{"id":64880,"date":"2026-06-06T12:37:39","date_gmt":"2026-06-06T16:37:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/?post_type=press_releases&p=64880"},"modified":"2026-06-07T12:43:44","modified_gmt":"2026-06-07T16:43:44","slug":"new-york-takes-strong-first-step-but-falls-short-of-protecting-consumers-from-predatory-pricing-in-grocery-stores","status":"publish","type":"press_releases","link":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/press-releases\/new-york-takes-strong-first-step-but-falls-short-of-protecting-consumers-from-predatory-pricing-in-grocery-stores\/","title":{"rendered":"New York Takes Strong First Step but Falls Short of Protecting Consumers from Predatory Pricing in Grocery Stores"},"content":{"rendered":"
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66 percent of New Yorkers <\/em>support<\/u><\/em><\/a> banning surveillance pricing and ESLs from grocery stores <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Large corporations taking advantage of lack of restrictions by <\/em>rushing<\/u><\/em><\/a> to roll out ESLs<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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ALBANY, N.Y.<\/strong> \u2013<\/strong> Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union<\/u><\/a><\/strong>, UFCW Local Unions across New York<\/strong>, and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU)<\/u><\/a><\/strong> released a statement on the failure of the New York State Assembly to pass The Protecting Consumers and Jobs from Discriminatory Pricing Act<\/u><\/a><\/strong>, which would protect consumers by banning surveillance pricing and electronic shelf labels (ESLs) from grocery stores across New York. The New York State Assembly passed the One Fair Price Act<\/u><\/a><\/strong>, which aims to curb surveillance pricing without banning ESLs. <\/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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\u201cThe New York State Assembly took a step in the right direction today. Unfortunately, it stopped short of protecting consumers from predatory pricing schemes by failing to ban electronic shelf labels from grocery stores. ESLs have the ability to change prices at a moment\u2019s notice, and banning them is the foolproof way to prevent surveillance pricing for necessities like food. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cIf lawmakers truly want to address the affordability crisis facing New Yorkers, they must pass The Protecting Consumers and Jobs from Discriminatory Pricing Act<\/em> next session and end price gouging at the grocery store once and for all.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n

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New York, along with 11 other states, first introduced this legislation in support of the UFCW\u2019s<\/u><\/a><\/strong> \u201cAffordable Groceries and Good Jobs Campaign<\/u><\/a><\/strong>,\u201d 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. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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

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BACKGROUND<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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