From Office of Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas
At the February 2, 2021 Council meeting, Council unanimously passed my emergency ordinance, effective immediately, requiring large grocery stores in Oakland to pay workers an additional $5/hr in hazard pay until Oakland reaches the Minimal / Yellow tier.
Gratitude to Alameda Labor Council, AFL CIO and UFCW Local 5 for their partnership and to Oakland's 2,000 grocery workers who've been on the frontlines of this pandemic providing necessities to our community everyday.
In Oakland, covered employers are Cardenas Markets / Mi Pueblo, Foods Co., Whole Foods, Grocery Outlet, Safeway, Smart and Final, Sprouts, Target, Trader Joe's, Lucky's / Save Mart / Food Maxx. Lucky's has been providing hazard pay throughout COVID, showing it's possible to justly compensate workers while turning a profit. It's time for our other large grocery retailers to join!
As large grocery corporations' profits have soared to record-high levels during this pandemic, this legislation helps to ensure our essential workers are justly compensated for their work, and that profits are shared with workers and their families.