Long Beach vs Los Angeles
How do grocery worker wage rules compare between Long Beach, CA and Los Angeles, CA?
Long Beach and Los Angeles have similar restriction levels.
Long Beach, CA
Los Angeles County
Long Beach passed a $4-per-hour grocery worker hazard premium in 2021 during the pandemic. The ordinance was time-limited, faced litigation, and is no longer in effect citywide.
View full Long Beach rules →Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County's 2021 Hero Pay ordinance added $5 per hour for grocery workers but expired after 120 days following federal litigation. Today LA grocery employees are covered by the general LAMC §187.00 minimum wage and any union contract.
View full Los Angeles rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Long Beach | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| Adopted | January 2021 | - |
| Premium | $4 per hour hazard pay | - |
| Duration | 120 days, sunset | - |
| Status | Expired, not renewed | - |
| Coverage | Large grocery chains only | - |
| Hero Pay status | - | Expired after 120 days |
| Current floor | - | LAMC §187.00 city wage |
| City rate (Jul 2024) | - | $17.28 per hour |
| County ordinance | - | LA County Ord. 2021-0006 |
| Union backstop | - | UFCW Local 770 contracts |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Long Beach FAQ
Is grocery hero pay still required?
No. The Long Beach ordinance sunset after 120 days in 2021 and has not been renewed. Grocery workers earn at least the statewide minimum wage of $16.50 per hour.
Did courts uphold the ordinance?
Yes. A federal district court rejected preemption challenges from the California Grocers Association, finding the temporary premium did not conflict with federal labor law before it sunset.
Los Angeles FAQ
Does LA still require grocery hero pay?
No. The 2021 county Hero Pay ordinance expired in mid-2021 and was not extended. Grocery workers receive only the general LAMC §187.00 wage plus any union contract premium.
Why did the grocery hero pay end?
It contained a built-in 120-day sunset and faced federal NLRA preemption litigation. The Board of Supervisors did not extend it once the public-health emergency phase eased.
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