Grocery owners win ruling on L.A. labor ordinance.

Supermarket owners won a major victory last week when a state judge overturned a Los Angeles ordinance requiring grocery store operators to retain workers for 90 days after a store changes ownership.

But the battle is far from over as the city, under pressure from labor interests, is expected to file an appeal in the next five weeks.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Ralph Dau, in a ruling made last month but not released until March 4, found that the 2005 ordinance was unconstitutional. He determined that it conflicts with existing state laws and is therefore pre-empted by the state retail food code. Dan also ruled that it discriminates between grocery stores on the basis of size and whether they have collective bargaining agreements.

The ordinance was hastily crafted in response to reports at the time that the Albertsons Inc. chain, with more than 300 stores in Southern California, was close to accepting a buyout offer. It was passed after a strong push by local unions and living wage advocates. It marked the first attempt by the city to regulate workforce issues at companies not doing business directly with the city.

A more high-profile attempt by the city to impose the city's living wage law on hotels near Los Angeles International Airport is also being challenged in court. However, the latest ruling from the state appellate court has gone against the hotels; the case is being appealed to the state Supreme Court.

The grocery worker retention ordinance has applied to supermarkets at least 15,000 square feet in size and can be superseded by a collective bargaining agreement. Judge Dau ruled that these two provisions violated the equal protection guarantees of both the U.S. and California constitutions.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa signed the ordinance into law in January 2006 and the California Grocers Association filed suit to block its implementation.

Jill Rulon, the grocer association's acting president, said the organization was "satisfied" with the ruling. "Since the Grocery Worker Retention Ordinance has been in effect, sales of grocery stores from one operator to another in the city of Los Angeles have ceased," she said. "Stopping the growth of new retail was just one of the many harmful impacts this law had on city residents."

Backers of the ordinance weren't pleased. "We're disappointed in the ruling, and are reviewing our options," said Nick Velasquez, spokesman for the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office. The city has 60 days to file an appeal from the notice date of the ruling, which was Feb. 11.

Roxana Tynan, deputy director with Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, which is closely allied with local unions and was one of the sponsors of the ordinance, hinted at an appeal.

"We continue to feel that we are on solid ground legally and that we will ultimately prevail on this ordinance," Tynan said. "Worker retention ordinances have been upheld in many cities throughout the state."

By HOWARD FINE Staff Reporter