Union representing grocery retail and other essential DC workers condemns decision to exclude “hero pay” from the budget

WASHINGTON, DC (July 19, 2021) – DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson unveiled his budget proposal this afternoon and failed to include adequate funding for the Heroes Pay Act, which would have designated a small portion of federal relief funds for direct payments to essential workers. UFCW Local 400 President Mark Federici released the following statement to condemn the decision to exclude hero pay from the budget:

“We could not be more disappointed in Chairman Mendelson for refusing to fully fund the Heroes Pay Act. Even with federal funds specifically allocated for this sort of program, the chairman did not see fit to provide financial support to the essential workers who kept our city running day in and day out throughout the pandemic. These folks deserve more than praise, they deserve to be compensated for the risks they took and the sacrifices they made so the rest of us could stay home safe. But just like our members on the front lines, we won’t let this setback stop us – we’re going right back to work.”

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The United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400 is led by President Mark Federici and represents 35,000 members working in the grocery, retail, health care, food processing, service and other industries in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. www.ufcw400.org