LA City Council votes to move forward on hazard pay for grocery workers
KABC
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to move forward with a proposed emergency ordinance that would require large grocery and pharmacy retailers to offer employees an additional $5 per hour in hazard day amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The vote requested the city attorney to prepare the ordinance and the chief legislative analyst to report on potential economic impacts of the ordinance and potential legal challenges.
Long Beach recently enacted an emergency ordinance for $4 per hour in hazard pay, but it was challenged in court by the California Grocers Association. A hearing is scheduled on Feb. 19. In response to the salary boost, grocery company Kroger announced on Monday it will be shuttering two of its stores in Long Beach -- a Ralphs location and a Food 4 Less store.