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

Issues have common threads

By Jan Teague, President/CEO

Last week I toured the state doing legislative candidate interviews and hearing what is important to local businesses.  I was struck by how similar some of the issues were everywhere I went.

Top on the list was transportation concerns.  It seems that transportation is on everyone's mind. It is about linking communities with a system that works so that people who commute don't spend endless hours on the roads, or have delays in getting shipments, or worry about the impact on tourism with tourists simply trying to get around.  Without a doubt, they all blame the legislators who they believe can't seem to find common ground.  As one business owner put it, he is frustrated that principles get in the way of a compromise.

In the more urban areas the issues of panhandling, crime and the homeless were worrisome.  Even with programs that help, the problems seem to continue.  One business owner said that when law enforcement targets an area, the panhandlers just move around, making it uncomfortable for people to walk down the street.  Another pointed out that the recession created lay-offs for many law enforcement agencies that are now competing to find new scarce recruits. 

Opinions were mixed on how to fund education or what role the state Supreme Court should have in figuring out the details. But everyone seemed to agree that we need to do something.   

During campaign season the one thing you can count on is that there is a lot of blaming the other guy.  It's certain that someone is at fault for the bad roads and the poor schools and the inaction of our leaders.  The voters will figure out who they think can solve the problems and may be interested in those candidates who have established their leadership around the ability to bring people together.  

I heard that mentioned by a number of candidates last week.  I thought to myself as I listened that they have no idea how hard it is to get things done with so much diversity in the electorate.  In some ways when things move slowly, we know that only the best of what we can do has made it into law. 

Some initiatives die, others may live this year

By Mark Johnson, VP of Government Affairs

The past couple of weeks, two important statewide initiative efforts failed while the fate of a third hangs in the balance of a signature recount that started this week.

First off, Tim Eyman's effort to change the state constitution to hold down taxes failed to attract enough interested voters to sign petitions to qualify I-1325 on the Nov. 4 ballot. Eyman hoped to institutionalize the requirement that legislators muster a two-thirds supermajority before approving tax increases. Right now, citizen initiatives have a two-year life cycle after which lawmakers can and have overruled the voters on holding down taxes.

On a similar front, insufficient funds were raised by organizers to mount a successful campaign to qualify I-1358 for the ballot. It would have pre-empted local communities from adopting wage and labor laws different from the state such as the decisions to raise minimum wages in SeaTac and Seattle to $15 an hour. The current statewide minimum wage is $9.32 though Gov. Inslee has indicated he will seek to raise it during the 2015 legislative session.

I'm also watching the outcome for I-1351, the campaign to reduce K-12 class sizes through state funding. The Secretary of State's Elections Division this week began validating the 335,000 plus signatures that organizers turned in, well above the 246,372 signatures of valid voters that are required. Organizers turned in the extra signatures to compensate for signatures from unregistered voters, duplicate signatures and people who have moved out of the state or country.

Elections officials expect to know by next week whether I-1351 will make it to the ballot. Also, in Seattle, elections officials are counting petition signatures to schedule a referendum vote to overthrow a city council decision to raise minimum wages to $15 beginning in April of next year.

I'll follow up with another update later this month.

Employer health forums this month in Seattle, Fife

U.S. HealthWorks Medical Group is the midst of conducting employer forums around the state to learn more about managing workers' compensation claims.

The two remaining forums are in Seattle, July 22 and in Fife on July 24.

Dr. David Hoffman, the company's regional medical director for Washington State, is scheduled to answer questions. Also scheduled will be a brief overview of recent changes related to medical exams required of drivers requiring commercial drivers' licenses.

The company requests an RSVP at least 48 hours in advance of the invitation-only event.

The Seattle meeting is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Double Tree hotel, 16500 Southcenter Parkway, Tukwila. The Fife meeting is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Emerald Queen Casino and Hotel, 5700 Pacific Highway East.

To reserve a spot, contact Denise Fleetwood, 206-707-6925 (denise.fleetwood@usworks.com ) or Paul McMakin, 207-240-3637 (paul.mcmakin@usworks.com ).

"Cooling off" reached in port contract talks

Contract talks were continuing earlier this week as West Coast shipping companies and dock workers negotiated a "cooling off" period for the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

Some shipments were delayed last week in the Los Angeles area as dockworkers honored pickets put up by Teamsters who were calling attention to the recent expiration of a six-year labor agreement for West Coast dock workers.

Retailers are keeping a close eye on the talks and making contingency plans for shipments from overseas in case of a work stoppage.

Observers hope that contract talks can be completed by the end of this month.

WRA has joined numerous other business associations as co-signers of two National Retail Federation letters to shippers and labor unions to remain at the bargaining table rather than stopping work that would delay shipments for the critical back-to-school and holiday shopping seasons.

Tax payments to state exceed forecasts

State revenues from tax payments finished 2 percent above expectations in the latest monthly report from the Economic Revenue Forecast Council.

The report reviews state income for the month ending July 10.

Tax payments from retailers were up 5.4 percent compared to the same period last year.

Retail segments showing strong growth compared to last year were:

*Online retailers, up 12.6 percent.

*Motor vehicles and parts, up 11 percent.

*Building materials and garden equipment, up 7.9 percent.

*Furniture and home furnishings, up 7.3 percent.

Retail sectors recording declines in tax payments included food and beverage stores, down 3.6 percent, and electronics and appliance stored, down 0.1 percent.

Besides the sales gains, initial claims for unemployment insurance were another sign that the economy continues to improve. Claims for the week ending July 5 were lower that at the onset of the recession in 2008.

Click here to read the entire report.

Source: ERFC

Retail imports are up this year

Import volumes of retail goods through U.S. ports are expected to be 6.7 percent higher in the first six months of this year compared to the same time last year.

The National Retail Federation also reports a surge in imports this month following the expiration of a labor contract last month for West Coast dockworkers. The secret talks on a new contract have made retailers fearful of a possible strike. Many of those retailers have been taking shipments earlier to protect against any supply chain disruptions leading into the back-to-school and holiday shopping seasons, NRF reported.

Import volumes at major U.S. container ports this month are expected to total 1.5 million containers, the highest monthly volume in at least five years.

Due to the uncertain labor talks, retailers are making other contingency plans besides early shipments. Some have diverted deliveries to East Coast ports, where there are major worries about potential walkouts. West Coast ports handled 59 percent of U.S. retail container cargo in May, down from 62 percent in January.

NRF is forecasting a 4.1 percent growth in retail sales in 2014. Those cargo volumes do not directly relate to sales, economists believe they are a barometer of retailers' sales expectations.

People are finding work and spending more since the recession, reflecting improved consumer confidence, said Ben Hackett, a consultant who tracks port import volumes monthly for NRF. Click here for more on this story. 

Safety tip: (second of three parts)

To work safely, remember eye protection

Eye injuries are one of the most common injuries that occur in the workplace and one of the easiest hazards to prevent. 

Here's what typically contributes to eye injuries at work:

• Not wearing eye protection - The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that nearly three out of every five workers injured were not wearing eye protection at the time of their accident.
• Wearing the wrong kind of protection for the job - About 40 percent of the injured workers were wearing eyeglasses without side shields, although some injuries still can occur when full-cup and flat-fold side shields are worn. Tight-fitting goggles offer the most complete protection and should be worn for liquid chemical hazards.
• Flying particles -The BLS found that almost 70 percent of the accidents studied resulted from flying or falling objects striking the eye. Injured workers estimated that nearly 60 percent of the objects were smaller than a pin head.  Contact with chemicals caused about 20 percent of the injuries. Other accidents were caused by objects swinging from a fixed or attached position.

  More information on eye safety can be found here:

• A good video can be found at RASI SAFETY TV -
• Safety Meeting Kit for Personal Protective Gear on Eye Protection
• Who pays for the protective gear

Eye gear is fairly inexpensive protection and current designs are a lot more comfortable with better protection than previous types.  Please take a moment to think about all possible eye hazards at your workplace, inspect your current equipment to make sure it is in good condition, and then make sure your employees use it while preforming their work.

Rick Means, WRA's Safety and Claims Administrator, is available to members to help draw up safety plans and suggest topics for safety meetings. Contact him at 360-943-9198 x18, or rick.means@retailassociationservices.com. 

WRA co presents annual small business forums

WRA again this year is co-presenting a series of upcoming small business forums around the state with the Washington Policy Center.

Times and dates still are being arranged. Forums have been scheduled Aug. 11, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Yakima Red Lion Inn on Aug. 11 and at the same times of day on Nov. 14 at Tacoma's Pacific Grill Events Center.

Forum participants will be asked to complete a survey explaining how issues affect their business. A report reflecting the impacts will be shared with lawmakers at the upcoming 2015 state legislative session beginning next January. Topics under discussion at this year's forums will include the minimum wage, health care reform, regulation and workers' compensation.

To register as a Tacoma attendee, contact Savannah Kimball at SavannahK@tacomachamber.org. Contact Chris Cargill, 509-570-2384 or ccargill@washingtonpolicy.org to register for the Yakima event.

WRA will update information on future forums, times and dates, in this newsletter as information develops.

Good time to comply with hazardous drug rule

Pharmacy employees and delivery personnel are among the occupations under alert to comply by this coming January with a new state law to protect employees from dangerous chemicals.

WRA members most likely affected by the new law would be pharmacy employees and shippers. Improper exposure to certain hazardous drugs can cause several reactions including rashes, genetic damage, birth defects and cancer.

Information from the state can be found here.  Labor and Industries has assembled a hazardous program guide for pharmacies.  Timelines and check points for the phased-in law can be found here.

Source: L&I

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. Visitwww.PartnerShip.com/99WRA to enroll. Shipping customers with further questions are encouraged to call Partnership at 800-599-2902 or e-mailsales@PartnerShip.com. You also may click here to receive a free rate analysis to help with your shipping decision.

Help elect pro-retail candidates by donating to the PAC

By Mark Johnson, VP Government Affairs

The election season is upon us.  This is an important year with all of the state House members and half of the state Senate up for election. 

WRA's Retail Action Council Political Action Committee, or as we call it the RAC PAC, will be a major player in helping elect pro-retail candidates to the legislature.  Our process is very involved and thorough to ensure the greatest chance for success. 

First, we are diligently working on a voting record for all current members of the legislature.  We select approximately 10 bills per chamber that we were involved in and score the legislators on whether they voted with us or sponsored something we liked or didn't like.  We then combine the 2014 scores with the 2013 scores for a biennium or two-year total.  This gives a better representation of the legislators overall support or lack thereof.  Once the voting record is done the RAC PAC will make its first round of endorsements. 

Surveys will be sent to all candidates who don't have a voting record and who have filed to run for the legislature.  After scoring the surveys we will decide which candidates to interview based on their scores and the viability of their districts to elect them.  Recommendations will then be sent to the RAC PAC for consideration of endorsements and contributions.

RAC PAC contributions are very important to help the pro-retail candidates to get the word out.  Yard signs, letters, websites, radio, bill boards and TV all cost money.  A contested House race can run anywhere from $100,000 to $300,000 and an average Senate race can cost upwards of $500,000. 

Individual donation limits to candidates this year are $950 per election, so for the primary and general you can give $1,900.  Contributions to PACs are unlimited.  We can also accept corporate dollars.

In order to secure a pro-retail legislature it is critical that contributions to the RAC PAC be made.  If you are in a position to donate please mail a contribution made out to:  The Washington Retail Association Retail Action Council PAC, P.O. Box 2227, Olympia WA  98507-2227.  We appreciate all of the WRA members who have already donated.

If you would like to discuss giving opportunities please give me a call directly:  360-943-9198 ,  Ext. 15  We appreciate your serious consideration of this very important component of our political program.

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.