Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Some Supermarket Baggers Aren't Paid - Who Knew?
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 11, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 11, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
There's a somewhat surprising article in the NY Times about many supermarket baggers fighting to get paid wages. It turns out that some supermarkets don't actually pay the people bagging groceries, considering them "volunteers." That leaves the baggers to rely solely on tips. While the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union tells the Times that the problem is mainly at ethnic supermarkets, the article mentions incidents at Associated and Pioneer Supermarkets in Brooklyn. (Apparenlty Gristedes and Food Emporium had a separate settlement with the state attorney general over "paying some deliverymen $75 for a 60-hour week, or just over a dollar an hour, before tips" - the supermarkets claimed the deliverymen were "independent contractors.")
What's most upsetting about this article is how does one actually know that baggers are supposed to get tips. We're certainly going to ask now, but Gothamist had always thought that supermarket baggers were other employees.
A lawyer in attorney general's labor bureau tells the TImes, "Even if you took the position that these people just came in and were just permitted to be there, instead of being actively hired, they would still be considered employees under the minimum wage law and would not be permitted to volunteer only for tips." And there's another subcurrent in the article about why many baggers continue at bagging, versus other trades they are trained in: Illegal immigrants taking jobs.
Tagged
attorney general
brooklyn
food
food emporium
gothamist
immigrants
jobs
labor
law
News: NYC
ny times
people
retail
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC Council to consider earlier Legionella reporting after deadly outbreaks
A bill facing a hearing Monday would require cooling tower owners to notify city health officials when bacteria levels reach a much lower threshold.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 7:36 p.m. ET
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD identifies Bronx man, 26, killed in Midtown subway shooting
By
Ryan Kost
,
Elizabeth Kim
and
Phil Corso
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .