The United Food and Commercial Workers union is calling on newly elected Democrats to ban digital price tags and surveillance pricing in grocery stores, framing the technology as a threat to both shoppers’ wallets and store jobs.
The 1.2-million-member union issued its statement after celebrating labor-backed victories in this year’s midterm elections. In it, UFCW president Milton Jones urged lawmakers to act against electronic shelf labels—the remotely updatable digital tags that are replacing printed prices—and against pricing that relies on personal data. Jones said such a ban would protect shoppers from corporate price gouging.
Why the union is targeting shelf labels
The push comes as major retailers like Walmart and Kroger continue swapping paper price tags for digital versions that can be changed from a central system. The UFCW argues that the shift raises affordability concerns for customers and threatens the grocery jobs that remain in stores.
The union’s statement follows growing scrutiny of the technology. Last week, the Federal Trade Commission said it had ordered several of the largest grocery chains to prepare detailed reports on their pricing practices. FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson said consumers deserve to know whether companies are using web surfing habits or other personal data to estimate the highest price they can charge each individual.
States move ahead of federal action
Some states have already taken steps. New Jersey banned surveillance pricing and imposed a one-year moratorium on electronic labels earlier this year. Maryland now requires retailers to lock in prices for at least one business day.
Retailers have defended the tools, saying they simplify a labor-intensive process and improve accuracy. They also maintain that their pricing has been fair and transparent and will remain so. Walmart and Target each issued statements last month saying they do not use personal information to charge shoppers higher prices and will not do so in the future. Both chains still offer personalized discounts through promotions and membership programs.
A test for newly elected Democrats
The UFCW’s call puts the issue squarely before Democrats who won races this cycle with labor support. The union wants legislation that keeps digital price tags and personalized pricing out of grocery stores, arguing that doing so addresses affordability and preserves in-store jobs.
With the FTC collecting pricing data from large chains and states like New Jersey and Maryland already acting, the debate over how grocery prices are set—and who gets to change them—is moving from store aisles to the political arena.