Grocery union urges new lawmakers to ban digital shelf labels
Union urges Democrats to ban electronic shelf labels, citing price gouging and job security concerns.
The largest grocery workers union is taking aim at digital price tags. Larry Rulison/Albany Times Union via Getty Images (Photo via Business Insider)
The United Food and Commercial Workers union is calling on newly elected Democratic lawmakers to pass legislation prohibiting the use of electronic shelf labels and surveillance pricing in grocery stores. The union, which represents more than 1.2 million workers, issued the request on Nov. 4, 2026, following the midterm election results.
Milton Jones, the international president of the UFCW, stated that the technology facilitates corporate price gouging and poses a threat to retail employment. Jones argued that a federal ban is necessary to protect shoppers and preserve union jobs within the industry.
Retailers, including major chains like Walmart and Kroger, have increasingly adopted digital tags to replace traditional printed labels. Industry representatives maintain that these systems improve operational efficiency and ensure pricing accuracy throughout their stores.
The push for federal regulation follows state-level actions regarding retail pricing technology. New Jersey has previously enacted a ban on surveillance pricing along with a one-year moratorium on electronic shelf labels, while Maryland has introduced requirements for retailers to maintain fixed prices for at least one business day.
Federal oversight of these practices is also increasing. The Federal Trade Commission recently requested that several major grocery chains submit detailed reports concerning their pricing strategies. FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson noted that consumers have a right to know if their personal data or web habits are being used to estimate the maximum price they might be willing to pay.