Oxnard City Council approves “Hero Pay” for grocery, drug store workers who worked during pandemic

OXNARD, Calif. - Grocery and drug store workers in Oxnard will receive "Hero Pay" for working during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Oxnard City Council voted unanimously to use $2 million from the American Rescue Plan for the program.

Employees qualify if they worked for a minimum of 3 months anytime between March 2020 to March 2021.

Workers will each receive a $1,000 grant which will be dispersed through direct deposit.

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 770, the union representing many grocery and drug store workers in Oxnard, said the city is the first in the nation to implement a program like this.

“While this payment will not fully reimburse workers for the risks to health and safety they have faced, it does acknowledge their sacrifice and integral role in this community. For this, we thank the Oxnard City Council,” said John Grant, the union's president.