Sunday, April 18, 2021

Paying With Someone Else's Money

Not only are those employees not going to get their "hero pay", but they're either losing their jobs or having to change work locations:

Retail chain Kroger closed two California stores Saturday after Long Beach City approved a coronavirus "hero pay" ordinance.

Hero pay ordinances bump pay for workers in retail stores and pharmacies with 300 or more workers due to the hazards of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Long Beach, eligible workers have seen a $4 per hour increase in their wages.

Democratic Mayor Robert Garcia approved the ordinance in January. Other cities in California have taken similar measures, with Los Angeles approving "hero pay" in March at $5 an hour.

Local leaders and union workers applauded the move, but the measure did not pass entirely with fanfare: The California Grocers Association immediately filed for an injunction on the pay hike, but a federal judge denied the effort...

In response, Kroger started to close stores in cities where "hero pay" ordinances exist. The retail chain first announced intentions to close two Long Beach locations in February, stirring protests from workers and union members.

Kroger claimed the stores were "underperforming" and that employees were given the chance to transfer to other locations, FOX Los Angeles reported.

Who could possibly have foreseen this?  Why, it's almost as if people and corporations aren't static, that they respond to stimuli or something.

If Long Beach wanted to provide "hero pay", let the city pay the extra amount and let the taxpayers decide if that's the government they want.  Expecting a third party to pay?  Only Democrats could come up with an idea so stupid and pat themselves on the back for being so gennnnnnerous and carrrrrring.

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