Grocery Union Heads to Airwaves to Further Message of Looming Strike

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QUEENS VILLAGE, NY (06/23/2010)(readMedia)-- United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 1500, New York State's largest grocery workers' Union, has purchased airtime on New York's number one AM Radio station (1010WINS) to notify millions of New Yorkers of an impending strike with Pathmark/A&P, Stop & Shop Supermarket and King Kullen Markets. UFCW Local 1500 is currently negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement with the three companies, though little progress has been made through months of negotiating. The strike would affect supermarkets on Long Island, the Five Boroughs, Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties and may also possibly affect supermarkets in New Jersey and Connecticut. The contract expiration date is Saturday, June 26th. Any potential job action will directly affect the 4th of July weekend for hundreds of thousands of customers.

Beginning on June 23rd, UFCW Local 1500 will run Public Service Announcements on 1010WINS, during "Drive-Time". The announcements will air during both the morning and evening commutes. "This is a serious situation," said Pat Purcell, a spokesperson for UFCW Local 1500. "We feel that it is our responsibility to notify the public of the gravity of the situation." UFCW Local 1500 began notifying the public and law enforcement agencies of the impending strike last week. The release informed customers that fulfillment of their 4th of July grocery orders rests upon fragile and boiling labor negotiations. "Frankly speaking, Stop and Shop, King Kullen and Pathmark are playing with fire, and it's their customers who will get burned."

The looming strike would affect over 150 Supermarkets, 16,000 workers and hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers. "The three companies have put their corporate greed in front of doing what's right, both for their employees, and for their customers. As members of the communities they do business in, these companies have a responsibility to their customers, right now, they're essentially gambling with their customers' 4th of July weekend plans." Purcell concluded.

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500 will continue purchasing airtime and print media throughout the week to keep the Public informed of the looming strike. "We'll continue to be honest with the public while Stop and Shop, King Kullen and Pathmark continue to avoid reality."

The Union has also set up a website which will notify the consumers with updates about the potential strike. The website is www.nysupermarkets.com.

United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500 is based out of Queens Village and represents 23,000 grocery workers in the Metropolitan New York area