{"id":64405,"date":"2026-04-15T16:15:32","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T20:15:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/?post_type=press_releases&p=64405"},"modified":"2026-04-16T10:14:02","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T14:14:02","slug":"maryland-legislators-fail-to-protect-families-from-surveillance-pricing-says-ufcw","status":"publish","type":"press_releases","link":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/press-releases\/maryland-legislators-fail-to-protect-families-from-surveillance-pricing-says-ufcw\/","title":{"rendered":"Maryland Legislators Fail to Protect Families from Surveillance Pricing, says UFCW"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cBanning ESLs and laws that truly protect people from surveillance pricing are the only way to lower grocery prices and keep them predictable\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cH.B. 895 should be vetoed\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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ANNAPOLIS, MD.<\/strong> \u2013<\/strong> Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents 1.2 million essential workers across North America, including hundreds of thousands of grocery workers, released a statement in response to the Maryland State House passing legislation addressing surveillance pricing in grocery stores.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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UFCW International Vice President Ademola Oyefeso <\/strong>said:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cDespite inflation surging, Gov. Moore fighting to lower grocery prices, and strong public support<\/a> for banning electronic shelf labels, Maryland lawmakers have abandoned families struggling with high costs at the grocery store. By failing to fully protect Marylanders from predatory pricing strategies and ESLs, legislators have left massive corporations like Walmart an opening to price-gouge and exploit these well-meaning regulations. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cWithout a ban, corporations will have loopholes to hike prices with ESLs, based on time of day or location of the grocery store. These major investments will pay off for them at the expense of working families. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cMaryland leaders came up short in their efforts to shield customers and workers from predatory pricing at the grocery store. Banning ESLs and laws that truly protect people from surveillance pricing are the only way to lower grocery prices and keep them predictable. H.B. 895 should be vetoed by Gov. Moore, and we urge the legislature to go back to the drawing board. We encourage Marylanders to contact their elected officials and join us in this call.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Email press@ufcw.org<\/a> to speak with a spokesperson about the threat that surveillance pricing and electronic shelf labels pose to fair grocery prices and good, union jobs.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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BACKGROUND<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n
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