Santa Monica To Boost 'Hero Pay' For Grocery, Drug Store Workers

SANTA MONICA, CA — Santa Monica City Council voted in a unanimous decision Tuesday night to approve a temporary pay boost or "hero pay"—a $5 increase—for grocery and drug store employees in the city.

The proposal was introduced by Councilmember Kevin McKeown last week. The measure would be similar to a temporary urgency ordinance that Los Angele County Supervisors are expected to approve on Jan. 26 for unincorporated areas in the county.

Shortly after midnight, the council voted to add the pay increase amid the pandemic and recognize workers for their service during the community emergency.

"We've been trying to get people to shelter at home and to only go out for the most essential trips, but even as I shelter here at home, the essential trips I—and everybody else—have to make are trips to the grocery store and to the drug store," McKeown said. "And at the other end of those trips are workers who are taking the risk of meeting with many members of the public in order to keep our Santa Monica residents fed and healthy."

At the beginning of the pandemic, stores offered hazard pay to those workers, but when the initial spike tapered off in May, that ended, he said. But the pandemic has not stopped, and the community continues to rely on these workers.

As workers face outbreaks at stores, including recent outbreaks at two Whole Foods Market locations in Santa Monica, they still haven't had any financial relief.

"Since then, those workers have not had the additional financial help that their families need," he said. "These are mostly low wage workers suffering through the pandemic, like the rest of us are, nor the extra incentive or recognition and appreciation that a temporary pay boost would mean."

"These people are taking a risk and they're taking that risk home to their families," McKeown said. "And if we can support them in some way I think we should."

He cited the city of Long Beach, which added a pay boost for essential workers, restoring "hero pay" back in December.

Councilmember Phil Brock was in favor but voiced concern that there could be economic impacts for grocery workers and stores, with some grocers indicating hours could be reduced, although noting this could be a scare tactic from corporations. He suggested that the council consider a lower amount than $5, but ultimately voted to approve the pay boost at that rate.

“I support those workers getting extra pay because my God, they’re around people all day long who may get COVID," Brock said. "And they have to be scared to death going home to their family."

Councilmember Gleam Davis argued that there was hero pay in the spring and that markets continued to remain open, with some showing profits during the pandemic.

"I don't believe that food prices went up substantially nor do I believe that any grocery stores in Santa Monica closed," Davis said.

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