Loading...
10 (2)Public Comment From: Ryan Allain <ryan@calretailers.com> Sent: Monday, May 10, 2021 11:53 AM To: Public Comment Subject: Public Comment in Opposition to Item #10 -- Premium Pay Ordinance Attachments: Ahaheim Letter - 5.10.21.pdf Hello -- On behalf of the California Retailers Association and Californians for a Safe and Rapid Recovery, please see the attached letter in respectful opposition to Item #10 the proposed premium pay ordinance scheduled to be heard at the May 11th City Council meeting. Please reach out if you have any questions. Thank you, Ryan Allain Manager, State and Local Government Affairs California Retailers Association 1121 L Street, Suite 607 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 443-1975 May 10, 2021 The Honorable Harry S. Sidhu Mayor City of Anaheim 200 South Anaheim Boulevard Anaheim, CA 92805 Dear Mayor Sidhu and Members of the City Council: Job s IN ot lPo I I tics. co rTI Californians for a Safe and Rapid Recovery represents a diverse and growing coalition that opposes government -mandated premium pay ordinances (see attached for a full list of our coalition members). While mandated premium pay ordinances vary, the effects and unintended consequences of increasing labor costs on retailers by as much as 30 percent are the same: Counterproductive for Workers • 66,000 Californians could lose their jobs if premium pay mandates are enacted statewide on top of postponing hiring, promotions, and raises for employees.' • Five grocery stores have already closed in other cities as a result of government - mandated premium pay. Increases the Cost of Living • Adds about $400 to the annual cost of food and household supplies for the typical family of four in California.2 • Higher costs for food, diapers, and clothes will disproportionately impact those who can least afford it. Hurt Communities • A final blow to stores under financial pressure – forcing them to close and creating voids for the communities that rely on them. • Vacant storefronts will further depress struggling neighborhoods and worsen pressing issues like homelessness. • Local retail stores are part of the fabric of communities — often giving back to schools, supporting food banks, and contributing to non -profits. Reports of windfall profits are over simplified. In 2020, food retailers supported employees by providing over $17 billion in added benefits, bonuses and voluntary premium pay on top of regular wages, while also hiring a record number of new employees.3 Retailers also invested $4 billion in personal protective equipment and other safeguards to protect both their workers and customers.4 Further, the .Cii,ty,,,,q,; Il ,g, lr„a ,g„Il,g, ', ,,,co ,,,,,,,,,,,,,Irk,c�inr�„ii, ,ii„inr�p, ,q, ,„ „p,r,, "CC,fp,s„Ly,trl,t,falnd C O,frl,trl,tuArky Oirri2acts of Hazard Play Mandates,” Capitol Matrix Consulting, January 2021 2C22_ u�rl,t,f,,,InLl„_Q2m.trl,Li.nJ,ty Lim acts of Hazaird Pay Mandates,” Capitol Matrix Consulting, January 2021 3 ",IEII„E,t,Derriainds And 011:)erate Safe0y Arriud Covud19,” By The Food Industry Association, March 31, 2021 4 ",I ,t w„_ I,W;,IUA,�,,,,f�,t,�ort 1=u�ods G��oce�s O�ovested $24 C�u00uo�o I o IUleet O�oc�eased C;o�osu�rie� Derriainds And C7�erate Saf fly Airriud C;ovud..10,” By The Food Industry Association, March 31, 2021 A project of the Cafifornia RetaHers Association. found mandated premium pay would "eliminate all current profit margin" for retailers — forcing them to raise prices or close stores. Premium pay mandates put local governments in the middle of employer and labor bargaining processes. Rather, local governments should be focusing on quickly administering vaccinations to keep California's COVID-19 positivity rate low, while ensuring a rapid economic recovery. With Governor Newsom committing to remove the tier system and reopen the state on June 15 and COVID-19 deaths and positivity rate steadily declining in Orange County, now is not the time to risk the unintended consequences of government -mandated premium pay. We are encouraged by the cities of Arcata, Eureka, Fresno, Morgan Hill, Pasadena, San Carlos and Whittier who recognized that government -mandated premium pay is counterproductive. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. Sincerely, Rachel Michelin President California Retailers Association Attached: • Californians for a Safe and Rapid Recovery coalition list W111 11111111111111111111111111111 The following organizations are members of Californians for a Safe and Rapid Recovery and opponents of government -mandated premium pay that is counterproductive for workers and hurts consumers and our communities. • Anaheim Chamber of Commerce • Antelope Valley Chamber of Commerce • Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce • Brea Chamber of Commerce • Building Owners and Managers Association, Orange County • California African American Chamber of Commerce • California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce • California Business Properties Association • California Business Roundtable • California Chamber of Commerce • California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce • California Retailers Association • California Taxpayers' Coalition • California Taxpayer Protection Committee • Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce • Central Valley Business Federation • Central Valley Taxpayers Association • Century City Chamber of Commerce • Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association of Pasadena • Consumer Choice Center • Culver City Chamber of Commerce • Family Business Association of California • Fountain Valley Chamber of Commerce • Fresno Chamber of Commerce • Fresno County Farm Bureau • Gardena Valley Chamber of Commerce • Gilroy Chamber of Commerce • Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce • Kern County Taxpayers Association • LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce • Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce • Los Angeles County Business Federation • Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber of Commerce • National Association of Chain Drug Stores • National Federation of Independent Business - California • National Retail Federation • Norco Area Chamber of Commerce • Oceanside Chamber of Commerce • Orange County Business Council • Orange County Taxpayers Association • Placer County Taxpayers Association • San Diego Tax Fighters • San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership • San Leandro Chamber of Commerce • San Pedro Chamber of Commerce • Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce • Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association • South Orange County Economic Coalition • Southwest California Legislative Council • Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce • Valley Industry and Commerce Association • West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce • Wilmington Chamber of Commerce • Yorba Linda Chamber of Commerce A IpiroUect of the California If�etaiilleirs Association.