Kroger Decides To Close Three LA Grocery Stores, Blaming City's 'Hero Pay' Requirement

[DBoon]

One week after the Los Angeles city council finalized a temporary $5 per hour hazard pay mandate for grocery workers, the supermarket giant Kroger has announced plans to shut down three grocery stores in the city.

On Wednesday, Kroger said it will close two Ralphs locations — one in the Westside Pico-Robertson neighborhood, and one in the Hyde Park neighborhood of South L.A — and one Food 4 Less location in East Hollywood. The stores will remain open until May 15.

Kroger blames the closures on the city’s new “hero pay” law, which requires that larger grocery and drugstore chains pay their frontline workers an extra $5 per hour for 120 days.

Proponents argue workers deserve compensation for facing increased risks during the pandemic. And they say companies can afford hazard pay, thanks to rising profits during the pandemic as consumers avoid eating out and buy more food to prepare at home. A recent Brookings Institution report found that Kroger’s profits increased by 90% in 2020.

https://laist.com/latest/post/20210310/kroger-ralphs-food-4-less-grocery-store-los-angeles-hero-pay

More business for Kroger's competitors.

[Celerity]

1. Kroger's profits increased by 90% in 2020

[orwell]

2. What a load...

$5 an hour for 120 days is chicken feed to a chain like this.

Their "Con" roots are showing.

This is all about messaging for political reasons...

F*ck them.

[Ritabert]

3. I've been boycotting Smith's (a Kroger subsidiary) for a year

This was over lack of mask mandates but I will continue to boycott.

[RainCaster]

4. They did the same thing in Seattle

Cheapo sumbitchs.