Union for 62,000 New Jersey Frontline Workers in Grocery Stores, Food Processing Plants, and Healthcare Facilities Supports Re-Electing New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy
TRENTON, NJ – Today, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), which represents over 62,000 New Jersey frontline food, retail, and healthcare workers, announced its endorsement of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy in this year’s gubernatorial election. Governor Murphy has consistently stood up for New Jersey workers by raising the minimum wage, restoring the millionaire’s tax to help rebuild the middle class, and strengthening vital COVID-19 workplace safety measures to protect essential workers on the frontlines throughout the pandemic.
UFCW District Council of New York and New Jersey President Max Bruny:
“Governor Murphy has always been a strong champion for New Jersey working families. As the union for New Jersey essential workers on the frontlines of the pandemic in grocery stores, food processing plants, healthcare facilities, and other hard-hit businesses, UFCW has seen firsthand how Governor Murphy has stood up for these brave men and women serving our communities during the crisis.
“Whether it was raising the minimum wage to put more money in hardworking families pockets or strengthening vital COVID-19 workplace safety measures to protect workers on the job, Governor Murphy has stood side by side with New Jersey essential workers when they needed it most. It’s clear that Governor Murphy will always step up for New Jersey working families and UFCW is proud to endorse him for re-election.”
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy: “I’m incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made in concert with our UFCW brothers and sisters to make New Jersey the stronger, fairer state that we know it can be, and that it must be. We’ve proven that when we work together, we can do great things for organized labor, for the working- and middle-class families who make our economy run, and for all of our fellow New Jerseyans. Earning the UFCW’s endorsement is a tremendous honor, and I look forward to building on our accomplishments.”
BACKGROUND:
UFCW has been a leading national voice for the union’s 62,000 New Jersey frontline workers serving our communities during this health crisis in grocery stores, food processing plants, and other essential businesses.
In November 2020, UFCW secured a new COVID hazard pay deal for 50,000 ShopRite grocery workers in New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut after many retailers cut that pay, despite the ongoing danger from the pandemic.
During his time as Governor, Phil Murphy has supported key issues and legislation that have made New Jersey workers’ lives better, including:
- Expanding Affordable Housing: When COVID-19 made it difficult for thousands of residents to pay their rent or their mortgage, Governor Murphy signed a series of bills to prevent foreclosures and keep people in their homes, including the landmark New Jersey Foreclosure Prevention Act.
- Combating Food Deserts: Governor Murphy has taken meaningful actions in his first term to combat food insecurity and food deserts and is committed to continuing to do so in his second term.
- Raising the Minimum Wage: Governor Murphy believes a stronger economy is underpinned by good jobs at better wages and under his leadership, New Jersey is now on a path to a $15 an hour minimum wage.
- Undertaking Sentencing Reform: Through the Governor’s Second Chance Agenda, New Jersey now has the most progressive expungement reform in the nation, allowing for the expungement of records of residents whose futures have been held back because of past convictions.
- Enacting Tuition-Free College: Governor Murphy signed legislation permanently establishing the Community College Opportunity Grant Program, which allows eligible students to attend any New Jersey community college without tuition or educational fees.
###
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.
