A bill in the Washington legislature would limit the use of self-checkout stations in grocery stores. If House Bill 1739 passes, self-checkouts could only be used when a regular checkout lane is open and for customers checking out 15 items or less. Employees who monitor self-service lanes would have to do so exclusively, and would supervise a maximum of two stands.
“These devices are linked in study after study to increases in theft, increases in minor access to alcohol, increases of mental health strain to workers, and increases in bullying and harassment and even violence,” said UFCW Local 3000 secretary-treasurer Joe Mizrahi at a Feb. 12 hearing on the bill. Mizrahi said self-checkout has also led to longer wait times, longer lines, more work for customers, and less grocery staff to help. “I should also mention these devices automate union jobs that would otherwise bring good, stable wages into our communities.”
Introduced by State Representative Mary Fosse (D-Everett). the bill is in the House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee.
