On August 21, the UFCW responded to the announcement of a merger between southeastern retail grocers Aldi, Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket.
“We are firmly against the Aldi Winn-Dixie proposed merger, and any merger that further consolidates the grocery industry at the expense of essential workers, our communities, and customers,” said UFCW International President Marc Perrone in a statement. “With food inflation at record levels, consumers need more choices, not fewer, and more food access, not less. Given the role of essential grocery workers in our communities, it is inexplicable that one would propose mergers that will lead to a loss of these critical jobs. As we have seen for decades, grocery store mergers are a clear threat to both workers and consumers.”
“The fact that companies like Aldi and Winn-Dixie seek to hide is that when large grocery chains merge, it not only threatens competition but leads to lower wages, higher food prices, and more food deserts for rural and underserved communities,” Perrone added. “We urge the Federal Trade Commission to review this merger critically – especially given the proposed Kroger Albertsons mega-merger – to determine what the negative impacts will be for workers, consumers, and communities.”