Labor organizations offered a sharply different assessment. Representatives of organizations covering approximately 22,000 grocery and retail workers across Southern California told city staff the ordinance has improved workplace safety, customer service, workloads and employee stress by reducing the number of self-checkout stations individual workers must monitor.
The consequences could extend beyond the checkout line. Some retailers told Long Beach officials that the city’s requirements are being considered in future decisions about whether to open additional stores in Long Beach, according to the memo.
Businesses recommended that the city reconsider or clarify several provisions, including the 15-item limit, restrictions involving locked merchandise, fine structures and a provision allowing customers or employees to bring civil claims over alleged violations.
City staff said it will continue monitoring implementation of similar rules elsewhere and related state legislation. The city did not identify the 13 establishments that participated in its outreach. Patch has reached to the city, but at the time of publication had received no response.