On November 19, the UFCW, Jobs With Justice, and community partners from across New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts held grassroots actions calling on Price Rite Supermarkets to publicly commit to providing better wages and benefits to hard-working Price Rite men and women.
Price Rite runs 58 stores across eight states and employs thousands of hard-working men and women. Among the many issues affecting many of the workers in the area are low wages, inconsistent scheduling, unpaid sick leave, and other poor employment practices proliferated by stores like Price Rite.
The campaign to “Change Price Rite for the Better” is part of regional and national effort to highlight the need for retail companies, like Price Rite, to pay the hard-working men and women better wages, provide better benefits, offer consistent scheduling, and respect on the job.
The group also announced a new ad campaign to raise public awareness about Price Rite’s failure to “do what’s right.” The 30-second commercial aired in markets including Syracuse, N.Y., Bridgeport, Conn., and in several other local media markets. The ad can be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpZwYXGnN_A&feature=youtu.be
“Price Rite doesn’t pay its hard-working men and women the wages and benefits that they deserve. Too many of our families are suffering because of irresponsible employers like Price Rite, who can and must do better,” said Tom Clarke, Director of UFCW Region 1.
The current phase of the “Change Price Rite for the Better” campaign will involve a series of coordinated public actions that will reach out to educate thousands of Price Rite customers to support Price Rite employees’ efforts to better their lives. Last week’s actions will serve as a response to a recent Price Rite company letter to customers. In the company letter, customers are told to dismiss efforts and actions that call for Price Rite workers to have a better life. 
During the actions, the UFCW, Jobs With Justice, local clergy, and other allies will be holding rallies outside of Price Rite stores. At the rallies, a delegation made up of representatives from each group is coming together to deliver a letter to Price Rite management telling the company that “the time to change is now” and to publicly commit to providing better wages, better benefits and better scheduling for Price Rite employees.
Customers and allies will also be delivering letters of support to Price Rite workers telling them that they are not alone in this fight for a better life. A copy of the letter to workers is available below in English and Spanish.
For more information about the worker campaign and upcoming actions visit the campaign’s Facebook page.
Price Rite Letter to Workers
November 19, 2015
To the Hard-working Men and Women at Price Rite,
Every day you work hard to support yourself and your family.
Your work is vital to Price Rite and the countless number of customers you serve all across the community you call home.
Because of your hard work, you have earned a better wage, better benefits, and a better life.
We know that Price Rite executives have said in a recent letter to you that you are member and part of a “team,” and that you should not listen to what we say.
But what kind of team tells their members “NO” when they ask for a raise, better benefits, or a stable schedule so they can spend time with their family or friends?
The truth is that members of a team are valued.
Members of a team are rewarded for their hard work and commitment.
So, please don’t take our word for it. Ask your manager for a raise and see what they say.
Ask for retirement benefits and see what they say.
Ask for a schedule and work hours that make it possible to have control over your life.
Sadly, the answer, as we’ve heard from so many of your co-workers, will be no – and that is why we believe Price Rite is wrong.
Working together, we can change Price Rite.
Working together, we can change Price Rite for the better and provide the better life you and your family have earned.
Because when all is said and done, not you or anyone at Price Rite, should have to struggle alone.
Sincerely,
Price Rite Letter to Workers (Spanish)
19 de noviembre de 2015
Para los hombres y las mujeres trabajadores de Price Rite:
Todos los días usted trabaja duro para mantenerse a sí mismo y a su familia.
Su trabajo es fundamental para Price Rite y para los innumerables clientes a quienes atiende en toda la comunidad, a la que usted llama su hogar.
Debido a su arduo trabajo, ha obtenido un mejor salario, mejores beneficios y una mejor vida.
Sabemos que los ejecutivos de Price Rite le han dicho en una reciente carta que usted es un miembro y parte de un “equipo”, y que no debería escuchar lo que decimos.
Pero, ¿qué clase de equipo les dice a sus miembros “NO” cuando piden un aumento salarial, mejores beneficios o un horario estable para poder pasar tiempo con sus familias y amigos?
La verdad es que a los miembros de un equipo se les valora.
Los miembros de un equipo son recompensados por su arduo trabajo y compromiso.
Pero no se fíe sólo de nuestra palabra. Pidan un aumento salarial a su gerente y veamos qué dicen.
Pidan los beneficios de jubilación y veamos qué dicen.
Pidan una programación y horario de trabajo que hagan posible tener control sobre su vida.
Lamentablemente, como hemos escuchado de muchos de sus compañeros de trabajo, la respuesta será no, y es por eso que consideramos que Price Rite está equivocado.
Trabajando juntos, podemos cambiar a Price Rite.
Trabajando juntos, podemos mejorar Price Rite para bien y darle la vida que usted y su familia se merecen y han obtenido.
Porque cuando todo esta dicho y hecho, ni usted ni sus compañeros de Price Rite deberían luchar solos.
Atentamente,