On June 25, UFCW Local 328 welcomed Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee to their office for the formal bill signing of S. 2342/H. 7290, a measure that mandates a staffing ratio of one grocery store worker for every three self-checkout stands. The bill was led by Senate President Valarie Lawson in the State Senate and Representative Megan Cotter in the State House and is the first statewide self-checkout staffing ratio in the country.
The legislation, which is part of the UFCW’s “Affordable Groceries and Good Jobs Campaign,” is a major win for both consumers and workers, allowing self-checkouts and workers to better serve shoppers. The measure will also help recoup millions in tax revenue in the Ocean State. Theft cost retailers in Rhode Island $244 million in 2022, and this theft cost Rhode Island $17.1 million in lost sales taxes in the same year. Thefts are 16 times more likely to take place at self-checkouts than employee-managed cash registers. The majority of theft incidents go unreported – a survey found that 65 percent of respondents reported only a minority of incidents. For stores where 50 percent of transactions take place at self-checkouts, losses from shrinkage can be 75 percent higher than average in the grocery industry.
“We applaud Governor McKee for his support on this issue and swiftly signing this bill into law,” said UFCW Local 328 Secretary-Treasurer Domenic Pontarelli. “UFCW Local 328 members in the grocery industry are often overburdened with having to monitor too many self-checkouts while shoppers face delays. Staffing ratios fix this issue for everyone, including retailers who lose millions in theft each year. Governor McKee, Senate President Lawson, and Representative Cotter have shown strong leadership for all Rhode Islanders, and we thank them for it.”
“Today, we’re protecting jobs and strengthening customer service,” said Governor Dan McKee. “Whether it’s helping a customer with an issue, assisting a senior, or ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities, this law is about preserving choice and keeping people at the center of the shopping experience. I’m proud to see Rhode Island become the first state in the country with a statewide requirement on self-checkouts, proving that in the Ocean State, it’s a priority to protect our workers and consumers. I thank the bill sponsors and all the members of UFCW Local 328 for getting this bill over the finish line.”