May 19, 2016

Dear NJGCA Member:

Thank you for reading this week's NJGCA Road Warrior!

Here is what you will find in this edition:

JOIN NJGCA ON FACEBOOK -- CLICK HERE

TO SEE OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL -- CLICK HERE

                                                                                                                                                                 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE: GREETINGS & SAL-UTATIONS!

BUSY WEEK IN TRENTON: TWO $15/HR MINIMUM WAGE HEARINGS

PROPOSAL TO BAN ALL FLAVORED VAPING PRODUCTS

GOODS NEWS REGARDING YOUR UNEMPLOYMENT TAX RATE

EFFORTS TO PASS LEGISLATION TO PROTECT REPAIR SHOPS & TRANSMISSION SHOPS

 
In last week's Road Warrior, I informed you that the $15/hr minimum wage bill would be heard in Trenton this week.  Eric and I were joined by members Jeff O'Connor and Joe Ocello for a painfully long hearing, and as expected, the hearing room was packed with labor unions and supporters of increasing the minimum wage. Our opposition is out in full force on this issue, and they do not seem to care HOW small business owners find the money to pay their employees $7/hr more than they currently earn. I addressed this in my testimony, and so did Jeff and Joe.  You can read my written testimony by clicking HERE.  You can listen to my testimony HERE.  You can listen to Jeff and Joe's testimony HERE. 

Sal Risalvato, joined by NJGCA members Joe Ocello and Jeff O'Connor

 
In an unusual maneuver which highlights the fact that Democratic leadership wants to fast-track this bill through the legislative process, we found out on Monday that the Assembly Labor Committee would hear the bill at the next available hearing day, which was earlier today. My testimony this morning was very similar to the testimony I provided on Monday, and I will have it up on the website shortly.
 
So, what's next? The bill must now go to the Senate Budget Committee, so we will let you know when that hearing is scheduled. Last week, after learning that the bill would be heard by the Senate Labor Committee, we sent an email to anyone whose Senator is on that Committee, encouraging them to ask their Senator to vote NO.  I want to thank those who participated, and I'm sure we'll be doing the same thing when the bill goes to Senate Budget Committee. And then, of course, EVERYONE will be notified when the bill goes up for a vote by the entire Senate and the entire Assembly.  We can't stop this bill alone!
 
Convenience stores took a hit on Monday when the Senate Health Committee approved a bill to ban all flavored vaping products aside from menthol and tobacco varieties. The sponsors of the bill believe that flavors like watermelon, blueberry, vanilla, brown sugar and pumpkin spice are targeting teens and young adults and sucking them into the dangerous world of nicotine addiction. NJGCA was there to oppose the proposal, but our arguments fell on deaf ears and the bill was approved and will continue on in the legislative process.    
 
Moving away from Trenton, I want to update you on the unemployment tax, which I told you last month was going to be reduced due to the replenishment of the Fund. Original indications of a $200 million reduction turned out to be wrong, and recent estimates and reports indicate that the reduction will be closer to $400 million across all businesses in the State.  We still have to wait until July to know for certain how much that will lower your rates, but this is a small piece of good news for you and your business!
 
Finally, I want to mention a piece of legislation that we are working on with legislators to hopefully help our repair shops and transmission shops.  You all should be aware of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, which states that a vehicle's manufacturer's warranty cannot be voided if a vehicle is serviced at an independent repair shop and/or if any aftermarket parts are used in service or repairs conducted on the vehicle outside of the dealership while the vehicle is under warranty.  We know that customers are often misinformed, or misled, about whether their vehicle MUST go back to the dealership, and we think it's time for dealerships to be open and honest with their customers, and inform customers that service outside of the dealership does not invalidate a warranty. Once the fear of voiding their warranty has been instilled in a customer, their ignorance of the facts, and the law, prevents them from doing business with you. We hope that if car-buyers receive a document stating their rights under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act when purchasing a vehicle with a warranty, then our members will not fall victim to this web of lies spun by the manufacturers and dealerships.
 
As part of our efforts, it would be very helpful if you could inform me of any instances where a customer would not have a particular item serviced at your shop because they believed it would void their warranty.  You also might have heard of people who have had a warranty voided due to work done by an independent repair shop (which would be illegal). We believe this is most prevalent with engine and transmission maintenance and service. If you know that your customers have either been taken advantage of, or misinformed, by the dealership, please let us know so we can help prevent situations like this in the future!  Please contact Eric at eric@njgca.org or 732-256-9646.

TRAINING CLASSES!!

All classes held at NJGCA HQ -- 4900 Route 33 West, Wall Township, NJ 07753

FUTURE CLASSES WILL BE ADDED UPON REQUEST AND ACCORDING TO DEMAND. CONTACT DEBBIE at 732-256-9646 or DEBBIE@NJGCA.ORG TO LET HER KNOW YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TAKING A SPECIFIC CLASS.  THIS WILL ALLOW US TO GAUGE YOUR NEEDS AND KEEP TRACK OF THOSE WISHING TO PARTICIPATE!!

 CLASSIFIEDS! -- FOR SALE & HELP WANTED ADS

NJGCA MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER GILL ENERGY LOOKING TO HIRE FOR (3) DIFFERENT POSITIONS!

District Manager
Store Manager
Trucking Operations Manager

For more information about these positions, and to submit a resume for consideration, please contact: ravigill@gillenergy.com.

NEWS AROUND THE STATE: THE NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW

MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER MESSAGE BOARD:

TMP Energy Solutions
Another Way to Save on Your Energy Bills

We have had a number of NJGCA members successfully reduce their rate per kWh signing up through our energy saving program. We know it's difficult to collect 12 months worth of previous electric bills to get an "accurate" analysis when comparing a variable rate to a fixed rate, but we now have another option available. 

This new solution is a power purchase option; the other program is still in full force and has saved members thousands of dollars. If you sign up for the power purchase option, you will be grouped with other NJGCA members until the minimum kW demand is acquired. By pooling the member's usage together, you will be able to take advantage, as large energy users do, and receive a lower kWh rate.

Each member will receive their own contract. Each member is responsible to sign and return the agreement the day it is received in order to secure the price for their group.

Please do your due diligence, so when you receive the proposal and the agreement you will be able to make an intelligent decision.

If by chance, you still want us to assess you bills, to give you a price to compare, we will require 12 months of your most recent utility bills.

There are no bills required, but we would still like to have one bill per meter on file to check account #'s, meter #'s  service addresses and other pertinent information incase there is a problem.

The term of the agreement is for 12 months. During this term period, you will have price protection against any energy price increases along with a low fixed kWh rate.

If you are interested in becoming part of this power purchase option, please contact Greg Cannon at the NJGCA.

Remember when you sign up your energy through the NJGCA Energy Program, TMP makes a considerable donation to the NJGCA Scholarship Fund through their proceeds. This has no affect on your rate, and costs you nothing out of pocket.

We hope to help hundreds of NJGCA members reduce their utility costs by participating in this and our other cost reduction programs.  Our purpose, in the endeavor, is to help NJGCA members lower their energy costs while supporting the NJGCA Scholarship Fund. 

Contact GREG CANNON at 732-256-9646 or email Greg at greg@njgca.org. Mention that you are interested in saving money on your energy bills. NJGCA & TMP Energy Solutions will handle all the rest.