Over the past several months, you have no doubt seen numerousroad signs, read various newspaper articles, heard TV and radio ads and debates in a variety of venues either promoting or opposing Proposition #4 – on the ballot as “Envision SpokaneCommunity Bill of Rights.” Very clearly and without apology, the reader is entitled to know that A.I. has taken an early and active role in opposing Prop 4, and it is neither my intent nor obligation to offer countervailing points of view. However, I do believe as a broad-based association, we have an obligation to provide as much information as possible. As a consequence, as you read on you will note I am providing e-links to others who discuss the issue in greater detail – both for and against.

As an employer-based organization representing over 700 business firms statewide of which approximately 450 are located within the City of Spokane and its surrounding areas, it is our position that Prop 4 is detrimental to both the business community and our city in general. As such, it is our encouragement that you to vote NO Prop 4!

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Biz Brief #1 - Director notes rise in Workers' Comp Claims

Several Associated Industries Retro/Safety employees were in attendance at the October 21. 2009, Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce Issue Forum, with speaker Judy Schurke, Director of the WA State Department of Labor and Industries.

Noting several interesting observations regarding the Spokane area, Schurke offered, “Jobs tend to be a lagging indicator because of some of the things you’ve done in terms of technology and other industries, Spokane could lead us out of a recession.”

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Biz Brief #2 - 2009 Compensation Survey Results Now Available: IT and Engineering

Associated Industries has published results from our 2009 National IT and Engineering Professional and Management Compensation Survey.

With input from over 1,600 employers, ranked by US, region and city, the results of this survey provides compensation information for virtually any specialty job or career level.

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Biz Brief #3 - The Impact of I-1033 on Spokane County

Washington State’s 39 counties play a key role in our state infrastructure by providing essential public services. The recession has already hit county budgets hard and many are facing deep budget cuts. During this difficult time, Initiative 1033 would have a disastrous impact on counties and the services they provide. If I-1033 passes, counties stand to lose a total of $694 million by 2015, according to the Office of Financial Management.

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Legal Ease #1 - Washington State minimum wage to remain the same for 2010

The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) has announced that the state's minimum wage will not be increasing effective January 1, 2010.

This marks the first year since 1998 that the minimum wage will not be increased. In 1998, Initiative 688 was approved by voters to require L&I to recalculate the minimum wage each year based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). This year the CPI-W decreased by 1.9%, leaving the wage rate static.

Employers should continue to use the current state minimum wage poster throughout 2010.

Legal Ease #2 - New Washington State law extends domestic partnership rights in the workplace

Washington employers may soon be required to treat registered domestic partners just as they would married spouses with regard to many employment related matters and benefits. The new law builds on original legislation passed in 2007, which allowed all same-sex couples and any different sex-couples with at least one partner over the age of 62 to register as a domestic partnership.

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Legal Ease #3 - $4 Million Reasons to Invest in Employment Training

Washington jury verdicts consistently demonstrate that employment related lawsuits can translate into big dollar judgments against employers. Employers in the Inland Northwest have found they are not immune from high cost judgments that can cripple, or even destroy, a business. For example, in 2003 a local jury awarded a plaintiff 4 million dollars based on gender discrimination. A 2008 verdict which resulted in a smaller judgment of “only” $21,629 still resulted in an additional attorney fee and other costs awarded for over over $130,000. Even verdicts for the employer often result in thousands of dollars spent on legal fees along with the exhaustion of physical and emotional resources. That’s why we believe employers should educate themselves about risks for legal claims and steps to be taken to prevent them.

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Ensure a safe holiday party:
observe a few Do’s and Don'ts

• Do not hold the party during business hours or schedule employees to return to work immediately following a celebration, especially where alcohol is consumed
• Do not require attendance
• Do not allow or ignore harassing or belligerent behavior on the part of employees or supervisors
• Do not allow unlimited alcohol consumption
• Do not allow guests to mix their own drinks
• Do not provide only salty, greasy or sweet food, which makes people thirsty
• Do not allow employees to drive after consuming alcohol, especially in company vehicles
• Do not serve alcohol to minors or allow others to provide it

AND NOW FOR SOME HOLIDAY "DO'S"

“All we seem to hear these days is doom and gloom.  Even with this ‘we’ at
Spokane Galvanizing would like to pass on a sincere THANKS to everyone at
Associated Industries.”

Associated Industries welcomes
new Members!

We thank all our Members for our growth over the last few years! At the end of 2007 we had 456 Members, by the end of 2008 we were pleased to have 698 Members, and as of the end of October, 2009 we are proud to serve 734 Members, including the 24 Members we have welcomed in the last 60 days!

Key facts about influenza (seasonal and H1N1)

The seasonal flu is a contagious respiratory illness. It is typically spread by infected people, from person to person by coughing or sneezing.

Sometimes, people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it, and then touching their mouth or nose. The 2009 H1N1 virus (sometimes called Swine Flu) is a new influenza virus, first detected in the United States in April 2009. The spread of the H1N1 virus is thought to occur in the same way the seasonal flu spreads.

People infected with seasonal and H1N1 flu can infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop, and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick.That means you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

Myth: HIGH DRUG PRICES DRIVE UP
HEALTH-CARE COSTS

Reality: MEDICATIONS SAVE US ALL
HEALTH-CARE DOLLARS

In 2007, the U.S. spent $286.5 billion on prescription drugs. That same year, biomedical and pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. reported revenues of about $50 billion, outranking Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, Wells Fargo and many household corporate names on the Fortune 500 list.

Those are big numbers—and hardly one-year anomalies. Drug spending now accounts for more than 10 percent of the overall dollars spent on health care each year, which is higher than it has been historically. During the last 30 years of the 20th century, the percentage of health dollars spent on drugs hovered between 5 percent and 8 percent.

Critics often point to these facts as proof that drugs are driving up health-care costs nationwide.

Simply put, they’re wrong.