Last week, nearly 100 UFCW members and staff from UFCW Locals 1, 342, 464A, 888, 1262, and 1500 traveled to the New York State Capitol in Albany to lobby their elected officials about important issues facing working men and women.

The delegation lobbied New York State Assembly Members and Senators in support of offering college financial aid to undocumented immigrants, taking special interest money out of elections, strengthening the right to organize for farm workers, legalizing medical marijuana, and abolishing a tax credit that gives companies like Walmart an incentive to hire workers at minimum wage.

“Unions are the backbone of our country and the middle class,” said Georgette Wilson, a member of UFCW Local 1500 who works at Stop & Shop in Staten Island. “People need to see and hear what we support.”

“Without us being here, they’ll just hear from the big corporations like Walmart and what we say won’t mean anything,” added UFCW Local 1 member Maureen Bizub, who works at Topps in Buffalo. “We’re the voters and the ones working. I have a lot of pride being here.”

UFCW Local 1500 member Isha Matko, who works at Gristedes in New York City, talked about the impact of lobbying. “It’s a wonderful experience sitting down and talking with people who have the power and ability to make a difference in all our lives,” she said.

This was the first-ever coordinated lobby day by UFCW locals in New York. When asked if they would participate again in the future, every member interviewed answered “yes.”