Union leaders and representatives of small wine and liquor stores are urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to reject legislation that would allow grocery stores in New York to sell wine.
The United Food and Commercial Workers and the Metropolitan Package Store Association say the proposed “wine in grocery stores” legislation would threaten union jobs and locally owned retailers across the state.
In a letter to the governor, 13 UFCW local presidents representing workers in wine and liquor sales, warehouses, delivery and food production said the legislation would allow large grocery chains to expand their market power.
The union leaders said the bill could lead to the loss of hundreds of union jobs tied to the current system in which wine is sold through licensed wine and liquor stores.
The Metropolitan Package Store Association, which represents more than 3,300 independent wine and liquor stores statewide, said the proposal could also threaten small family-owned retailers that employ thousands of workers.
Industry representatives said grocery chains could shift wine sales away from local stores if allowed to sell wine, potentially concentrating sales among large retailers.
Supporters of the opposition effort argue the proposal would not increase overall wine consumption but would instead redistribute sales from liquor stores to supermarkets.
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