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

Which lobbyists are eligible for public pensions?

By Jan Teague, President/CEO

I read with interest this week a story in the Spokesman-Review that some lobbyists who work for associations get state pensions.  

This pension practice has been in place for many years.  There are lobbyists in at least 20 states including ours that get public pensions because they represent associations for counties, cities and school boards.  Some of the big battles over this news are happening right now in other states like New York and New Jersey.  But you can expect that our state legislature will also be taking up the policy question next session.

Will it save the taxpayers a lot of money to eliminate a small number of people from access to the state's rich benefits system?  It won't.  But the question of who has access to these benefits is a good one.  The pension systems in many states are in trouble with more people retiring and life long public employees starting to collect their pensions.  A close look at future access is a good idea.

The issue has been coffee talk this week. Some people are irritated and believe that employees who retire and go back to work, the double dippers, should not be able to take their pensions while they work.  Others talk about the growing obligations for all elected officials who get pensions.  And now lobbyists who work for cities, counties, and school boards may be getting pensions also.  The only group the article identifies in Washington State is the Apple Commission. I thought it was odd that just one group was mentioned. I know that at least one Senator plans to research the question to see who else might be involved.

Now might be the right time for me to chime in with my own observation about all of these public lobbyists.  What's happening with all government lobbyists is that they can't be called lobbyists.  They have other fancy names so they can be staff liaisons to the legislature.  They testify, they swarm the legislature's halls and they maneuver their influence just like every other lobbyist.  Really, it seems like splitting hairs. They are lobbyists and they have a great deal of influence.  They all get pensions.  Should they? 

I don't know.  As a taxpayer, I do think it feels a bit like a ponzi scheme with too many people accumulating at the top.  When it tips over, what new tax idea will be proposed to set it right again? 

Change coming to UI advisory committee

By Mark Johnson, VP Government Affairs

An established Olympia advisory committee will soon get a new name to better reflect all its areas of responsibility.

That means the Unemployment Security Advisory Committee will soon become the Employment Security Advisory Committee.

Why?

Because Gov. Inslee asked Employment Security to revamp the group to better reflect its field of influence including workforce development.

Employment Security Commissioner Dale Peinecke said the advisory committee will likely be made up of three labor, three business and three other interested parties, and potentially more, to give him and his executive team the feedback that will help them guide the agency.

At a meeting I attended, reaction to the change was fairly positive from the existing committee members, many of whom will likely be asked to remain serving with the newly-named group. 

Former State Representative Tim Probst has been selected to head up the Workforce Development division for ESD.  He was on hand to offer comments and strategies to further the division. 

The state's UI trust fund continues to be the strongest in the nation with more than 13 months of reserves.  ESD plans to ask the legislature in 2014 for authority to develop a new benefit computer system that will integrate with a new tax computer system that is expected to go online November of this year.  The benefit computer redo is expected to cost approximately $42 million.

Judge throws SeaTac's Prop 1 for a loop

The proposition calling for a spike in SeaTac's minimum hourly wage to $15 for airport and hospitality workers was thrown into disarray Monday when a judge threw out enough petition signatures to disqualify the item on the November ballot.

Supporters quickly submitted additional signatures as part of an appeal. Proponents went to court this week to try to save the initiative, but King County elections officials may refuse to put Prop 1 back on the ballot unless faced with another court order.

WRA opposes the initiative because it would raise prices, force payroll cutbacks and discourage new businesses from locating to SeaTac.

News reports indicated that some petition signers signed more than once. Judge Andrea Darvas struck the repeat signers, which left the proposal with too few signatures to qualify for a special city election in November.

Bruce Beckett of the Washington Restaurant Association said he expected that a court would have to decide the fate of the union-backed proposal. This week's court ruling reversed the SeaTac city clerk's decision that the original petition contained enough legal signatures to qualify the item for the ballot.

Sources: Seattle Times, Washington State Wire

Hutchison elected GOP state party chair

Former KIRO television news anchor Susan Hutchison won a runoff vote last weekend to be elected chair of the state Republican Party.

Reports are that Hutchison's main challenger, interim party chief  Luanne Van Werven, will remain as the party's deputy chairwoman.

A total of four candidates ran to succeed former KVI radio political talk show host Kirby Wilbur, who resigned the party chairman's post last month to accept a job in Washington, D.C.

In her speech to delegates, Hutchison touted her fund-raising capabilities and her media savvy as a former television news anchor. Please visit The Seattle Times and the Washington State Wire to read more about the election of the party chair. 

Former state legislator Berkey dies

Former state House and Senate member Jean Berkey died last week at age 74 after a short illness.

Her 10-year Olympia political career ended in controversy three years ago when the state settled a case against a political consulting firm that successfully worked for Berkey's primary election defeat. The firm was required to pay $40,000 in legal fees and additional fines for allegedly breaking campaign disclosure laws.

Visit The Everett Herald for a more detailed report on the life of the Snohomish County legislator.

New Seattle coffee company seeks retail, manufacturing locations

A new Seattle-based franchise is looking for companies interested in locating its coffee dispensers at their places of business.

Veterans Promise Coffee is targeting service veterans returning to the United State with franchise opportunities. Its automated machines dispense two brands of Royal Cup Coffee but also can be staffed to sell packages of the coffee.

South Hill Mall in Puyallup has been serving as a test site for the start up company.

The company hopes to help returning veterans, many of whom struggle to reassimilate to life in the states, said Colleen Wilks, a company founder and its Vice President of Marketing.

For more information, visit www.veteranspromisecoffee.us or contact Wilks at cwilks@veteranspromisecoffee.us.

Seattle's 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.

Safety tip: (one in a series)

Why safety meetings are important

Every week, WRA reminds members in its newsletter that our safety advisors are ready to suggest safety meeting topics to discuss.

But why hold a safety meeting?

WRA's Safety and Claims Administrator Rick Means explains.

"Safety meetings get employees involved in the safety process and increase the number of eyes and brains engaged in safety," Means said. "It helps employees develop a sense of ownership in safety efforts. It also allows for early warnings about unsafe conditions."

Means suggests logging safety topics that are discussed and recording attendance and keeping the records in a binder. That way, if a Labor & Industries audit should occur, a company can prove it is actively promoting a safer workplace.

If a safety-only meeting seems impractical, Means suggests adding a safety discussion to regular store meetings or morning meetings.

"Talking about safety raises the consciousness level of employees about the work they're doing and taking the time to do it correctly," Means said. "A safe shop is a more productive shop."

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

WRA sends out monthly safety packets available here. If you have questions about those packets, contact Means, who will be glad to assist.

Free business fair set for Sept. 28

The 17^th free Washington Small Business Fair will be held on Saturday, Sept. 28 at Renton Technical College, 3000 N.E. 4^th Street in Renton.

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

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. 

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.