Union for Long Island Grocery Workers on Shift During Shooting Condemns Senseless Violence That Comes One Month After Colorado Grocery Shooting
UFCW Calls on State and Federal Leaders for Action to Prevent Such Tragedies Threatening Essential Workers Already on Frontlines of COVID
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), which represents 1.3 million frontline workers in food and retail – including the Stop & Shop grocery workers on shift during the shooting at the West Hempstead, New York supermarket – condemned the senseless violence. Stop & Shop grocery workers at this store are represented by UFCW Local 342 and RWDSU/UFCW Local 338.
The Stop & Shop shooting comes just weeks after a Colorado grocery store shooting where UFCW union grocery workers helped save lives by helping customers flee to safety. UFCW is calling on New York and federal leaders for action to prevent future tragedies like this from further endangering essential workers already facing COVID risks on the pandemic’s frontlines.
UFCW International President Marc Perrone released the following statement:
“As the union for the brave New York grocery workers caught in the crossfire of this horrific shooting, UFCW is heartbroken and our prayers are with our members, their families, and the loved ones of all the victims. America’s grocery workers have been bravely putting their health at risk on the frontlines of COVID-19 every day to keep our families fed. This latest mass shooting is a tragic reminder that the pandemic is not the only threat these workers face.
“While we have rightfully focused on doing more to protect essential workers from the risks of the pandemic, more must be done by our corporate and elected leaders to address the epidemic of gun violence that threatens workers’ lives, and continues to infect more and more workplaces.”
###
UFCW is the largest private sector union in the United States, representing 1.3 million professionals and their families in healthcare, grocery stores, meatpacking, food processing, retail shops and other industries. Our members serve our communities in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Learn more about the UFCW at ufcw.org.
