Poll Finds New Yorkers Overwhelmingly Support Ban on Electronic Shelf Labels and Surveillance Pricing in Grocery Stores

64 percent of New Yorkers worry electronic shelf labels will cause grocery prices to increase.

66 percent of New Yorkers in favor of banning this technology in grocery stores, with strong support across party lines.

POLLING MEMO AVAILABLE

ALBANY, N.Y. - Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Locals 1, 338 RWDSU, 342, 1500, and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) released a poll from GBAO Strategies that shows overwhelming bipartisan support among New Yorkers for banning electronic shelf labels (ESLs) and surveillance pricing in grocery stores. This technology enables corporations to exploit shoppers' personal data to set individualized prices that can change in the blink of an eye. This comes as New York state lawmakers, led by Senator Michael Gianaris (D-12) and Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages (D-22), consider legislation to ban these practices and technologies.

Presidents of UFCW Locals 1, 338 RWDSU/UFCW, 342, 1500, and the RWDSU, which represent retail grocery workers in New York, said:

"Our members know the dangers that electronic shelf labels pose to consumers and grocery workers alike. This poll confirms that the majority of New Yorkers understand the same thing.

"Grocery prices in our state are among the highest in the country. The last thing shoppers need is to have personal data like their zip code or shopping habits used to squeeze every last dollar out of their pockets. We're proud to support the lawmakers pushing to protect New Yorkers from this predatory technology."

UFCW International Vice President Ademola Oyefeso said:

"Shoppers across New York are already facing record-high grocery prices. Electronic shelf labels, with their ability to change prices at a moment's notice, threaten to drive up costs even higher.

"This poll confirms that New Yorkers understand just how dangerous this technology is and expect their elected officials, regardless of political party, to take action. The UFCW applauds the lawmakers who are standing up for consumers and workers, and urges the entire legislature to make these bills law before the end of session."

New York is among 12 states to have joined the UFCW's "Affordable Groceries and Good Jobs Campaign" to ban the predatory practice of surveillance pricing, target the encroachment of AI-driven technology in grocery stores, and deliver fair prices for families while preserving good, union grocery jobs.

Email [email protected] to speak with a spokesperson about the threat that ESLs and surveillance pricing pose to fair grocery prices and good, union jobs. The polling memo is available here.

BACKGROUND

• The poll finds that 64 percent of New York voters think ESLs and 69 percent think surveillance pricing will cause grocery prices to increase.

• Support for proposed legislation in the state cuts across party lines, with 66 percent in favor of banning this technology in grocery stores.

• Retailers cannot be trusted to do the right thing, with 66 percent of respondents saying they don't trust grocery stores to use the technology responsibly.

• ESLs also threaten the livelihoods of grocery workers. These systems could replace the skilled work of grocery clerks or, at the very least, leave them to explain a company's actions to rightfully angry shoppers. The UFCW represents more than 800,000 grocery workers across North America. UFCW members are essential to keeping our communities fed, and they know how disruptive ESLs could be for workers and shoppers alike.
  

###

The UFCW International is the largest private sector union in the United States, representing 1.2 million workers and their families in grocery, meatpacking, food processing, health care, cannabis, retail, and other essential industries. UFCW members serve our communities in all 50 states, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Learn more about the UFCW at ufcw.org.

The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) represents 100,000 members throughout the United States. The RWDSU is affiliated with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW). For more information, please visit our website at www.rwdsu.org, Facebook:/RWDSU.UFCW Twitter:@RWDSU.