WORKERS, COMMUNITY APPLAUD LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL ACTION ON REGULATING SELF-CHECKOUT
UFCW324
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2025
Contact: Jenna Thompson, 949.246.1620, jthompson@ufcw324.org
WORKERS, COMMUNITY APPLAUD LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL ACTION ON REGULATING SELF-CHECKOUT
Buena Park, CA – Today, the 22,000 members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 324, together with Long Beach residents and clergy, applaud the Long Beach City Council for becoming the first city in the country to proactively regulate self-checkout staffing to protect public safety.
Self-checkout has rapidly spread since its introduction in 1986 and now accounts for approximately one-third of all transactions in retail grocery and drug stores. While some companies tout self-checkout as a tool to streamline operations and enhance convenience, these systems have increasingly become a source of serious safety and service challenges.
“We’re sick of seeing grocery and retail drug companies where we represent members implement technology designed to eliminate workers’ jobs while creating a range of problems for retailers, workers, and the public alike,” said Andrea Zinder, President of UFCW Local 324. “It’s clear companies use self-checkout to cut staffing and drastically reduce labor costs—but now our members are expected to oversee as many as seven self-checkout stations while also ringing up customers at full-service lanes or cleaning up spills. This impacts the shopping experience and puts customers at risk. Long Beach has always led on pro-worker and public safety ordinances, and this action will continue to protect good jobs and keep workers safe.”
Retail workers are increasingly overwhelmed by the responsibility of managing multiple self-checkout stations with insufficient staffing, often while handling other duties. This situation elevates workplace tension and risk, especially when machines malfunction or customers become frustrated. The lack of human oversight makes it harder to prevent theft, and when theft occurs, workers are left to deal with the fallout, contributing to hostile work environments and unsafe conditions.
“Our employer pressures my co-workers and me to push customers to use self-checkout. Meanwhile, one person is made to supervise multiple machines while still performing other duties,” said Curtis Lawrence, a UFCW 324 member and Albertsons food clerk. “This increases customer theft, and when we try to prevent it, those interactions often become confrontational. My coworkers and I have been cursed at, threatened, had racial and homophobic slurs at us. Mainly when working alone – when other staff come to help the situation desculates.”
The growing trend of understaffing and over-reliance on self-checkout technology has created unsafe conditions for both workers and shoppers.
“Thefts and confrontations happen on every shift, and we’re left to deal with them alone. Even when things get dangerous, we’re not allowed to call the police – we risk getting written up or worse, fired. We’re frustrated and we’re exhausted –and it’s just not right,” said Linda Molina, a UFCW 324 member and clerk at a Long Beach Ralphs.
Customers – particularly seniors and people with disabilities – are often left struggling with self-checkout systems that they may not be able to use effectively. These vulnerable populations are underserved, isolated, and frequently face long wait times due to the lack of human assistance.
“Long Beach has a proud history of standing up for working people and protecting our communities,” said Rev. Jennifer Tafel from First Congregational Church of Long Beach, “By taking action on self-checkout staffing, our city is once again showing what it means to lead with courage and care—for seniors, for families, and for the workers who keep our neighborhoods running.”
“We’re seeing chronic understaffing at self-checkout stands create unsafe conditions for workers and shoppers alike,” said Councilwoman Mary Zendejas. “Retail workers have shared alarming stories of theft, threats, and violence—this ordinance is a direct response to their lived experiences.”
“This ordinance is about restoring balance,” said Councilwoman Tunua Thrash-Ntuk. “Innovation is important, but not when it leaves workers isolated and stores vulnerable to crime. We’re building a model for safer, more humane retail environments.”
To address these issues, the City Attorney will draft and return an ordinance based on Option 4 from the City Manager’s June 6 memo within 30 days. The ordinance will include requirements that a staffed checkout lane must be open before any self-checkout stations are operated, and that one dedicated employee must supervise no more than two self-checkout machines. The motion included an amendment by Councilwoman Saro that covered stores post clear notification of the ordinance and the legal rights of workers and the public—including the right to file a civil suit if a store fails to comply with the law.
# # #