Budzinski moves to expand relief to grocery and food chain workers with UFCW support

U.S. Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.) is joining with other legislators to expand pandemic relief for grocery and food-chain workers into a permanent program for emergency help, with the support of United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW).

Budzinski has introduced the Grocery, Farm and Food Worker Stabilization Act, which provides support for disaster-related costs for farm, grocery and meatpacking workers. A companion bill has also been introduced in the U.S. Senate.

Budzinski said the COVID-19 pandemic showed the fragility of the U.S. food system and the challenging conditions faced by front-line food workers.

“As we continue to address supply chain concerns, I’m proud to be introducing bicameral legislation with (U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-OH) to ensure our frontline food workers have the safety net they need when these tough and often dangerous jobs face crisis or disaster,” Budzinski said.

ESSENTIAL WORKERS
Brown said that workers at grocery stores, farms and meatpacking plants are essential to making sure people have access to safe food.

“This bill would help protect food supply chains and prevent disruptions and food shortages by making sure that workers stay safe on the job, even during the most difficult times.”

The bill would create a permanent program for supporting essential workers in emergencies, expanding the Farm and Food Workers Relief Grant program. Created in 2021 during the pandemic, the FFWR program distributed $680 million in grants to meat processing, grocery store and farm workers, but it was a one-time grant program of approximately $600 in relief funds. Budzinski’s program would be a permanent solution to activate in times of crisis, including natural disasters.

ON THE FRONT LINES
The UFCW is supportive of the bill, applauding Brown and Budzinski for introducing the legislation to provide essential workers with help during times of crisis.

“Our members are on the front lines of our food supply chain, packing and processing meat, making sure that shelves are stocked, and helping customers get the food and goods they need to take care of their families,” said UFCW International President Marc Perrone. “Until now there has not been a dedicated fund to safeguard essential workers during natural disasters.”

He said the legislation will not only provide critical funding for essential work in times of crisis, but will strengthen the food supply chain over the long run.

UFCW was instrumental in distributing the original FFWR grant money through its charity foundation, along with Catholic Charities, Cherokee Nation, Hispanic Federation, National Center for Farmworker Health, United Migrant Opportunity Services, United Way of California, Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, and others.