WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), which represents 1.3 million workers in grocery stores, meatpacking plants, and other essential industries across North America, released the following statement on the mass shooting that occurred at a Tops supermarket location in Buffalo, New York on Saturday.
UFCW International President Marc Perrone released the following statement:
“As the union representing grocery workers across New York and the entire country, the UFCW is once-again heartbroken and dismayed at this senseless gun violence that our members, grocery workers and shoppers have been forced to face. Our hearts are with our members, the families, loved ones, coworkers, and community who are enduring the most unthinkable pain and loss this evening.
“That pain is only worsened by the horrific early reports that this shooting is being investigated as a racially-motivated attack.
“Over and over again, workers across industries, including UFCW grocery workers, have been subjected to this type of senseless hate and workplace violence. It is long overdue for America‘s elected leaders to take the steps necessary to protect our workers and communities from these continued acts of hate and violent tragedies.”
Background:
UFCW represents 71,000 members in the state of New York, including workers at this Buffalo location of Tops Friendly Market.
UFCW has been a leading advocate on improving workplace safety in all forms, including actions that can help address gun violence in the workplace. This work, which is an unfortunate necessity but in no way a replacement for comprehensive gun safety legislation, includes advocacy for legislation that seeks to directly improve efforts to address workplace gun violence, improved workplace training that include active shooter training, and providing resources for UFCW membership who’ve experienced workplace violence.
In 2021, UFCW members were victims of workplace gun violence at a King Soopers location in Boulder, CO.
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The UFCW is the largest private sector union in the United States. UFCW International represents 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.