Walmart to test self-checkout, completely cashier-less stores

Some people like them. Others loathe them. But Walmart shoppers should get used to seeing self-checkout machines.

The world’s largest retailer says it will convert some of its Canadian and U.S. stores to self-checkout only as a test in the coming months.

Walmart Canada tells 680 NEWS’ sister station, NEWS 1130, that one of the first, fully functioning self-checkout locations will be in Terrace, B.C.

“Our customers have embraced self-checkouts as they’ve rolled out across the country over the past few years. We’ve also been enhancing the self-checkout lanes by having larger kiosk areas so customers have more space to organize and lay out their purchases,” said a spokesperson.

“… Our Terrace customers, in particular, are using the self-checkouts in high numbers, which is one of the reasons the store was selected as part of the test.”

The retailer declined to provide locations of other stores but said a handful of them would be converted.

Walmart, meanwhile, contends the move won’t affect jobs.

“Over the years we’ve heard concerns that self-checkouts will impact jobs but that’s simply not the case. The self-checkout area will be staffed by dedicated associates to help our customers and there will be no job loss as a result of this change.”

Consumer advocates point to issues with self-checkout including that they only accept debit and credit cards and that they can be difficult for those who are blind or visually impaired to use.

The leader of a provincial union representing grocery and retail workers tells NEWS 1130 anxiety about possible job losses always accompanies news of increased automation.

“We certainly have concerns about the announcement that they are going to run a store completely cashier-less,” says Kim Novak, president of UFCW Local 1518.

“This is something our members have been concerned about for quite some time because of the fact that that type of technological change impacts what is already quite a precarious and part-time workforce.”

As a union, Novak says a key priority is negotiating contracts that include “technological change clauses” that ensure people are retrained and reassigned.

“Ultimately, the fact that we see women and racialized workers predominantly working in these sectors on the front lines — working as cashiers and in grocery stores and retail location —  these types of changes can really erode their access to work,” she explains.

“So we want to make sure that, while we can’t stop technology from changing, it shouldn’t be at the expense and cost of the workers who have allowed these businesses to make as much money as they have over the last year, and for decades.”