The Washington Post reports this morning about Oxnard, California, where the city council has "unanimously approved a measure last week to give anyone who worked at least three months in a grocery store or pharmacy during the first 12 months of the coronavirus pandemic a $1,000 bonus," using "$2.5 million in stimulus money allocated to the city by the American Rescue Plan."
The Post writes that Oxnard officials had considered following the path taken by a. umber of other west coast cities, imposting an hourly hazard pay mandate on retailers of a certain size, which businesses have decried as making it much harder to keep some stores economically viable.
However, the city took this approach once it was determined that "there was a mechanism in the stimulus law for doing such a thing.
"Oxnard’s decision avoids the confrontation between grocery store companies and officials that have taken place in other cities. It will also be quicker to institute and reach more workers, like those in smaller stores, officials said."
- KC's View:
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At least this city is putting its money where its mouth is. Workers get a nice little bonus, but retailers don't get screwed in the deal. Works for me.
