|
8.A. - Page 2 of 21
<br />ANALYSIS
<br />In recognition of the increased risk grocery workers face in the workplace during this period, an urgency
<br />ordinance requiring employers to increase their hourly pay by $5.00/hour should compensate them for
<br />the risks associated with this essential work. On top of hazard pay, the ordinance should include
<br />retroactive payment for the time spent without hazard pay, paid leave for Covid-19 vaccination, and credit
<br />for employer -initiated hazard pay. The ordinance should stay in effect for 120 days. The covered employer
<br />to which this should apply to should be a drug store or grocery store with 300 employees nationwide.
<br />Drug store in this case is defined as a retail or wholesale store that is located within the geographic limits
<br />of the City, and that sells primarily a general range of drugs, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and related
<br />products, including food products, which may be fresh or packaged. Grocery store should be defined as a
<br />retail or wholesale store that is located within the geographic limits of the City, and that sells primarily
<br />household foodstuffs for offsite consumption, including the sale of fresh produce, meats, poultry, fish,
<br />deli products, dairy products, canned foods, dry foods, beverages, baked foods, or prepared foods; or a
<br />retail or wholesale store that is over 85,000 square feet and with 10% of its sales floor area dedicated to
<br />sale of non-taxable foodstuffs including, but not limited to, the sale of fresh produce, meats, poultry, fish,
<br />deli products, dairy products, canned foods, dry foods, beverages, baked foods and/ or prepared foods.
<br />These provisions when passed should not be waived and any retaliatory action taken (including but not
<br />limited to termination, demotion, suspension, harassment, discrimination, reduction in pay) for
<br />employees exercising their rights under this ordinance should be prohibited.
<br />United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 5 and Local 648, two unions that represent grocery
<br />workers in San Francisco and the Bay Area, report that over 700 grocery workers in their ranks have tested
<br />positive with COVID-19, and members of their union have been hospitalized or lost their life to the
<br />coronavirus. Given the level of risk associated with the surge in COVID cases currently in San Mateo
<br />County, and the fact that the county continues to be above a yellow -tier status, hazard pay would be
<br />beneficial to workers as soon as possible.
<br />We value and celebrate a strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, safety, equality, and dignity for all
<br />individuals in Redwood City. The passage of such an ordinance would enhance the safety and dignity of
<br />our workers.
<br />FISCAL IMPACT
<br />Preparation of the referral has been accommodated within existing financial resources. No analysis has
<br />been completed on hazard pay to date so the fiscal impact is unknown. Preparation of an ordinance would
<br />require staff resources to conduct legal and policy analysis and to support Council deliberations. Staff
<br />would also review ordinances passed in other jurisdictions including South San Francisco.
<br />ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
<br />This activity is not a project under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as defined in CEQA
<br />Guidelines, section 15378, because it has no potential for resulting in either a direct or reasonably
<br />foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
<br />Page 2 of 3
<br />City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.ore
<br />44
<br />
|