United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 1500, New York State’s largest grocery workers union today announced its endorsement of Jessica Ramos to be the next New York State Senator to represent the constituents from District 13.
“Working in the Labor movement for over a decade, Jessica has shown strong leadership, aggressively fighting for her Union brothers and sisters while also organizing within her community,” said UFCW Local 1500 President Anthony G. Speelman. “UFCW Local 1500 is excited to support Jessica Ramos and help her bring her strong working-class values and deep understanding of working women and men’s values to the New York Senate, ” Speelman concluded.
UFCW 1500 represents 18,000 members and promotes progressive policies such as demanding Walmart be held accountable for its unethical business practices, supporting the expansion of supermarkets into underserved communities and creating good food, good jobs and good health for all New Yorkers. Other Issues of importance to Local 1500 members include aggressive wage theft prosecution, demanding labor standards be attached to corporate subsidies and strengthening New York City land use laws.
UFCW Local 1500 has an active “Women’s Network Program,” which addresses issues particular to women such as domestic violence and breast cancer. Over half of UFCW Local 1500’s members are women.
“Jessica Ramos has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of working families for many years,” said Robert W. Newell Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of UFCW Local 1500. “We know that Jessica will be an aggressive fighter for the residents of Queens and will bring the same passion that she has for improving the lives of her Union members to the New York State Senate. UFCW Local 1500 members look forward to helping elect a true labor candidate in the 13th district” Newell concluded.
“Thank you, Anthony G. Speelman, Robert W. Newell Jr. and UFCW Local 1500 for their strong support and commitment to our effort to build a coalition to make a difference for our working families our immigrants and our youth in Queens,” stated Ramos.
UFCW Local 1500 has members in New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties. Members of Local 1500 are employed by Stop and Shop, Shop Rite, Fairway, King Kullen, Gristedes, D’Agostinos, Key Food and workers at the Hale and Hearty Commissary. Learn more at www.ufcw1500.org
We are over 18,000 workers standing together to build an economy that every hard-working family in New York deserves. Join the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1500 at ufcw1500.org and follow us @ufcw1500.