California shoppers may soon find there’s no such thing as a quick getaway from the grocery store.
A major change could soon hit grocery stores inSanta Ana, that could include customers being closely watched at self-checkout lines.
The strictnew regulations on self-checkout kiosksat grocery stores and pharmacies, with supporters saying the measure will reduce theft and protect jobs while critics warn it could increase costs and slow down shopping trips.
Under the proposal, stores would be required to have at least one employee monitoring every three self-checkout kiosks in use. Customers would also be limited to 15 items or fewer at the self-checkout.
The Santa Ana City Council unanimously approved the first reading Tuesday of the proposed ordinance, according toKTLA.
The rules would apply to grocery stores and retail pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens.
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Supporters argue it would improve safety and customer service while helping to preserve union jobs as retailers increasingly rely on automation.
“The automation of union jobs is something that is going to cripple our economy,” Santa Ana City Councilmember Johnathan Hernandez said during the meeting, per KTLA. “It is important that when workers organize we stand with them and we support them.”
Mayor Valerie Amezcua said she stopped shopping at certain stores because they relied almost entirely on self-checkout systems.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
