Jan Teague

President/CEO

360.943.9198, ext. 19

jteague@retailassociation.org

Mark Johnson

Vice President of Government Affairs

360.943.9198, ext. 15

mark.johnson@retailassociation.org

Tammie Hetrick

Vice President of Retail Services (RASI)

360.943.9198, ext. 13

 tammie@retailassociation.org

Jim Szymanski

State Republican Party to take position on I-517 this week

By Jan Teague, President/CEO

Unfortunately the Republican Party will be taking a position in Initiative 517 without the benefit of enough information from retailers on what their concern are. I-517 attempts to eliminate all of the hurdles to a successful petition gathering campaign. Tim Eyman is the author and his profession is signature gathering.  He has had some success but would like to lessen his costs and increase his success so that more people will use his service.

There seems to be some confusion over what Initiative 517 does and does not do, but not from my perspective.  It definitely changes the law for retailers and how they manage petition gathering activities on their property. We OPPOSE I 517 and every retailer who reads this article should contact their Republican Party representative to express their concern.

We all can tell of our bad experiences trying to control where petition gatherers stand and how they approach customers coming into our stores.  Controversy always follows politics especially when people disagree on what might be in a petition.  So customers not only get irritated about the subject, they may find themselves feeling cornered by a petition gatherer.  It's a messy process at best. 

But retailers have learned to live with petitioners by giving them assigned areas and asking them to abide by certain codes of conduct usually spelled out in written rules.  Retailers have gone to court a number of times asking for relief and the outcome has been some good guidance on what our private property rights are relating to petition gatherers.  We now treat all of our various community groups and fund raising activities pretty much the same way so that rules of conduct on our property are clear to everyone. If people aren't willing to follow these rules, we can ask them to leave our property and if need be, call the police.

Initiative 517 has a number of sections that together take away this process and the protections we now have in place for our property and the consumers who come to our stores.  To read the full text of the measure, click here.  To read a short one-page message, click here.

Please give this issue some of your time this week.  We need to be clear with the Republican Party that while there may be merit to some provisions in I-517, it goes too far and will only create more conflict than what we now have to deal with on our property.  Pass the word around that Initiative 517 tries to do too much and is bad for business.

Meeting on Sept. 17 regarding Seattle's criminal background check law

By Mark Johnson, VP Government Affairs

Seattle's new criminal background check law goes into effect November 1, 2013. 

Employers have many questions about how to comply and how it will work.  The city is hosting a public meeting September 17 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the New Holly Gathering Hall, 7054 32^nd Avenue S., Seattle. 

Retailers and other employers are encouraged to attend the meeting to get their questions answered.  The new code SMC 14.17 was unanimously approved by the City Council June 10, 2013.  The ordinance requires a legitimate business reason to deny a job based on a conviction record. 

The law prohibits employers from running job ads that categorically exclude people based on conviction and arrest records.  Employers will no longer be able to include criminal history questions on job applications and conduct criminal background checks until after an initial screening to eliminate unqualified applicants. 

The ordinance does not apply to people whose job duties include crime prevention and security.  For more information contact Brenda Anibarro City of Seattle, at 206-684-4515 or Brenda.anibarro@seattle.gov    WRA and several other stakeholders are concerned about the impacts the new ordinance will have on its members and the people they employ.

WRA joins coalition opposing Prop 1 in SeaTac

WRA has joined a business coalition opposed to Proposition 1 on the November city ballot that would spike minimum wages more than 60 percent in the City of SeaTac for airport and hotel workers.

Common Sense Sea Tac, the group WRA has joined, has launched a website outlining how the proposition would hurt members and the SeaTac economy.

Tammie Hetrick, WRA's VP of Retail Services, said creating the nation's highest minimum wage of $15 in SeaTac would force layoffs and business failures and cause economic ripples and raise prices at other businesses in the city. The proposal also includes an onerous sick and safe leave benefit of 50 hours per year for a full time employee and requires employers to pay for any leave not taken. These financial obligations also would discourage new companies from locating in SeaTac, WRA believes.

As the economy recovers from recession, these are expenses many businesses could not handle and would slow the recovery by causing layoffs and business failures.

WRA urges members to direct others to the Common Sense website for more information and to contact Hetrick about the campaign strategy to defeat the union-backed proposition. Contact Hetrick at 360-943-9198, Ext. 13 or Tammie@retailassociation.org.

In a related development this week, the Wenatchee World predicts economic trouble for SeaTac if voters approve the proposition.

SeaTac "living wage" would cost jobs, raise prices, study finds

A new Washington Research Council report concludes that a union-backed "living wage" proposal on the City of SeaTac's November ballot would result in several negative financial outcomes.

The proposal would raise the state's $9.19 minimum wage - the nation's highest state minimum wage - to $15 and extend costly paid sick leave benefit to hospitality and SeaTac airport employees.

Low wage jobs would be lost, business expenses would increase and city tax revenues would decline even as city audit and oversight expenses rose, the study concluded.

WRA has joined a coalition of business interests opposed to the initiative based on its negative impacts on the economies of SeaTac, the region and state.

Click here to comment on the research council report.

Source: Washington Research Council

Websites explain opposition to initiatives

WRA opposes two initiatives to be decided in the November elections this year.

I-517 would violate property rights by greatly expanding the areas where petition signature gatherers can work. I-522 would require labeling of genetically modified foods.

Neither of these initiatives is in the best interest of retailers, WRA believes. Two websites do a good job of summarizing the opposition of WRA and the business community.

The No on I-517 site explains the weaknesses of the proposal. Former Attorney General Rob McKenna and former state Auditor Brian Sonntag have doubts the proposal would be legal due to the limitations it would place on merchants. Many merchants and consumers have been complaining about abusive paid signature gatherers interfering with their freedom to shop and in some cases, committing assaults. The proposal would allow them unprecedented access including inside professional, college and amateur sporting events.

The site also explains that public funds would be wasted because the proposal allows for illegal initiatives to be placed on the ballot.

A website opposed to Initiative 522, requiring labeling of genetically modified foods, and GMOanswers.com also have launched. WRA believes the requirements would unnecessarily confuse and alarm consumers and result in higher food prices.

The No on 522 website allows you to read the entire proposal and review news coverage and editorials. GMOanswers uses a Q & A format for consumers to obtain answers to GMO questions.

WRA urges all members to visit these sites to begin learning about its reasons for opposing these proposals.

Scientific American opposes GMO labeling

A new commentary in Scientific American opposes GMO labeling as a bad idea.

WRA is among a growing coalition of groups opposed to Initiative 522 that would require labeling of genetically modified foods.

Scientific American reviews the nutritional benefits that have resulted from genetic modification as well as improvements in crop yields. The commentary also notes how mandatory labeling would confuse consumers, raise prices and create a haven for expensive lawsuits.

Seattle'a mandatory paid sick leave law already having negative effect, survey finds

Less than a year after it took effect, Seattle's mandatory paid leave law is having negative economic effects, according to a Seattle Times opinion piece published this week.

Author Michael Saltsman of Washington, D.C.'s Employment Policy Institute reports on a survey of Seattle service-oriented businesses that found:

*Business are raising prices as a result of the law.

*Businesses are eliminating employee benefits to compensate for rising expenses.

*Jobs are being eliminated or hours reduced in reaction.

Saltsman includes a few useful links in his essay indicating that similar sick leave pay proposals are having negative effects in other cities around the country.

WRA opposes mandatory sick and safe leave proposals because of the various negative impacts they have started showing or are expected to show around the country.

L&I launches cost-saving electronic document sharing service

Labor & Industries has introduced an electronic system for sharing workers' compensation claims documents that promises to speed processing and save money.

The system is similar to an electronic service that WRA has been and will continue to offer its Retrospective Rating members.

L&I Director Joel Sacks estimates that his department's speedier service that will eliminate manual processing of paper documents could save $1.3 million in its first year of operation.

In 2011, the Legislature allowed for electronic as well as paper correspondence in workers' compensation claims cases.

Source: L&I

Tacoma chamber needs feedback on business threat

A grassroots organizing effort has been identified that is trying to pass a Tacoma law to require businesses to offer paid sick and safe leave time to employees.

A similar law in Seattle, the only one of its kind in the state, has proven to be an expensive record keeping nightmare.

WRA is cooperating with the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce to inform businesses about this proposal and solicit comments regarding the burdensome financial impacts it would bring if passed into law. Contact Mark Johnson, VP of Government Affairs, for more information at 360-943-9198, Ext. 15 or mark.johnson@retailassociation.org.

WRA members may contact Tom Pierson, President & CEO of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce for more information, at 253-627-2175. Also, visit the chamber's website established to solicit testimony opposing the idea.

Tacoma city council members have received many calls of concern from the Tacoma business community and have publicly expressed concern about the idea.

WRA opposed the Seattle law on several fronts. It is expensive to administer and leaves room for abuse that can be damaging to businesses that need to remain adequately staffed to serve customers.

Look for updates on this issue in future WRA newsletters.

Watch video overview of WRA's discount shipping partner

WRA's third-party shipping provider, PartnerShip, has released a short video overview of the discount services it offers customers.

As a WRA member, you could begin saving up to 27 percent on select FedEx shipping services by joining PartnerShip free of charge.

Four other possible advantages of joining PartnerShip include:

*Routing management. Based on an analysis of shipments, PartnerShip will recommend the best shippers for particular routes. The recommendation is based on a carrier's cost effectiveness and customer service.

*Bill auditing. Vendors such as PartnerShip say they often find invoices with rate errors of up to 10 percent in favor of the freight carrier. Corrections are made before the third-party vendor sends the bill to the customer.

*Improved inbound shipping. By relying on vendors to control your inbound shipping, it can be difficult to learn how and when your orders will be shipped and delivered. You can gain that knowledge by arranging shipping through a third party partner such as PartnerShip.

*Consolidated invoices. For frequent shippers, this can mean paying only one bill weekly or monthly as opposed to paying for each shipment.

Click here to watch the video overview of the company and obtain contact information. Also, visit PartnerShip's website and its improved, separate shipping website. 

WRA members offered discount to Sept. 19 employment seminar

The law firm Lane Powell will conduct its annual seminar on employment law and human resources issues on Sept. 19 at the Four Seasons Seattle hotel.

The firm is allowing WRA members a discount on the registration fee.  The day-long event is co-sponsored by the Lake Washington Human Resources Association.

Attendees will receive an employment law update; learn of impacts from the National Labor Relations Board, impacts from disability and wellness laws and ways to protect sensitive company information and data.

Click here to learn more and register. 

Free business fair set for Sept. 28

WRA is again participating with an information table and is co-presenting and planning the day-long fair.

The fair annually attracts 400 to 600 existing and budding small businesses where participants can sharpen their skills during a series of seminars covering a broad range of business skills. Parking on campus is free and no advance registration is required.

Thirty federal, state and local government agencies and trade associations will share information at the fair. Visit www.bizfair.org for more information including directions or see Facebook at www.facebook.com/bizfair. 

WRA co-sponsors Seattle chamber networking event

The 9^th All Chamber Business After Hours networking event will help from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 19 at The Foundry by Herban Feast in Seattle.

WRA is co-sponsoring the event that allows attendees to network with multiple business organizations and chambers of commerce throughout the region. The event drew 430 participants last year.

Click here to register and obtain directions. 

Summit scheduled to combat human trafficking

An organization dedicated to wiping out human trafficking in the state has scheduled a summit meeting in Seattle in October to begin building a network of business support.

The Engage for Impact summit will be held beginning at 8:30 a.m. on October 5 at Seattle Pacific University's Queen Anne Upper Room Gwinn Commons.

Click here to register. Go to Washington Engage to learn more. 

Safety tip: (one in a series)

Teach new hires about fire extinguishers

Fire extinguishers are small but potentially very important tools to ensure the safety of your workplace.

It's a good idea to make fire extinguisher training a part of your company's new hire orientation, notes Rick Means, WRA's Safety and Claims Administrator.

The ABC extinguisher is the most common type and will work on combustible materials, electrical fires and flammable liquids. Means urges companies to check local fire code requirements to learn how many fire extinguishers to have on the property and proper placement requirements.

And, Means urges employers to teach employees the P.A.S.S. system in response to a small fire. The acronym refers to P (pulling the pin); A (aiming at the base of the fire); S (squeezing the handle); and S (sweeping in a side to side motion to apply the flame retardant).

Click here for a short video on this topic.

WRA employs Means, whose responsibilities include being available to members to draw up safety plans and suggest topics for safety meetings. Contact him at 360-200-6454, or rick.means@retailassociationservices.com.