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

Teens may not get work experience

By Jan Teague, President/CEO

It's getting more and more difficult for teens to find work.  The recession has put older workers into jobs, including entry-level jobs, that used to be jobs for teens ages 16-19. 

There are other factors besides the recession such as the state's high minimum wage.  Why not hire someone with work experience over someone who will take a lot of time to train?  This question is about to become even more important when cities such as Seattle decide to bump their minimum wage even higher.  What we have heard in SeaTac is that there are people coming from all over to apply for those $15 per hour wages.  Those with less skill simply won't get a shot at those jobs any more.  I would expect the same to happen in Seattle. 

A recent article in the Seattle Times talks about how hard it is for students to find work without one or two years of work experience.  According to the article, the employment rate for teens in Seattle dropped from 45.8 percent in 2000 to 25 percent in 2012.  This puts Seattle in the bottom third of metro areas for teen employment.  The teen situation is bound to get worse there.

Yes, the recession is over, but not really.  There are not enough jobs to go around.  If there were, we would not have this current situation for our youth.  It's tough now and it will be tough until we have a full economic recovery.   We may see an entire generation lag behind in developing their career path.  The unintended consequences of this are complex as they grow into adults without having climbed career rungs to reach true financial independence. 

Adults not able to make a decent living create pressure on social services and pressure on employers to support them.  We are already seeing that with the pickets and media stories of adult workers in entry-level jobs wanting higher wages.  It seems like a vicious cycle for the economy and one that ends with higher costs of living.

Campaign season in full swing - please donate to the PAC

By Mark Johnson, VP Government Affairs

Now that the 2014 Session is over, WRA's attention has changed rapidly towards campaign season.  All 98 House members and about half of the 49-member Senate are seeking re-election or there are open seats as members retire. 

The Washington Retail Association has a very active political action committee or PAC, called the Retail Action Council.  Its goal is to elect pro-retail legislators. 

We will first produce a voting record for existing legislators on how they voted on key retail-related issues in 2013 and 2014.  If a legislator scores high enough, he or she will be recommended for endorsement to the PAC board.  If they are in a vulnerable district or seat, there may also be a donation recommended. 

In 2014 the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) has set the individual election amount at $950.  So we could donate $950 for the primary and $950 for the general for a total of $1,900 for the cycle.  All donations are reported to the PDC and open to the public for review.

The more pro-retail candidates and current legislators we can help elect, the more likely we are to protect and advance our retail agenda.  This is where donors come in. 

Donating to the PAC helps WRA with this very important goal.  Donations should be made out to:  WRA Retail Action Council PAC and sent to P.O. Box 2227, Olympia WA  98507-2227,  atten:  Mark Johnson.  There is no limit to how much you can donate to a PAC.  We are also allowed to receive corporate dollars as well as personal funds.  Please be advised that all donations to PACs will be reported to the PDC and open to the public.  Political donations are not tax deductible.

If you are unable to donate to the PAC other ways to help are to identify good pro-retail candidates.  Contact me directly (360-943-9198, Ext. 15; mark.johnson@retailassociation.org ) if you know someone who would be a good legislator.  Also, if you have an interest in running yourself, I would be delighted to talk to you about what is involved and get you the resources you need. 

Finally, once a candidate is identified, put up their yard sign, attend their fundraisers and rallies, go ring doorbells with them, attend a forum or debate.  All of these things help these folks get elected.  Thank you in advance for taking an interest in this very important election season.

L&I releases guidance on workplace bullying

By Tammie Hetrick, VP Retail Services

As part of the Washington Industrial Safety & Health Act (WISHA) Advisory Committee through the Department of Labor and Industries, I received an update on a helpful website that offers employers assistance to avoid workplace bullying.

It's not an issue that can be swept under the rug.

A bullied employee can suffer from low self-esteem and in the process fail to produce on the job. Enabling a bully only heightens the possibility that further damage could be done to more than one employee. Bullying can increase medical costs and expose an employer to expensive investigations, grievances and lawsuits.

It's always best to head off bullying and L&I has posted a comprehensive list of aides to better recognize the problem and take effective action as quickly as possible.

WRA encourages employers to click here to review the materials available. You also can type - nobullying.lni.wa.gov - in your browser's search box to call up the site.

WRA recommends that all employers educate their employees about the damage bullying can do and institute a no tolerance policy against it. Encourage your employees to report conduct that demands a closer look and review and investigate accusations in a timely manner. Someone prone to bullying will be less likely to abuse a co-worker if they know their employee will not tolerate this behavior.

The site also offers a selection of anti-bullying posters companies can display to remind employees that there is no room for abusive and damaging behavior on the job.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!  WORKER MEMORIAL DAY COMING UP

Labor and Industries has set April 29 at 2 p.m. as the date and time for its annual Worker Memorial Day, at which state dignitaries honor the families of people who died on the job in the past year.  WRA encourages anyone one can attend to reflect on these fatalities and pay respects at the event at L&I headquarters, 7273 Linderson Way. S.W. in Tumwater.

Free UW minimum wage debate will be televised

The Washington Policy Center is sponsoring a free debate on considerations of raising the minimum wage at 7 p.m., Wednesday, April 2 at the University of Washington's Kane Hall.

Register at www.washingtonpolicy.org/events or contact sjansen@washingtonpolicy.org.

The debate also will be broadcast by TVW.

Panelists are expected to include Rep. Matt Manweller, R-Ellensburg; Stephen Moore of the Wall Street Journal's editorial board; Rep. Chris Reykdal, D-Tumwater; and Sara Jane Glynn, economics fellow for the Center for American Progress.

The minimum wage for certain workers in the City of SeaTac has been raised to $15 an hour, is under consideration in the City of Seattle and has been suggested by Gov. Jay Inslee. Businesses have expressed concerns that spiking certain wages will bring financial pressures fatal to their businesses and dry up job opportunities for inexperienced job seekers.

All of these reactions and more are expected to be aired during the debate. WRA urges all interested parties to attend or watch the debate.

Seattle meeting tomorrow on minimum wage hike

The public is invited to a full-day Seattle policy conference on whether to raise the minimum wage for companies from $9.32 to $15.

Though the Seattle University meeting is free to attend, registration is required. The all-day meeting will be held, starting at 8:45 a.m. in Seattle University's Campion Ballroom.

WRA urges members who can attend and anticipate possible impacts from this proposal to express their opinions during panel discussions that will be held at the conference. Click here to obtain driving directions to the conference.

Source: Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce

Lobbyists grade the 2014 Legislature a D plus

Lobbyists who worked during the 2014 legislative session graded the Legislature's accomplishments a "D+" in the most recent Elway Poll released this week.

A total of 269 registered lobbyists responded to the poll.

The highest percentage of them, 29 percent, credited the Legislature with simply finishing on time for the scheduled March 13 adjournment date. This year was the first year since 2009 that the Legislature completed its work on time.

Twelve percent of respondents credited lawmakers for "doing no harm," while 10 percent concluded that lawmakers notched no significant accomplishments.

It was the second consecutive year in the five-year-old survey that lobbyists graded the Legislature a D+.  It also was the first time lobbyists awarded an F grade for lack of action on approving a package of improvements to the state transportation network.

Click here to read more on the harsh criticism of the session.

Source: The Elway Poll

Power rates would increase if PSE went "coal free"

Though Washington State has decided to close the lone coal-fired power plant operating here by 2025, environmentalists including The Sierra Club are bringing pressure to detach utility companies from buying power from the coal-fired Colstrip plant in Montana.

A meeting of the Attorney General's Citizen Advisory Committee learned Tuesday that removing Colstrip as an energy source would boost Puget Sound Energy bills by 5 percent. PSE is one of five owners of the Colstrip facility.

The committee, including WRA's Director of Public Affairs, Jim Szymanski, heard from Phillip Popoff, PSE's Manager of Integrated Resource Planning. The committee meets periodically to learn about state utility rate matters from the Attorney General's Public Counsel division. That division testifies at utility rate hearings held by the regulatory state Utilities and Transportation Commission.

The state derives power from several sources including hydroelectric dams, buying power from other utilities, natural gas, nuclear, wind, solar and coal-fired plants.

Heading forward, Popoff said PSE is weighing several considerations including the costs of remodeling the plant to reduce air emissions and the possibility of the "coal-free Washington" movement succeeding and reducing demand from Washington State customers.

Popoff said UTC commissioners have asked PSE to begin factoring environmental issues such as the coal-free movement and possible carbon emissions taxes into its planning and rate projections. The utility updates its rate planning every two years, Popoff said.

PSE also purchases power from the TransAlta coal-fired plant in Centralia, scheduled to close in 2025.

Simon ffitch, division chief of the Attorney General's Public Counsel Office, said his staff is in the process of formulating a policy position regarding how environmental concerns should affect future utility rate requests.

Shippers save thousands of dollars with WRA partner

Shipping customers saved an average $3,100 in 2013 by shipping with PartnerShip, a partner with WRA.

Enrolled WRA members can save up to 27 percent on select FedEx services.

WRA encourages all members to explore this service. Visit www.PartnerShip.com/99WRA to enroll. Shipping customers with further questions are encouraged to call Partnership at 800-599-2902 or e-mail sales@PartnerShip.com. You also may click here to receive a free rate analysis to help with your shipping decision.

NRF rebrands image, logo, website

The National Retail Federation is in the midst of a marketing makeover.

On Monday, NRF unveiled a new more modern logo in a short video.

In coming months, NRF will redesign its website and plans to move to a new Washington, D.C. headquarters. NRF officials said the moves represent the organization's growth and prominence as the national voice of retail.

Look for updates regarding this campaign in future issues of this newsletter.

Safety tip:(one in series)

Injuries can impact your employees' paychecks

Many employers often try to find ways to get employees to do their jobs as safely as they can.  A new way to accomplish this goal could be to explain that workplace accidents personally cost many employees in their paychecks.

Part of the insurance premium that L&I charges to state-funded employers can also pass on to employees in their paycheck if the employer chooses to deduct the employee portion from their wages for workers' compensation premiums. Not all employers pass on the employee portion. But if your shop is accident prone, and your employer requires employees to contribute toward workers' compensation insurance, everyone there will 'feel' it in their take home pay. 

Rick Means, WRA's Safety Advisor, reminds employers that working safely keeps insurance rates as low as possible, which also earns your shop accident-free discounts (just like your car insurance).  Lower rates mean that the employee portion of the premium will also go down.

If you see a fellow employee doing something that is not safe, ask them to re-commit to working safely because accidents even cost employees who don't get hurt. Put simply, a safe work environment can boost the take-home pay of all employees at a company.

Here is a link to an example of how much difference a safe workplace can make in reducing payroll insurance deductions.

Rick is available to members to help draft safety plans and suggest topics for safety meetings. Contact him at 360-943-9198 x18, or rick.means@retailassociationservices.com.

Former Defense Secretary to address Policy Center

Former Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates has been scheduled to address the Washington Policy Center's annual dinner in Bellevue on Oct. 2.

Gates served under President George W. Bush but is the only Secretary of Defense in U.S. history asked to remain in that office after a change in administrations by newly-elected President Obama.

WPC's annual dinner has become the Northwest's largest policy event, attracting more than 2,000 elected officials, business leaders and policymakers. This year's event will be held at the Bellevue Hyatt Regency.

Click here to register to attend.

Save the date for the 2014 business fair

Organizers have settled on Sept. 27 for this year's annual small business fair at Renton Technical College.

WRA is an annual exhibitor at the fair, where speakers address numerous seminars on starting and growing a small business. Admission is free.

Look for updates as they occur at www.bizfair.org. Also, look for periodic announcements on the Business Fair Facebook page.