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

A game changing approach to union organizing

By Jan Teague, President/CEO

At a Washington Research Council Board of Directors meeting I attended this week, we learned about out-of-state efforts to boost union membership here in Washington State.

Many of you probably have heard about some of these various local organizing efforts. But I'm not sure whether it's clear to you that these are not limited local efforts. They're part of a national strategy to shore up union membership that has dwindled to about 6 percent of the workforce across the country.

The local initiative proposals include provisions that the new rules don't apply to union shops. Non union businesses then would be compelled to form unions to avoid rules in the initiatives. This tactic seems like a slippery way to expand union membership, but it is easier than trying to organize using traditional union approaches. 

The organizing groups change their names from time to time, but have their roots in names you may recognize, such as ACORN.  This was the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, which went bankrupt three years ago but spawned a network of organizers operating under different names today.

One of their efforts has been successful in 18 jurisdictions across the country.  It's called a "bill of rights" which came up in Spokane this year.  The policy would not allow companies to lobby, to donate to campaigns or to defend themselves in court actions.

This would help the unions that have become more engaged in getting local officials elected to various city councils. Once unions get the ear of local officials, they take such steps as adding more requirements to our hiring practices like the recent background check requirements passed in Seattle.  Seattle also passed a sick and safe leave law that exempts union shops. 

There have been a few local initiatives in Sea Tac and Tacoma that have hiring conditions, increased minimum wages to $15 per hour and exemptions to the law if you are a union shop. 

It's a growing trend that is expected to continue moving forward.  Business has traditionally not been a large voice at the local level.  The unfortunate bad impression that is left with all of these negative campaigns overlooks how much businesses do to keep communities vibrant. 

One Washington Research Council board member pointed out that United Way is solidly supported by the business community and the list of contributions businesses make is very long. It's unfortunate that the role of business in creating a vibrant economy is getting lost as these initiatives come up.

WRA issues call to action to oppose I-517

WRA President and CEO Jan Teague this week urged members to actively oppose Initiative 517 that would expand the powers of signature gatherers by infringing on the property rights of retailers.

In a "call to action," Teague urged WRA members to join the opposition coalition via www.No517.org and to add their names to a growing list of businesses opposed to I-517. The website allows visitors to make contributions to help raise the profile of this threat to the livelihood of retailers.

Teague said I-517 would severely hamper the rights of retailers to determine where signature gatherers operated and would allow petitioners greater access at entrances and exits of retail properties.

Among those opposed to I-517 include Rob McKenna, former Washington State Attorney General; Brian Sonntag, former Washington State Auditor; the Washington Food Industry Association and the Northwest Grocery Association.

For more information, contact Teague at 360-943-9198, Ext. 19 or at jteague@retailassociation.org. 

UI requirements changing for corporate officers

By Mark Johnson, VP Government Affairs

A new law will bring changes later this year regarding whether corporate officers will be covered by unemployment insurance.

I attended a meeting Tuesday about the change and promised to begin spreading the word about it to make those affected better informed.

The changes result from the Legislature's approval of Senate Bill 5227. The Employment Security Department is currently involved writing rules to implement this change.

Put simply, under current law, corporate officers are covered by unemployment insurance unless the business specifically asked to exempt them.  With the passage of Senate Bill 5227, corporate officers will not be covered unless the business specifically asks.  This major reversal in current practice will become effective December 29, 2013. 

Educating businesses and their corporate officers about the new law is going to be challenging.   There are approximately 400,000 registered businesses in Washington State with many of them having corporate officers. 

The ESD will be writing rules to explain registration and notification requirements.  It will also be putting together a robust notification program, in which WRA will participate. I asked the agency to be lenient and allow adequate time for businesses and corporate officers to become familiar with the new procedures.

The department plans to have a draft plan available for public review and comment by October 23.  It then will publish the draft rule in November and conduct a hearing.  The final rule will be adopted and in place before the end of the year.

Please stay tuned via this newsletter for further updates.

WRA meets about proposed increase in state fines

WRA's Tammie Hetrick plans to meet with a group of interested businesses to gain insight and reaction to proposed increases in state fines for safety violations.

Hetrick, WRA's VP of Retail Services, is a business representative on the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA) advisory committee. The state Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) has proposed increases in fines next year for companies found in violation of state safety rules.

Hetrick is meeting with businesses for reaction before a scheduled WISHA advisory committee meeting in two weeks. Current fines range from $100 to $7,000 for repeated safety violations.

At a recent Olympia meeting, Deputy Assistant DOSH Director Anne Soiza said a new federal act has motivated the state's consideration of higher fine amounts. The Protective America's Workers Act of 2012 aims to reduce workplace deaths and injuries by toughening fines for safety violations.

DOSH expects that a draft proposal for increased fines could be ready by the end of this year for consideration next year. Anyone wishing to comment for the time being to Labor & Industries may contact Sandy Mugartegui at DOSH, at mcgs235@lni.wa.gov. A formal public comment period would follow a draft proposal for higher fines.

WRA members can contact Hetrick at 360-943-9198, Ext. 13 or Tammie@retailassociation.org.

Ads raise profile of I-522

Pro and con TV ads began appearing this week to raise the profile of Initiative 522. It would require special food labeling to identify some genetically engineered foods.

WRA is part of a coalition of groups opposed to I-522. Studies show it will raise food prices and confuse consumers for no compelling reason.

Last week, a Washington Research Council report found that requiring special food labeling in Washington State could add up to $520 a year in new family food costs.

The report also found that:

*Record keeping requirements in the initiative would damage the state's farm economy.

*I-522 standards exceed international labeling requirements.

*I-522 places the heaviest financial burdens on the poorest of consumers.

Opposition ads also note that the labeling requirements are arbitrary and confusing. They exempt certain foods that are genetically modified and require special labeling on foods with no evidence of genetic modification.

Click here for further information including how to join the opposition coalition.

Satterberg election fundraiser breakfast on Oct. 3

King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg will hold a 2014 campaign fundraiser during an Oct. 3 breakfast event at the Seattle Sheraton Hotel, 1400 6^th Avenue.

WRA supports Satterberg's work in advocating for tougher penalties for those convicted of organized retail theft and his testimony in favor of toughening penalties for pharmacy robberies, which the Legislature approved earlier this year.

To reserve a seat for the breakfast, e-mail SatterbergCampaign@hotmail.com or call 206-203-8331. For more information, visit www.DanSatterberg.com.

Satterberg won appointment in 2007 to succeed Norm Maleng after Maleng's death in 2007, then defeated an opponent in an election later than year. 

Businesses needed at public transportation hearings

State Senators are in the midst of 10 public hearings around the state to accept public input on whether to pay for state transportation improvements. So far, business attendance has been poor.

The evening meetings begin at 6 p.m. and are scheduled until 9 p.m.

Upcoming meetings will be in Pasco, Tacoma, Seattle and Bellingham.

Gov. Inslee has said he would call a special session of the Legislature later this year if a majority of lawmakers were inclined to increase taxes to pay for new construction.

Businesses that want more investment in transportation are encouraged to express their interests at the meetings.

Click here for the schedule of meetings, set to continue through the middle of October. The bipartisan hearings were announced by Senate Transportation Committee co-chairs Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima and Sen. Tracey Eide, D-Federal Way.

Source: Sen. Curtis King

House issues principles to spark sales tax fairness debate

The U.S. House Judiciary chairman has issued general guidelines in hopes of sparking debate and resolution of sales tax fairness in Congress.

A reform bill to level the tax playing field between brick and mortar and online retailers passed the U.S. Senate in May, but awaits approval by the House and concurrence throughout Congress. Debates aimed at requiring online sellers to collect sales taxes stretch over the past decade.

Without reform, WRA and other organizations maintain that online sellers not only enjoy a competitive price advantage but threaten the livelihoods of traditional brick and mortar retailers.

Click here to read a published opinion piece on this matter by WRA President and CEO Jan Teague.

The guidelines issued by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Virginia) have gained the support of the National Retail Federation and Retail Industry Leaders' Association.

The guidelines urge fairer competition between brick and mortar and online retailers; simplicity in government reform requirements; keeping tax rates low; and protecting the privacy rights of consumers.

Over the coming weeks, business organizations will work with Chairman Goodlatte and members of the Judiciary Committee to translate these principles into a bill and push for hearing and vote in the House.

How to get small business health care tax credits

The U.S. Small Business Administration and Internal Revenue Service want to help small businesses learn about tax credits they can obtain for offering health care under the Affordable Care Act.

An IRS online guide explains how the tax credit works.

In short, businesses with fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees and pay average annual wages below $50,000 may qualify for a tax credit up to 35 percent of their premium contribution this year, and a 50 percent credit next year. Qualified businesses also must contribute 50 percent or more toward an employee's self-only health insurance premiums.

For further information including help completing necessary forms, call the IRS Help Line, 800-829-4933.

You also can learn more at www.sba.gov/healthcare. 

New health care requirement in effect Oct. 1

To comply with the Affordable Care Act, employers must notify their employees of 2014 health care coverage options beginning on Oct. 1 of this year.

A memo outlining this requirement was provided to state retail association executives this week by the Food Marketing Institute.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Labor published frequently asked questions to cover this new federal requirement.  Click here for additional guidance on meeting this new federal requirement.

The State of Washington also will begin enrolling qualified customers of its health care exchange next week Tuesday, Oct. 1. Click Healthplanfinder to learn how the state's online health care shopping system is supposed to work. To reach a newly-opened customer support telephone service, dial toll free, 1-855-WAFINDER (1-855-923-4633) or e-mail customersupport@wahbexchange.org.

Free health care webinar tomorrow

The Small Business Administration will conduct a free one-hour webinar beginning at 11 a.m. tomorrow.

Presenters will outline impacts of the Affordable Care Act on small businesses, review deadlines and responsibilities and potential tax credits and ways to learn more about the new law.

Click here to register and learn more about presenters for the webinar.

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. 

Free business fair set for Saturday

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.

One week to register for retail theft conference

As of Tuesday, about 36 seats remained to register for next week's free retail loss prevention conference to be held Thursday, Oct. 3  in Tacoma.

The all-day conference will be at the Tacoma Convention & Trade Center.

The crime conference has become an annual event organized by the Washington State Organized Retail Crime Alliance, a network of concerned retailers and law enforcement officials, including WRA.

WRA urges all retailers to support this year's conference by attending and putting into practice the knowledge to be gained.

Click here to register for the conference. A complimentary lunch will be available. Click here for more background on this trend courtesy of the National Retail Federation. 

Safety tip: (one in a series)

Push, don't pull a pallet jack

Pallet jacks are a common site in the retail industry for moving freight.  The site of one should trigger memory of a basic rule when it comes to operating a pallet jack.

The rule is: a person can push almost four times the weight they can pull.

That's why when the choice to push or pull a pallet jack arises, it's generally safer to push a pallet jack.

Rick Means, WRA's Safety/Claims Administrator, reminds that in moving weight, a worker is strongest pushing with his legs for a foundation. The physics follows the same principle as in lifting; lift using your legs for balance, not your back.

People who get hurt moving weight in the workplace often ignore the body mechanics involved in moving weight safely.

Using both arms to pull a pallet jack behind you is a recipe for being run into by the pallet if you have to stop suddenly. By pushing, a worker will find he or she has better control to steer and maneuver away from obstacles and they can stop quicker. It is impossible to always push a pallet jack but pulling should only be allowed to position the pallet for moving, not for actually moving the pallet around.  Ask your employees to spend the day pushing instead of pulling and see if they notice the difference at the end of the day.

Whether it's a manual or electric machine, it remains a good idea to push rather than pull a loaded pallet jack. The only difference between the two types of pallet jacks is that an electric one will operate when you are in the pulling position. In that case, the jack is doing all the moving work as the operator works controls located in the handle.

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

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.