Worker Retention Ordinances

Worker Retention laws, also known as Transitional Worker Retention laws, ensure a stable workforce of experienced employees within their respective industries (i.e. grocery, service, etc.) during the transitional period accompanying a change in ownership, control, or operation of companies. Through the enactment of worker retention laws, companies ensure the welfare of working families and communities they serve by retaining experienced workers with knowledge of proper health and sanitation regulations, expertise in their trade, and understanding of the needs of clientele. Managerial, supervisory, and professional employees are usually exempted from worker retention laws.

Grocery Workers Retention Policies

An ominous trend has developed recently in the grocery industry which, responding to competition from Wal-Mart, is in a race to the bottom. The first sign of the new trend came with the announcement mid-year that a low-wage, non-union chain was buying one of the major union supermarket chains in California. In response, LAANE worked with allies representing grocery workers to win passage in Los Angeles of an ordinance that requires purchasers of major supermarkets to retain the existing workforce for at least 90 days. This provides protection for good jobs as stores with living wage pay scales are acquired by corporations which do not follow such practices. With support and advice from LAANE, Santa Monica adopted a similar ordinance, West Hollywood is in the process of following suit, and San Francisco is considering adoption. It appears that this, like the big box policy, will become standard for cities in California.

The first grocery worker retention ordinance was passed in December of 2005 by the city of Los Angeles and took effect in February of 2006. Grocery worker retention laws have also been passed locally in the Cities of Gardena and Santa Monica. The City of West Hollywood is currently considering adopting a grocery worker retention ordinance.

Los Angeles Grocery Worker Retention Ordinance
Santa Monica Grocery Worker Retention Ordinance
Gardena Grocery Worker Retention Ordinance

Los Angeles Service Contractor Worker Retention Ordinance

Adopted in 1995, the Los Angeles Worker Retention Ordinance is designed to protect the jobs of workers when city contracts change hands. This legislation plays a vital role in the larger effort to improve job conditions for low-wage workers in Los Angeles.

The Worker Retention Ordinance was passed in response to the privatization of food services at LAX, where 1,000 unionized workers were threatened with replacement when non-union vendors took over the service. A coalition of activists, clergy and elected officials stepped in and successfully pushed for passage of a law to discourage such wholesale layoffs.

The Ordinance stipulates that, when a city contract changes hands, employees must be retained for 90 days, and can only be fired for cause during that time. This requirement also applies to city lessees, licensees and financial aid recipients.

The Worker Retention Ordinance has helped preserve the jobs of more than 1,000 workers, and increased job security for thousands more.

Service Contractor Worker Retention Ordinance
SCWRO Rules and Regulations