10 (5)Public Comment
From: Kevin Sanchez <
Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2021 4:06 PM
To: Public Comment
Subject: Public Comment on Agenda Item 10
Good evening, Mayor and Councilmembers. My name is Kevin Sanchez, and I am here to speak on item 10 on behalf of
the California Grocers Association. CGA respectfully asks you to not move forward with the grocery worker pay
ordinance given the state of the reopening of the economy combined with the negative consequences to grocery
workers, neighborhoods and the grocery industry.
We agree that grocery workers serve a vital and essential role during the pandemic. They have worked tirelessly to keep
stores open for consumers, allowing our communities to have uninterrupted access to food and medications.
To protect our employees, grocery stores were among the first and continue to implement numerous safety protocols,
including providing PPE and masks, performing wellness checks, enhancing sanitation and cleaning, limiting store
capacity, and instituting social distance requirements.
Grocery employees have also received a minimum of 160 hours of additional supplemental paid leave to care for
themselves and their families. This is on top of their already existing leave benefits.
Grocers have also provided employees additional pay and benefits in various forms, including hourly and bonus pay
averaging an extra $2 to $3 along with other significant forms of support that reduce their expenses and increase their
safety.
Most importantly, the industry fought for early access to the vaccine for all grocery workers who have been eligible since
February. Across California all grocery workers have been able to receive the vaccine and take paid leave to do so.
A broad reopening of the economy in Anaheim and across California is currently underway. We believe it is inconsistent
and harmful to reopening efforts for a local jurisdiction to label grocery stores as a hazard when it is not supported by
evidence and while simultaneously pushing to reopen hospitality, entertainment and other retail operations.
Finally, this policy would increase employment costs to grocers by as much as 30% overnight. This significant increase
would severely impact store viability and result in increased prices for groceries, limited operating hours, reduced hours
for workers, fewer workers per store, and most concerning, possible store closures.
We respectfully implore the Council to not move forward with the grocery worker pay ordinance at this time.
Sincerely,
Kevin