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

I-517, the signature gathering initiative, fails at the ballot box

By Jan Teague, President/CEO

Sixty percent of voters across the state voted no on the self-serving Initiative 517 that was the mastermind of professional initiative promoter Tim Eyman.

Today, storeowners across the state are breathing a sigh of relief knowing their private property rights are maintained and they can continue to provide the type of welcoming, safe environment that their customers have come to expect.  It's been amazing to see the support from the voters who understood it was a bad idea to allow signature gatherers inside public buildings such as Safeco and CenturyLink fields and it was a bad idea to violate storeowners' property rights.

The election points to the scope and political influence of the state retail industry. It is a significant slice of the overall state economy, employing some 330,000 at some 14,000 companies counted by the state Employment Security department.

People have been asking me today why I think it got such a strong no vote.  I think it was a hard issue to beat given that Eyman framed the issue as protecting free speech.  But he hid behind a spokesperson who argued that it was too hard to get an initiative passed and that only "the big guys" got their way.  That was simply not believable. 

Voters are smart about these things and have had enough experiences with initiatives to know they are diverse and often pass. 

The groundswell of different groups who opposed it made this a nonpartisan issue and one where all types had the same response to Eyman.  The issue was not polarizing in any community.  Editorial boards supported a no vote and community leaders came out opposed to it.  Everyone went out and talked to their constituents about what was in the initiative.  I think that we had people vote no who were on both sides of Initiative 522, the GMO labeling initiative.   

And I need to be clear that our industry played a major role in defeating this initiative, putting up nearly half of the funds needed to run the campaign.  The Eyman campaign did not really campaign very much and put up no money to speak of. 

We asked our members to put out flyers and to tell their employees.  We asked our members to tell everyone about our concerns over their ability to manage their property.  Eyman signature gatherers in particular can be very pushy and cause customers to get upset.  This worried everyone who understands that the retail experience is largely a customer service experience.

Angel clings to lead among other state races

By Mark Johnson, VP Government Affairs

Less than 3 percentage points separated the candidates in the crucial District 26 state Senate race today, the morning after the election.

Results showed the Republican Rep. Jan Angel clinging to a 51.4 to 48.6 percent lead over incumbent Democrat Sen. Nathan Schlicher. Control of the district seat including Kitsap and portions of Pierce County is crucial to balance the party power in the state Legislature.

Democrats control the House. Republicans could maintain a Majority Coalition with Republican control in the Senate next year, as they did this past session, if Angel wins the election. It may take a matter of a few more days to settle results in the race. Follow later results in this race here.

There also were state Senate races in District 7 in northeastern Washington and District 8 in the south central part of the state.

In the District 7 race, incumbent John Smith, with 46.2 percent of the vote, trailed challenger Brian Dansel, with 53.8 percent of the vote. Both candidates prefer Republican Party affiliation.

In District 8, the incumbent Sen. Sharon Brown led challenger Phillip Lemley, 75.3 percent to 24.6 percent. Both prefer Republican Party affiliation.

Click here to follow developing results in the three state Senate races.

In perhaps the state's most expensive initiative campaign to date, I-522 pertaining to labeling of genetically modified foods was trailing, 54.8 percent to 45.1 percent today.

WRA and many other business groups opposed 522 as a confusing and unnecessary proposal that would have raised food prices. Click here to follow developing results in this race.

SeaTac minimum wage increase passing

A proposition to raise minimum wages for airport-related workers in SeaTac appeared headed for an election victory this week.

Opponents, however, were not conceding defeat on Wednesday with 50 percent of the ballots in the election uncounted.

As of this morning, Proposition 1, to raise the minimum wage from the current $9.19 to $15, led 54 percent to 46 percent. With 12,000 registered voters in the city, the vote difference was only 261, according to the Seattle Times.

The measure pertains to airline workers and employees of hotels and car rental agencies that service the SeaTac airport. It also includes paid sick and safe leave for those employees and requires anyone who would buy a company to retain those employees after a purchase, said Tammie Hetrick, WRA's VP of Retail Services.

"This is going to be expensive for the city to administer," said Hetrick, who predicted that SeaTac property taxes would need to rise and affected companies would need to do layoffs or even close due to the escalated  payroll costs.

Click here to read the entire language of the proposition.

If the vote holds up, Hetrick predicted that other cities including Seattle and Tacoma may see similar votes to raise minimum wages.

Unions that support the measure exempted themselves from the requirements of Proposition 1. Hetrick said that means that companies not wishing to meet its requirements would have to unionize their employees.

Because of Proposition 1's exemption, opponents have argued that unions put it forth on the ballot as an organizing tool. It may take several more days before final votes are counted in the special SeaTac election. Click here for King County election results including Proposition 1.

Special session starts tomorrow

Legislators will return to Olympia for a special session starting tomorrow that is aimed at approving bills to ensure that production of Boeing's new 777X plane and wing assembly will be in Washington State.

It is unclear how long the session will last but speculation surrounds meeting no more than four days.

In announcing that he was calling legislators to Olympia, Gov. Jay Inslee outlined the lawmakers' agenda in general terms:

*Approval of a bipartisan transportation revenue package. It is believed that consideration of a new bridge over the Columbia River with Oregon will not be included.

*Extending tax incentives regarding commercial airline construction and construction of manufacturing facilities until 2040.

*Boosting investments in aerospace education and completing an aerospace training facility in Renton.

*Streamlining and speeding construction permitting to allow for expansion of Boeing manufacturing capability.

Boeing has asked for cuts in pension and health benefits in a proposal eight-year labor contract that machinists will vote on next week. Union members will receive a $10,000 signing bonus if they approve the proposed labor agreement.

Click here to read Inslee's announcement regarding the special session. 

Shoppers elsewhere love tax-free weekends

By Mark Johnson, VP Government Affairs

So far, many Washington State shoppers have not felt the excitement and benefits of experiencing a sales tax free weekend.

It will take the approval of the state Legislature for such a promotion to be allowed in Washington.

Meanwhile, shoppers in other states have shared their excitement for the idea in a You Tube video produced for the Washington Retail Association, which favors establishing a tax-free weekend during the back-to-school shopping period. Click here to watch the short video.

Not only could our shoppers benefit. So would local and state governments from the additional revenues produced from the crowds eager to take advantage. Click here to identify your state legislators, then call or e-mail them and ask them to support a back-to-school tax-free holiday in Washington. You also may dial 800-562-6000 to leave a general message after identifying the legislators you're trying to reach.

Reform creates nearly 1,000 jobs for Washington State

A new study announced by the Food Marketing Institute has concluded that swipe fee reforms, which lowered the fees three years ago, saved Washington State consumers $141.8 million last year and created 907 jobs in that year.

In addition, Washington merchants saved $63.8 million in fees that would have been paid to banks for the right to serve credit customers, according to the report.

WRA is part of a coalition, including the National Retail Federation, that supports even further reductions in the fees retailers must pay to banks for the use of credit and debit cards. The fees are the second highest cost that retailers face after payroll costs.

Since implementation of the Durbin Amendment to the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, 37,501 retail jobs have been created across the U.S. as a result of reduced fees to banks. An additional 17,824 jobs could have been created had the Federal Reserve agreed to reduce fees as much as the national retail coalition had favored.

Were the fees to be further reduced, Washington merchants could save an additional $30.2 million and created 431 more jobs.

Sources: Food Marketing Institute, National Grocers Association

NRF touts the value of joining a state retail association

Fresh from a recent national meeting in Nashville, the National Retail Federation is strongly urging retailers of all shapes and sizes to consider joining and becoming active in a state retail organization.

NRF sent several representatives to the Council of State Retail Association's annual meeting, where WRA was in attendance, and was favorably impressed with the presenters and range of issues addressed at the meeting.

Click here to read the commentary in a blog by Michael Cys, NRF's VP of State Relations and Political Affairs. NRF also lists state associations including WRA on its website. (link).

WRA offers members a host of benefits and lobbying representation in the state legislature and others levels of government that can prove invaluable. To learn more about WRA membership, contact Terry Hopsecger, Director of Business Development, at 360-943-9198, Ext. 24 or at terry@retailassociationservices.com.

RASI website offers rate calculator for 2014 insurance rates

WRA invites companies to use a calculator on its website to figure out proposed workers' compensation insurance rates likely to go into effect in January.

To access the calculator, go to www.retailassociationservices.com (Retail Association Services, Inc.) and click inside the red box that comes up on the page. Once at the worksheet, simply type in the numeric code inside the "risk class" box for your type of business and the calculator will generate how much rates to employers and employees are proposed to increase or decrease next year.

L&I is conducting public hearings around the state this month to take input before making a final decision on next year's rates. Click here to learn about times and locations for L&I's public hearings and how to submit written comments.

Website visitors do not have to be WRA members to use the rate calculator.

WRA will honor local delegation for sales tax reform support

WRA President and CEO Jan Teague is planning to personally award six members of the state's Congressional delegation for their support of national sales tax reform legislation.

Those elected officials to be honored with a Hero of Main Street awards have each demonstrated their support for the Main Street Fairness Act, which so far has won approval in the U.S. Senate. The act would require online sellers to collect sales taxes and create a fairer competitive economic environment for traditional brick and mortar stores.

WRA plans to deliver the awards in western Washington during upcoming Congressional recesses.

Those to be honored include U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell; and Representatives Suzan DelBene, Derek Kilmer, Rick Larsen and Adam Smith.

The National Retail Federation, which created the award, honored 136 members of Congress earlier this year with the inaugural recognition.

HR seminar Dec. 5 in Seattle

WRA members may obtain a discounted registration fee for the Dec. 5 Labor and Employment seminar to be hosted in Seattle by the law firm Lane Powell.

Topics to be covered include recent legal trends related to human resources, the Affordable Care Act, the effects of Seattle's criminal background check ordinance and same-sex marriages.

The event, beginning at 7:30 a.m., will be held in the Johnson Lobby Lounge of the Washington Athletic Club, 1325 Sixth Avenue in Seattle.

Click here to register or call 206-223-1227 or e-mail Jean Delovino, delovino@lanepowell.com with questions.

Register for upcoming state policy summits

The Washington Policy Center will host two statewide policy summits on Nov. 12 and 13.

The events are scheduled to cover a range of subject matter from education to transportation, the environment, small business and government reform proposals.

The sessions are geared toward obtaining comments to influence Olympia policymakers, engaging the media in issues coverage and prompting civic action.

The Nov. 12 event will be at the Pasco Red Lion Hotel.  It moves to the Bellevue Hyatt Regency Hotel on Nov. 13.

Register for the Tri-Cities event here.  Register for the Bellevue event here. Click here for information on speakers. 

Rates point northward under Obamacare

The Affordable Care Act is at the very least a misnomer, according to Forbes magazine.

A couple of its authors have analyzed the law's impact in 49 states and conclude premiums will increase on average 41 percent under the Affordable Care Act, the mother of what has come to be called Obamacare.

The authors also conclude that the act's subsidies, designed to help customers meet their premium obligations, will tend to help those most likely not to need the help.

In any case, click here to read the report. The presentation includes a handy U.S. map that allows you to click on states to see the impact of the Affordable Care Act on premiums. For people buying their own insurance, it shows a 31 percent increase in premiums for Washington State.

Source: Forbes magazine

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. 

Safety tip: (one in a series)

Know the steps for safe lifting

According to Labor & Industries, back injuries account for roughly a third of workplace incidents and account for about half the insurance payments made to injured workers.

Learning how to lift things safely depends as much on your mental approach as your muscles.

L&I suggests remembering to use a hand truck if necessary and bringing the load as close to your body as possible. The steps include sizing up the load, knowing how to lift, carrying the item safely without twisting your body and setting it down without risking injury. Common tips include:

*Avoiding overreaching or twisting while lifting.

*Ensuring secure footing and using gloves when necessary to avoid injury or slippage during a lift.

*Watching your weight and posture. Being overweight puts extra stress on the lower back and can increase the odds of injury.

*Keeping the loads close to you to avoid stretching and strain on the lower back.

*Getting help if a load is too heavy.

*Allowing leg muscles not back muscles to lift the bulk of the load.

Click here for a helpful poster that outlines the four steps to proper lifting.

There is also a comprehensive video that explains how the back works and what mistakes employees commonly make to hurt their backs. The video also offers a variety of tips on how to properly lift objects to avoid injury and missed work.

WRA employs Rick Means as a safety advisor to members. He's available for workplace safety visits or to help outline safety plans and to suggest topics for safety meetings. Contact him at 360-943-9198, Ext. 18 or at rick.means@retailassociationservices.com.