New York Grocery Workers Union Calls On Independent Senate Democrats to pass Minimum Wage Without Delay

WESTBURY, NY (02/28/2013)(readMedia)-- United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Union Local 1500, New York State's largest grocery workers union with over 23,000 members, called on the New York State Independent Democratic Conference to join with the New York State Senate Democratic Conference and pass a minimum wage bill with indexing "without further delay."

"If New York working families are to truly believe that Albany has indeed changed, then 32 Senate Democrats coming together and taking action that will help lift hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers from the poverty wages they earn today must happen without delay," said Bruce W. Both, President of UFCW Local 1500. "Leaders of both Democratic conferences have now said that they support a minimum wage of $9.00 an hour with indexing. Therefore the math is simple: twenty seven Democrats plus five Independent Democrats equals economic relief for the poorest in our society," Both continued. "There is no moral reason to delay this bill one day longer and only petty politics at this point could stand in the way of true economic justice for hard working New Yorkers" Both concluded.

UFCW Local 1500 members working in stores located as far east a Montauk and as far north as Rhinebeck have been actively involved in the campaign to raise the minimum wage and have signed thousands of postcards in support. Those postcards were delivered to New York Senate Co-Leader Jeff Klein at a press event in early February.

"Sometimes even in Albany things come together and present themselves as a clear, irrefutable opportunity to help the poorest in our society. This is one of those times," said Patrick Purcell, Assistant to the President for UFCW Local 1500. "The majority of both New York State's legislative branches have spoken clearly on the need for a $9.00 minimum wage. Delays at this point will only renew a feeling of cynicism that politics and self interest still triumph over what is right for New York working families. We cannot return to those days," Purcell concluded.

UFCW Local 1500 represents 23,000 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, Key Food. Fairway, D'agastinos and Shop Rite.