SR Holguin, PC is a union-side labor and employment law firm with nearly four decades of experience representing private sector unions, public sector unions, and multi-employer trust funds. SR Holguin, PC is committed to providing full-service legal representation to each of our clients.
One way in which SR Holguin, PC ensures our clients and their members stay informed is by keeping you updated on recent developments relating to workers’ rights. Today’s updates come following the December 15, 2020 Long Beach City Council Meeting. There is one item in particular that could impact you.
Workers Who Could be Impacted: Grocery Workers in Long Beach
Councilmember Mary Zendejas (1st District), Councilmember Roberto Uranga (7th District), and Councilmember Rex Richardson (9th District) sent a Letter dated December 15, 2020 to the Mayor and City Council.
The Letter provided in part “[t]he global health pandemic has emphasized the importance of many workers in industries now highlighted as essential, including front-line grocery workers. Millions of frontline grocery workers nationwide have had to face new hazards in jobs not previously considered especially dangerous due to the virus…Due to these shifting emergency circumstances, at the beginning of the pandemic, a number of grocery companies initially provided extra COVID-19 related compensation to their workers. This bonus, commonly known as ‘Hero Pay,’ often was implemented as a temporary hourly wage increase or a one-off bonus for essential workers. However, as the impacts of the pandemic subsided in June, many retail companies ended their temporary wage increase, and there has yet to be a meaningful commitment to restoring it. This has occurred even as the pandemic has continued to disproportionately impact low wage workers, leaving some grocery workers as the primary earners in their households…As Long Beach perseveres during this time of uncertainty, and begin heading down the path of economic recovery, it is critical that we support front line grocery workers with ‘Hero Pay.’”
Therefore, the Letter recommended “to request the City Attorney to draft an urgency ordinance for consideration at the next City Council meeting to restore ‘Hero Pay’ hazard pay to front- line grocery workers at a rate of $4 per hour, to sunset 120 days after the approval of the ordinance.”
The matter was heard as revised agenda item 35 and passed unanimously. The City Attorney must now draft the urgency ordinance. It would then be considered by the City Council and, if adopted, presented to the Mayor. Mayor Robert Garcia has expressed his willingness to sign the ordinance if and when it is presented to him.
The item was supported by United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), Local 324.
We hope these updates are helpful to you.
Fraternally,
SR Holguin, PC
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