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 release of the February 23, 2021 Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting agenda. There is one item in particular that could impact you.

Workers Who Could Be Impacted: Grocery Retail and Drug Retail Workers in Unincorporated LA County

Agenda items 10 and 36 “‘Hero Pay’ for Frontline-Grocery Workers and Drug Retailers in Los Angeles County”

As discussed in a prior post, On January 5, 2021, a Motion was introduced by Chair Hilda Solia (1st District) and Chair Pro Tem Holly Mitchell (2nd District) that called for a “written report that…Contains a proposed Urgency Ordinance that, among other things…Requires that stores located in the unincorporated areas of the County of Los Angeles, that are covered by Appendix B-1 of the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health Targeted Temporary Safer at Home Health Officer Order, and are publicly traded or have at least 300 employees nationwide and more than 10 employees per store site pay all of their workers an additional five (5) dollars per hour in wages.”

Now, a Motion will be introduced to approve the Ordinance. The Motion reiterates “[g]rocery and drug retail workers are among the heroes of this pandemic, putting their lives on the line – often for low wages and minimal benefits- in order to sustain our food system and maintain healthy communities. Despite their importance to our communities, their employers have not provided sufficient family-sustaining wages and ‘Hero Pay’ during the recent surge of COVID-19 cases. It is imperative for this Board to act with urgency to support these workers to be justly compensated for the unprecedented risks they encounter on the job during this pandemic and require their employers to provide for ‘Hero Pay.’”

Therefore, the Motion calls for “the Board of Supervisors [to] approve the attached urgency Ordinance to amend Title 8 – Consumer Protection, Business, & Wage Regulations of Los Angeles County, to require grocery retail and drug retail employers to provide an additional $5 per hour hazard pay to employees working frontline positions as compensation for the hazards these employees face during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The Motion also calls for “the Board of Supervisors [to] direct the Department of Consumer & Business Affairs, in consultation with the Workforce, Development, Aging, & Community Services (WDACS), to report to the Board of Supervisors within 90 days of the date of adoption on the effectiveness of the provisions of the Ordinance, recommendations for additional provisions that further the intent of the Ordinance including workforce development opportunities, and whether the provisions of the Ordinance are still necessary based on the County’s recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

According to an Analysis of the Ordinance completed by the County Counsel, “[t]his ordinance is an urgency measure that will take immediate effect upon its approval by at least a four-fifths vote of the Board of Supervisors.”

We hope these updates are helpful to you.

Fraternally,

SR Holguin, PC