chains merge, it not only threatens competition but leads to lower wages, higher food prices, and more food deserts for rural and underserved communities. We urge the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to review this merger critically – especially given the proposed Kroger Albertsons megamerger – to determine what the negative impacts will be for workers, consumers, and communities.”
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The UFCW International is the largest private sector union in the United States, representing 1.3 million workers and their families in grocery, meatpacking, food processing, healthcare, 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.