Washington Retail Association Board meets
By Jan Teague, President/CEO
The Board of Directors met for two days to discuss strategic issues and what our top concerns were given the recessionary climate. One of the top concerns was Boeing's impact on the economy and just how much worse it might get if the company starts pulling out of the state. The Board decided to send the Governor, legislators and the Congressional delegation a letter of concern.
The Board discussed the strategic use of its resources, particularly the growing need to cover local government issues. As local governments change rules, the one clear problem is the mish mash of laws that retailers have to deal with from city to city. While this is not a new problem, it seems to be one that is growing. It doesn't make sense that local government would pass new rules and new taxes at a time when the recession is hitting retailers so hard. But unfortunately, these micro-political climates work just like they do in the Legislature, and people advance their causes.
The Washington Retail Association will continue to participate in local issues such as plastic bag taxes or proposals for fees at ports and will work to increase its media exposure whenever it can. The association will be exploring new communication methods such as Twitter, Linked In, and Facebook.
We have strong relationships with the malls in Washington but hope to make those even stronger with more information sharing such as retail sales data. Mall owners can create opportunities to get the word out on key issues to retailers who might not be members of the association. These efforts will be very beneficial to our grassroots program.
Small business remains a pillar of our retail association. The WRA is looking for members to participate on the Small Business Committee. We are also working with local chambers of commerce whenever we can on retail issues.
A number of key political issues were reviewed and the Board expects to finalize its 2010 Legislative Priorities at the fall Board meeting. Board members are hoping for an economic recovery before the Christmas season begins. They remain very concerned that legislators will throw up their hands and start imposing taxes next session rather than limiting entitlement programs such as social services, unemployment or Labor & Industries. Two issues in our favor next year are a major election cycle in 2010, which tempers tax talks, and Congressional spending, which seems to be lowering tolerance already for tax increases.
The Board discussed its ongoing political program and its opportunity to make a difference for its members. Any member who is interested in joining the Board or volunteering for the Small Business Committee can give me a call at 360-943-9198 ext. 19 or email me at jteague@retailassociation.org |
WRA board updates positions on issues
The WRA Board of Directors met for their annual retreat July 12 and 13.
One of the major items discussed was the 75 Legislative Position Policy Papers that guide WRA staff when working on issues. Some of the papers date back to the founding of WRA in 1987.
The board removed papers that were no longer needed because the issues had been resolved. Most importantly, the board voted to update several important and timely issue papers.
Included in the list of papers needing revisions are: organized retail theft/felony theft limit, pharmacy, streamlined sales tax, sales tax increases, general taxes, tobacco, and workers' comp reform.
These papers will be processed through the WRA Government Affairs Committee for submission to the board at its fall meeting for adoption. Following the adoption of the papers, more concise working documents will be created for general public use. Periodic review and updates will be conducted on all papers as needed in the future. |
L&I investigating length of lost-time payments to injured workers
WRA meets with agency director in search of solutions
WRA is meeting with Labor and Industries officials to work on solutions to reducing the growing length of lost-time payments to injured workers statewide.
Tammie Hetrick, WRA's Vice President Retail Services, met earlier this week with L&I Director Judy Schurke regarding the issue.
Injured workers statewide now average 257 days of lost time, up nearly 29 percent compared to the average of 200 days lost in 2002, Hetrick said.
"L&I is investigating why time-loss duration has increased and doing a thorough review," Hetrick said. "We will be working with the director to identify trends and coming up with ways to fix the current problem."
The state currently has no mechanism known in other states as "compromise and release" to negotiate and settle workplace injury claims so, claims continue without any final resolution.
"One cause of this problem in Washington State is the fact that we don't have compromise and release," Hetrick said. "The Legislature has the power to enact compromise and release authority."
The recession is making it more difficult for some companies to hire back formerly injured workers, which could be lengthening their time off the job, L&I reported. The agency also is investigating whether internal administrative delays are contributing to the problem.
Lost-time injury claims could be tied to possible workers' compensation insurance rate increases that are expected to be announced in September, Hetrick said.
She also has been working with L&I to shorten the time it takes for workers to report their injuries to employers. Often, delays are caused when employees wait for their doctors to report injuries, Hetrick said. |
Environmental conference scheduled in Seattle
WRA is co-presenting an environmental conference and luncheon in Seattle later this month with the Washington Policy Center.
Climatologist Pat Michaels of the University of Virginia will address those who attend the event, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on July 23 at the Westin Seattle hotel.
The event will feature panel discussions on eco-fads, new environmental regulations and market-based environmentalism. Michaels, past president of the American Association of State Climatologists, will speak about climate change and science refuting the impetus for climate change legislation and policy.
For registration information, contact Lindsay LeVeque at 206-937-9691 or at lleveque@washingtonpolicy.org.
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Rep. McCoy addresses WRA board at retreat
State Rep. John McCoy, 38th District, D-Tulalip, reviewed the Tulalip Tribe's economic development successes with the WRA Board of Directors during the group's annual business retreat. The two-day meeting was held at the Tulalip Casino Resort earlier this week.
Since the late 1990s, the tribe has opened two casinos, a luxury hotel and amphitheater, shopping center and business park.
The 2,000-acre development near Marysville, north of Seattle in Snohomish County, has room to expand to 5,500 acres, said McCoy, a Tulalip Tribe member and employee. The development has occurred on the former site of an Army ammunition and training depot and a Boeing test site.
The thousands of jobs created by the hotel, stores and casino have reversed a trend of tribal members permanently leaving the reservation after they grow to adulthood, McCoy said.
"Because of our economic development, we have tribal members coming home," he said.
The tribe also has built more than 400 homes in the past decade, McCoy said.
The tribe's Quil Ceda Village commercial center is home to some WRA members including Wal-Mart and Home Depot. The Wal-Mart store, the first to open in the village in 2001, is one of the best performing for sales in the nation, McCoy said. The development also includes about 110 smaller outlet retailers.
The tribe is not finished with its economic development goals.
A second hotel tower, a half dozen restaurants and up to 50 more stores could be added to the development, McCoy said.
The recession has not spared the tribal business interests. But by adding a luxury hotel with spa facilities next to the casino, making the development a resort destination, the tribe has broadened its base of appeal to customers, McCoy said.
"Our (business) hit wasn't as great as other casinos in the state," he said.
The shopping center also is healthy with only four vacancies among the 110 store locations, McCoy said. |
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Retail is hit hard with job losses
Retail was among the harder hit parts of the state economy in the latest monthly state unemployment report released this week.
The state lost an estimated 2,100 retail jobs from May to June of this year, according to the report. Over the past year, 14,500 retail jobs have been lost in the state, the Employment Security Department reports.
The state's unemployment rate rose from 9.1 percent in May to 9.3 percent in June. Nearly 330,000 people statewide were looking for work last month.
Proportionately, the construction and manufacturing sectors of the state economy were among the few sectors harder hit by the recession than retail.
In the past year, motor vehicle and parts dealers have been hardest hit with job losses among retailers, losing 7,800 jobs. Building material and garden supply stores have lost 3,100 jobs in the past year.
Though good economic news has been scarce, an Employment Security analysis shows that the pace of job losses has slowed from the beginning of the year.
"The rate of job loss between April and June was significantly lower than the 47,600 jobs lost in the first three months of 2009," an ESD report concluded. Monthly payroll declined have dropped from 15,900 in the first quarter of this year to 6,800 in the second quarter, ESD reported.
On the brighter side, national retail sales, helped by higher gasoline prices and auto sales, rose 0.6 percent in June, the second month in a row retail sales increased. This could be a sign of the beginnings of an economic recovery.
Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and many private economists predict the recession will end later this year. But they warn recovery will be slow and that unemployment, now at a 26-year high, will probably crack 10 percent in the months ahead. |
WRA salutes pro-retail state legislators
The Washington Retail Association annually rates state legislators regarding whether they support bills of importance to the security of the state's retail economy.
WRA wishes to extend special thanks to legislators whose votes fully supported the association's positions on issues of importance to the retail industry.
The following legislators notched 100 percent scores in the association's rating system:
*In the Senate, Republicans Randi Becker, Dale Brandland, Mike Carrell, Jerome Delvin, Mike Hewitt, Jim Honeyford, Curtis King, Bob McCaslin, Linda Evans Parlette, Cheryl Pflug, Mark Schoesler, Val Stevens, Dan Swecker and Joseph Zarelli.
*In the House, Republicans Mike Armstrong, Bruce Chandler, Doug Ericksen, Jaime Herrera, Dan Kristiansen, Jim McCune, Kirk Pearson, Matt Shea and David Taylor. |
Candidates file for three special state elections
Eleven candidates including two incumbents have filed to run in three special state Legislature elections, beginning with a Primary Election on Aug. 18.
Each of the races is to fill one-year unexpired terms in Legislative districts 9 (position 1); 15 (position 2) and 16 (position 2).
The vacancies were created because of two deaths and an appointment to head the Department of Agriculture.
Five candidates are running in District 9, which includes Adams, Asotin, Franklin, Garfield, Spokane and Whitman counties. Rep. Don Cox, who was appointed to fill the seat of Republican Steve Hailey, who died, has decided not to seek election. Those running include Susan Fagan, Pat Hailey and Darin Watkins, who affiliate with the Republican Party; Art Swannack, who prefers G.O.P; Party; and Glen Stockwell, who prefers affiliating with the Democrat Party.
The District 15 vacancy drew three candidates, including incumbent Republican David Taylor, who was appointed to fill the vacancy created when Dan Newhouse was appointed Secretary of the Department of Agriculture. Taylor will be opposed by Donicio Marichalar and John (Jobs) Gotts, who prefer to affiliate with the Democrat Party.
Four candidates will run in the District 16 races including incumbent Democrat Laura Grant, who succeeded her father, Rep. Bill Grant. She is opposed by Terry Nealey and Kevin Young, who prefer affiliation with the Republican Party, and David Roberts, who prefers the affiliate ReaganIndependent Party. |
Steps you can take to become earthquake resilient
Any Washington business should strive to become earthquake resilient, advises Patti Vernie, WRA's claims and safety advisor.
Many residents remember the devastating Nisqually earthquake, the magnitude 6.8 quake that caused extensive damage in western Washington in 2001. It was far from the last time earthquakes have occurred in the region.
Just this past weekend, a magnitude 2.4 quake struck two miles south of Winthrop and six miles north-northwest of Twisp. Though no damage was reported from the most recent quake, it is a reminder to be prepared for the inevitable quakes to follow.
"There are some simple things to do ahead of time that will help make you, your employees and your company safer during the shaking," Vernie said. She recommended bolting shelves to walls, moving heavy items from upper shelves to lower shelves and backing up computer files.
Southern California Emergency Services and the Earthquake Country Alliance (ECA) also offer seven steps toward becoming an earthquake resilient business.
They are:
*Identify potential hazards that could interrupt your business after an earthquake.
*Create a disaster plan.
*Prepare a disaster supply list, train employees and update first aid supplies.
*Identify your building's weaknesses and begin to fix them.
*During an earthquake, remember to 'drop, cover and hold on.' Also, identify employees with special needs who might need extra attention in and after an earthquake.
*After an earthquake, check for injuries and damage.
*After a quake, continue to follow your disaster plan and document the lessons learned to determine priorities before the next event.
Vernie also recommended the Website www.daretoprepare.org for more helpful information.
Vernie is available to visit the workplaces of WRA member companies to make recommendations for safety improvements. For questions on safety, contact Vernie by calling 360-943-9198, Ext. 21 or at patti@retailassociationservices.com. |
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