Grocery Workers Union Applauds News That Shop Rite Supermarket Will Anchor Development in East Brooklyn, NY

East Brooklyn New York Residents to Benefit From Good Food, Jobs and Health.

WESTBURY, NEW YIORK (09/14/2012)(readMedia)-- United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500, New York States largest grocery store workers Union, praised the news today that Shop Rite Supermarkets would be anchoring the Gateway Two Project in East Brooklyn, New York. Shop Rite, a unionized supermarket, will bring the community of East Brooklyn hundreds of good jobs and access to healthy foods.

" UFCW Local1 500 is thrilled that after weeks of supporting the conversations with The Related Company and our employer Shop Rite and other interested parties, a deal was reached today to bring to the citizens of East Brooklyn three things they so desperately need: good food, good jobs and good health "said Patrick Purcell, spokesperson for UFCW Local 1500. "Additionally, this project will bring over a 1,000 jobs to the members of the New York City Building Trades Council, jobs sorely needed in these difficult economic times. Todays news is proof that labor, management, elected officials and community can work together productively and provide results that make it a win-win-win for all for New Yorkers, workers and consumers alike."
While other large retailers were rumored to be the main anchor at Gateway Two, Local 1500 said that it believes all parties understood for several months that the families of East Brooklyn deserved better access to healthy foods and good jobs and that it was the intent of all people at the table to produce todays agreement. " "Under New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, it has been a priority to work with developers, labor and community groups to bring supermarkets to underserved communities. Today's news is as much about the ongoing success of that broader policy as much as it is about this outstanding development for East Brooklyn," Purcell stated. "This could not have been done without all the parties understanding that the needs of New Yorkers are just as important as maximizing profits. The campaign to bring more unionized supermarkets to underserved communities will clearly build on the momentum of this success story. Good things can happen when people work together," Purcell concluded.
United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500, based out of Westbury, NY represents grocery workers in New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties. Members of Local 1500 are employed by Pathmark, King Kullen, Stop and Shop, Gristedes, Fairway, D'agastinos, Key Food and Shop Rite.