Shoppers in San Francisco could see fewer unattended self-checkout lanes under legislation introduced this week at City Hall.
Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman introduced an ordinance at the board's Tuesday, Oct. 6 meeting that would require stores to staff one human cashier for every three self-checkout machines in operation, Bay City News reported. The rule would cover grocery stores larger than 10,000 square feet and drug stores of any size.
What the proposal would do
According to the draft ordinance as described by Bay City News, a store with one cashier on duty could keep up to five self-checkout machines running. Employees could sue businesses that break the rules, and penalties could include compensation for workers and a fine of up to $10,000. Before the bill was introduced, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Mandelman's plan also included a 15-item limit for self-checkout transactions and would let customers, as well as workers, bring lawsuits.
Supervisors Connie Chan, Jackie Fielder, Stephen Sherrill and Shamann Walton are co-sponsors, and the measure has the backing of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 5, the grocery workers' union.
Jobs and shoplifting
Mandelman framed the measure as a way to protect working people as automation spreads. "San Francisco leads the world in the development and deployment of new technology, and as we transition to an increasingly tech-reliant economy, we should be just as committed to ensuring working people have a place in that future," he said, according to Bay City News.
He also pointed to theft. He cited a 2023 estimate from checkout-technology company Grabango that losses at self-checkout lanes came to about 3.5% of sales, compared with about 0.12% in lanes staffed by an employee. He also referenced research from the Shift Project, a labor study run by UCSF and Harvard Kennedy School researchers, which found that workers at stores with self-checkout reported more disrespect from customers and more understaffing.
Grocers push back
The California Grocers Association opposes the idea. Spokesperson Nate Rose told the Chronicle the group considers the proposal "unworkable" and warned it could drive shoppers away, limit how stores use self-checkout, or even push food prices up. He said letting people sue over violations could create "huge legal jeopardy" for stores.
San Francisco isn't alone. The Chronicle reported that several Southern California cities, including Long Beach, have pursued similar rules, and San Jose council members have introduced their own proposal. Statewide limits have been proposed before but have not become law.