United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 5 Opposes Measure Z

Local labor endorses Campaign for an Affordable Santa Cruz, stands against regressive Santa Cruz beverage tax

SANTA CRUZ – The United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 5 (UFCW) announced today its opposition to Measure Z. UFCW Local 5 represents 30,000 members, including more than 5,000 union workers in the Santa Cruz area.

This endorsement is the latest example of the diverse coalition of labor and businesses that are standing together to keep Santa Cruz affordable for working families. The regressive beverage tax on the Nov. 5 ballot places an unfair burden on Santa Cruz workers who are already struggling to make ends meet. The men and women represented by the UFCW are essential workers who have been on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic. These employees of local grocery stores, retail outlets and food processing facilities would be disproportionately impacted by the increased cost of living that Measure Z would make even worse. This proposed tax would match the highest such tax in the nation and risks the already shrinking employment opportunities for grocery and restaurant workers in Santa Cruz.

"Our members are deeply rooted in Santa Cruz and dedicated to building strong, healthy communities. A regressive tax like Measure Z does the opposite, hurting the very families it's intended to help. While we support initiatives that improve health and economic security, our workers shouldn’t have to sacrifice their livelihoods in the process, " said Efrain Aguilera, Union Representative for UFCW Local 5. “While proponents claim that additional tax revenue would support specific local programs, there is no certainty on how it will be spent. The only guarantee is that our members will pay the bill at a time when the cost of living in this community is at an all-time high.”

The Campaign for an Affordable Santa Cruz is made up of a broad coalition of social justice advocates, civic leaders, labor organizations and local businesses. Our coalition is opposed to Measure Z because of the harm it will do to working families, local businesses and their employees. The measure proposes a 2-cent per-ounce tax on everyday sugar-sweetened beverages like juice drinks, energy drinks, kombucha soda and coconut water. This tax is not, “a couple pennies” as proponents claim. It will increase prices dramatically, up to a 90% increase to the price of some beverages. Placed on the November ballot by the Santa Cruz City Council, this tax would have significant negative consequences for the community, threatening local jobs and increasing costs to already burdened consumers. 

Research has consistently shown that beverage taxes have minimal impact on changing consumer behavior, and have never been shown to improve public health.  A UC Davis study found that the beverage tax disproportionately affects lower-income households without improving their health outcomes. The revenue could be spent on anything and not necessarily go to health initiatives.

UFCW Local 5 joins Teamsters Joint Council 7 in uniting working families and union workers in opposition to Measure Z. For more information about the Campaign for an Affordable Santa Cruz and ways to get involved, visit www.keepscaffordable.com.