Tigard, Oregon – UFCW Local 555 applauds Oregon’s Democratic candidate for Attorney General, State Rep. Dan Rayfield, for his recent commitment to protect consumers from systematic price gouging by big retailers. If elected, UFCW Local 555 is calling on him to investigate Fred Meyer (Kroger) for possible systematic price gouging on essential items purchased with WIC and SNAP benefits during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Testimony from the Kroger/Albertsons FTC merger trail indicates that Kroger inflated prices on staple items such as milk and eggs at a time when access to affordable food was essential for families struggling during the pandemic. This practice likely targeted countless WIC and SNAP recipients across Oregon, exacerbating food insecurity and making it more difficult for low-income families to meet their basic needs.
“As a union representing more than 35,000 workers, we are deeply concerned about Kroger’s possible exploitation of vulnerable communities during a public health crisis,” said Miles Eshaia, Communications Coordinator of UFCW Local 555. “We call on the likely incoming Attorney General, Dan Rayfield, to prioritize an investigation into Kroger’s pricing practices and hold the company accountable if they were found to have systematically price gouged on WIC and SNAP items.”
“Oregon’s consumer protection laws are designed to protect residents from unfair business practices, like price gouging during a public health emergency. This is not only unethical but could also be against state law. UFCW Local 555 believes that a thorough investigation by the Attorney General’s office is necessary to uncover the extent of the harm done to Oregonians relying on WIC and SNAP benefits.” – Dan Clay, President of UFCW Local 555.
Rep. Rayfield has been endorsed by UFCW Local 555 in his race for Attorney General. The union appreciates that his commitment to justice and the well-being of Oregonians has impelled him to take swift and decisive action on this urgent issue.