Council orders staff to draft self‑checkout staffing ordinance after heated public testimony

The Long Beach City Council on Tuesday voted to direct the city attorney to draft an ordinance establishing minimum staffing and operational requirements for self‑checkout operations at grocery and drug retail stores in the city, after hours of public testimony from workers, labor unions and business representatives.

The council approved asking staff to prepare an ordinance based on the city manager’s June 6 memo (option 4), which would require more employees be present to monitor and assist customers at self‑checkout stations and restrict how stores can rely on unattended automation. The motion includes a councilmember amendment requiring prominent signage informing the public and workers of their enforcement rights.

Councilwoman Mary Zendejas, a lead sponsor of the measure, framed the item as a worker‑safety and public‑safety proposal. “Safe stores are staffed stores,” she said during the meeting, urging colleagues to prioritize employee safety and customer service. Supporters — including union representatives and dozens of Long Beach residents — testified that understaffed self‑checkout areas have led to increased theft, confrontations and threats against workers and that employees are often discouraged from filing police reports.

Labor groups and grocery staff provided multiple first‑hand accounts of harassment, assaults and operational stress at self‑checkout counters; several workers said a single employee is sometimes asked to monitor multiple self‑checkout machines while performing other duties. Organizers urged council to adopt option 4 immediately and to include a private right of action so workers and community members can sue for noncompliance.

Business groups opposed a city‑specific rule, arguing the proposal singled out grocery and drug retailers while exempting other retail sectors that also use self‑checkout. The Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce urged the council to wait for state legislation (SB 442) then determine whether local rules are needed. The California Grocers Association warned of higher operating costs and potential store closures without data showing the regulation will reduce theft.

Council debate focused on balancing worker safety, public‑safety responsibilities, enforcement methods and potential economic impacts. Councilmember Joanie Ricks‑Ode proposed — and the council accepted — a friendly amendment to require the city to supply a sign template and translations and to post signage within 90 days of an ordinance’s effective date to inform workers and the public about enforcement pathways.

Councilmembers voted to have the city attorney draft the ordinance; the meeting record shows the motion carried. The transcript does not include a roll‑call tally in the minutes. Staff said the ordinance would be drafted and returned to council for a future hearing.