The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion Tuesday that would require larger grocery and drug retail stores in unincorporated portions of the county to pay their  workers an additional $5 per hour in “hero pay.”

During their regular meeting Tuesday, the board passed the “hero pay” motion 4-0, with Supervisor Kathryn Barger abstaining, which directs county counsel to deliver a report containing an urgency ordinance that requires larger grocery and drug retail stores located in the unincorporated areas of the county to pay all of their workers an additional $5 per hour for 120 days.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, frontline grocery and drug retail workers have continued to show up to work despite the dangers of being exposed to COVID-19,” Supervisor Hilda Solis said during Monday’s COVID-19 update. “Given the nature of these jobs, they are staying inside with large crowds every day, putting them at heightened risk of contracting COVID-19.” 

Barger says she abstained from voting for the measure because of “unavailable substantive information and answers, a lack of feedback from the key stakeholders involved, and potential inconsistencies in the application of a proposed pay increase that could further hurt vulnerable residents and communities. ”

“I am concerned the Board is voting on a substantial pay increase for all employees, regardless of their position or salary, without taking the time to carefully consider the potential impacts of these decisions,” Barger said in a statement issued after the meeting. “Grocery stores currently report a slim 2.2% profit margin due to additional costs and supply chain issues as a result of COVID-19. Lacking any true dialogue on this issue with grocery store representatives, the business community and other key stakeholders, we do not know if this significant wage increase could have unintended consequences to the very people we intend to help, leading to a rise in food prices and costs for our residents and reduced hours and benefits for the employees.”

Companies within the unincorporated areas of the county fall under this ordinance if they publicly traded or have at least 300 employees nationwide, as well as more than 10 employees per store site.

“Such grocery 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,” the motion reads.

The motion was introduced by Supervisors Solis and Holly Mitchell, who point to both the heightened risk of exposure to COVID-19 these workers experience and the increase in profits of publicly-traded retailers as justification for the motion.

“Because of their work on the frontlines, grocery and drug retail workers have met the frantic pace of demand to keep County residents fed and ensure access to medicine during this pandemic,” the motion reads. “This has been the case since the beginning of the pandemic, with people across the nation rushing to grocery and drug retail stores to stock up on supplies bracing for the unknown.”

Research cited in the text of the motion found that employees with direct customer exposure were five times more likely to test positive for COVID-19.

See Related: L.A. County Board Of Supervisors To Consider ‘Hero Pay’ For Grocery Workers

“Grocery retailers have experienced an increase in outbreaks with nearly 500 businesses currently under investigation in the County alone,” the motion reads. “The inability to practice social distancing consistently at work due to large crowds has not only increased exposure risks but also contributed to the psychological distress workers have felt during the pandemic.”

The motion also cites a study from the Brookings Institution, which found that the top, publicly traded retailers saw a 40% increase in profit in 2020, averaging $16.7 billion, while their stock prices increased by an average of 33%.

“Although these inequalities have been exposed and are out in the open for us to finally discuss and address, this public health crisis and the economic unraveling have widened the already deep divide between low-wage frontline workers and their employers and shareholders,” the motion reads.

In addition to applying to the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, the motion also requires county counsel to deliver a report to the supervisors that advises whether or not such an ordinance could apply to incorporated areas of the county, which would include the City of Santa Clarita.

The report for the urgency ordinance must be submitted to the board prior to their Jan. 26 meeting.

The full text of the motion can be viewed here.

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.