Policy Resolution LWD-24-35

WHEREAS, grocery stores employ more than 1.3 million workers across the United States;

WHEREAS, during the COVID-19 pandemic, grocery store workers risked their health and safety to ensure that our nation’s food supply was safe, grocery store shelves remained stocked, and pharmacies continued to distribute medication;

WHEREAS, access to healthy food is a significant problem for millions of Americans and overwhelmingly impacts low-income urban communities, rural communities, and communities of color;

WHEREAS, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Black (9.2 percent) and Latinx (7 percent) households are disproportionately impacted by very low food security, with rates in 2022 double the rate of White households (4 percent);

WHEREAS, the food insecurity rate is highest in the South (11.4 percent), followed by the Midwest (9.9 percent), West (9.7 percent), and Northeast (8.8 percent);

WHEREAS, during the pandemic, grocery stores saw record profits;

WHEREAS, in October 2022, Kroger, and Albertsons, two of the largest supermarket chains in the United States, announced their intent to merge;

WHEREAS, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) is concerned that this merger could result in layoffs and higher prices for consumers and will further worsen the food desert crisis; and

WHEREAS, NBCSL is committed to the protection and empowerment of Black workers and workers of color.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL)call on Kroger and Albertsons to ensure that the proposed merger is beneficial to workers, the community, and consumers by ensuring the continued long-term employment, benefits, and bargaining rights for workers, the viability of all resulting entities, and no increase in the prevalence of food deserts in any community; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, and other federal and state government officials as appropriate.

• Resolution ID: HHS-24-35
• Sponsored by: Sen. Karla May (MO)
• Policy Committee: Labor and Workforce Development (LWD)