Monthly Archives: May 2018

The UFCW International issued a statement in response to the White House “Artificial Intelligence for American Industry” summit on May 10, which brought together American business leaders to talk about artificial intelligence (AI). Senior government officials, heads of industrial research labs, and technical experts from academic institutions also attended the summit.

Perrone’s statement reads as follows:

“The threat of joblessness due to increased automation is massive and it is beyond time we all came together to discuss solutions.

“To most companies, the desire to automate jobs is not about increasing productivity or improving the service experience; it’s about maximizing profit by eliminating labor costs.

“A strong and functioning society does not exist unless there are jobs for people to earn a living, support a family and build a better life.

“We hope today’s summit is a start towards harnessing technology so that it creates better jobs and an economy that enriches us all, rather than a chosen few.”

UFCW locals participated in Workers’ Memorial Day events during the last week of April to remember workers who have been injured or killed in the workplace in the U.S. and around the world. Officially, Workers’ Memorial Day is April 28, and is a day to renew the fight for strong workplace safety and health protections.

Members of UFCW Local 1473 participated in Workers’ Memorial Day events in Madison and Milwaukee. At both events, members stood in honor of their fellow workers who lost their lives on the job.  In Madison, Recording Secretary Chad Whiteside read the names of the workers that had most recently lost their lives in Wisconsin.

Members of UFCW Local 324 joined the Orange County Labor Federation for a march and rally in Anaheim, California. UFCW Local 555 members participated in a Workers’ Memorial Day event in Portland, Oregon, which was sponsored by the Northwest Oregon Labor Council. Members of RWDSU/UFCW Local 338 participated in the Long Island Workers’ Memorial ceremony, and attended a mass at St. Patrick’s church in Long Island to honor working men and women who have been killed due to workplace injuries or illnesses.

If your local participated in a Workers’ Memorial Day event, please send photos and a brief description of the event to janderson@ufcw.org.