ACTION NEEDED!
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CALL Senators Feinstein and Boxer to Support Interchange Relief Amendment
New Consolidated Amendment
As we
reported last week, the best chance to get interchange
reform passed in Congress may be via an amendment that will likely to be voted on TODAY. This
is an issue of vital importance to your businesses. Please call our Senators TODAY and ask
them to SUPPORT Senator Durbin's Credit Card Interchange Fee Amendment #3932 .
What the Durbin Amendment #3932 does: Would direct the Fed to issue
rules to ensure that debit interchange fees are
reasonable and proportional to the processing costs incurred.
Visa and MasterCard currently charge debit interchange fees of around 1-2%
of the transaction amount. These fees are far higher than the actual
cost of processing debit transactions, and they mean that small businesses
and merchants get shortchanged when they accept a debit card for a
sale.
The Durbin Amendment
#3932 will also prevent card networks like Visa and MasterCard from penalizing sellers
for offering discounts to customers. The amendment would allow sellers to
offer discounts for customers to use competing card networks and for customers
to pay by cash, check or debit card. The amendment would also allow
sellers to choose to decline credit cards for small dollar purchases (because
interchange fees often exceed profits on such sales).
- Senator
Barbara Boxer: Senate (202)
224-3553 State (916) 448-2787
- Senator
Dianne Feinstein Senate (202) 224-3841 State (310)
914-7300
Contact CIGA's
Government Relations Director, John Handley via
email jhandley@ciga.org or (800) 852-7606 with questions.
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Workplace Safety is Focus of OSHA
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OSHA Increases Enforcement of Workplace Health and Safety Regulations
OSHA has launched an aggressive campaign to combat health and
safety violations, and is on pace to make 2010 a record-setting year
for enforcement performance. Recently, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis
stated, "Workplace enforcement and safety is not only our responsibility,
it's our moral obligation."
Retail and wholesale grocers
should expect OSHA to be increasingly visible in the workplace in
2010. This means an increase in the number of
inspections. It may also mean stricter penalties - it is expected that the penalty for a serious violation may increase
from $1,000 to $4,000.
WHAT CAN YOU DO? Review your safety policies and procedures. Have all your MSDS documentation in order. Ensure that your Lockout/Tagout procedures are
being followed properly. Have your employees review the "Right To Know"
language; and have them sign off on your OSHA training.
Be prepared by being proactive - set up a Cal OSHA Compliance Inspection. Go to www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/consultation.html for a complete list of services.
Call CIGA with any questions or visit us at www.ciga.org
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Coupons and GS1 DataBar
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Independent grocers may be aware of the upcoming GS1 DataBar
"sunrise date" of January 2014, but many say they won't be ready
for it, according to a study conducted by the National Grocers
Association (NGA).
The GS1 DataBar was launched January 2008 with the introduction of
the "Interim" DataBar coupon code, whereby manufacturers are
producing coupons including both the UPC-A code and the GS1
DataBar.
According to the current industry timetable, by January 1, 2011 Manufacturers will migrate from using both the UPC/EAN and GS1
DataBar coupon prefixes to only the GS1 DataBar on coupons.
Retailers will need to be able to process the DataBar on
point-of-sale hardware and software.
To help with the transition, GS1 US has created a Starter Kit,
which provides retailers with the tools and information they need
for a successful adoption of the GS1 DataBar. The kit covers selecting program leaders, supplier and vendor
management, planning for private label products, preparations for
changes in applications, and training personnel.
For more information on the GS1 DataBar, and to access the starter
kit, visit http://www.gs1.org/barcodes/databar
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CIGA's 51st Annual Sonoma Golf Tournament
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GOLF is almost at Sell OUT!!!!
Call CIGA Today and Sign UP!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Oakmont Golf Course, Santa Rosa
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Volunteer or join us for the Awards Dinner - Hole Sponsor or Volunteer.
Great tee prizes, raffle prizes and golf awards!
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