“Neil is very skilled in presenting industry policies to the news media and public officials in a concise and compelling manner. He has used these talents on a wide range of critical issues, serving our industry over a career spanning five decades,” said Sarasin.
“For example, Neil has helped defeat many attempts to expand New York state’s 1982 bottle law. He has argued that the law is not broad enough; it should cover all materials that can be recycled. Just as important, supermarkets should not be bottle collection points. This creates sanitation problems, posing a public health risk. Early on, he advocated the need for curbside pickup for all recyclable items and separate centers to handle them, programs that are commonplace today,” she said.
“At the national level, Neil is the industry’s most outspoken leader in opposing the Employee Free Choice Act. This proposed bill — which Neil and the industry call the Employee ‘Forced Choice’ Act — would take away the fundamental American right of employees to have a secret-ballot election on whether to unionize their company. Under this bill, workers could organize simply by checking a card, an act that can easily be coerced by union leaders,” Sarasin said.
Golub has raised millions of dollars from the industry for The Workforce Fairness Institute, one of the main coalitions working to defeat the legislation.
“Neil’s success as an industry advocate draws in part from his remarkably high standing as a community servant,” she said.
Among the numerous charitable causes he supports is the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). For 27 years, he has chaired the local chapter and hosts its annual Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon. He raises millions of dollars for the Double H Hole in the Woods Camp for critically ill children in upstate New York.
Golub is the 14th recipient of the Woodard Award. Glen Woodard led public affairs advocacy in the supermarket industry during the second half of the 20th century, representing Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., and FMI.
Food Marketing Institute (FMI) conducts programs in public affairs, food safety, research, education and industry relations on behalf of its nearly 1,250 food retail and wholesale member companies in the United States and around the world. FMI’s U.S. members operate more than 25,000 retail food stores and almost 22,000 pharmacies with a combined annual sales volume of nearly $650 billion. FMI’s retail membership is composed of large multi-store chains, regional firms and independent operators. Its international membership includes 126 companies from more than 65 countries. FMI’s nearly 330 associate members include the supplier partners of its retail and wholesale members.
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