FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 10, 2021

Contact: Chelsea Connor | cconnor@rwdsu.org | 347-866-6259

 STATEMENT ON GOV. HOCHUL ACTION TO ADDRESS WINTER COVID-19 SURGE FROM RWDSU PRESIDENT STUART APPELBAUM

“The safety of workers, customers and all New Yorkers is our primary concern as the winter COVID-19 surge is upon us. Grocery, pharmacy and retail workers are at high risk of exposure to COVID-19 because they have public-facing jobs. And many are essential workers at stores we have relied on throughout the pandemic. They are in contact with hundreds of people every day – and in some places, workers may be in contact with more than a thousand people a day. Today’s announcement by Governor Hochul will help keep our members safe as well as the general public. We support these measures, and we know they will save lives.” 

“We urge employers to responsibly enforce mask policies in coordination with State Government authorities. Let us be clear, it is the employers' responsibility - and not that of their workers - to tell people to leave a store if they are not wearing face masks.” said Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).

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 The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) represents 100,000 members throughout the United States. The RWDSU is affiliated with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW). For more information, please visit our website at www.rwdsu.org, Facebook:/RWDSU.UFCW Twitter:@RWDSU.