{"id":66286,"date":"2026-09-09T08:49:51","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T12:49:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/?post_type=press_releases&p=66286"},"modified":"2026-09-09T08:49:53","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T12:49:53","slug":"new-afl-cio-tech-institute-report-finds-electronic-shelf-labels-cost-workers-billions-in-lost-wages","status":"publish","type":"press_releases","link":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/press-releases\/new-afl-cio-tech-institute-report-finds-electronic-shelf-labels-cost-workers-billions-in-lost-wages\/","title":{"rendered":"New AFL-CIO Tech Institute Report Finds Electronic Shelf Labels Cost Workers Billions in Lost Wages"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Americans could <\/em>suffer<\/em><\/a> up to $6.9 billion in lost wages annually, with 191,000 jobs lost<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 <\/strong>Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW)<\/strong><\/a>, which represents 1.2 million essential workers across North America, including 800,000 workers in the grocery industry, released a statement in response to a new report<\/a> from the AFL-CIO Tech Institute<\/strong> that finds the widespread adoption of electronic shelf labels (ESLs) would cost workers up to $6.9 billion in lost wages and hours and mean as much as 191,000 fewer jobs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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

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\u201cGrocery giants like to claim that electronic shelf labels will free up workers to serve customers directly, but this report shows this is not the case. Using studies and marketing material from the manufacturers pushing the technology, we know ESLs could actually cost workers and their families billions of dollars in lost income.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cWhen grocery store workers lose income, that means less money to spend at other stores and businesses in the community. ESLs also pose a threat to consumers by enabling surveillance pricing practices that would squeeze household budgets to their limit. Banning this technology should be a top priority for lawmakers at every level, like New Jersey has done with a moratorium on ESLs and a ban on predatory pricing practices outright. More states should follow suit to protect both shoppers and workers.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n

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

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