November 12, 2018
St. Paul To Vote This Week On A $15 Minimum Wage, With No Exemption For Tipped Workers
From the Star Tribune, Emma Nelson, November 11, 2018

The St. Paul City Council is expected to follow in Minneapolis’ footsteps Wednesday and approve a citywide $15 minimum wage without an exemption for tipped workers.

Mayor Melvin Carter said in his inaugural address that he intended to implement a $15 minimum wage “as soon as possible.” In the months since, city leaders have met with workers and business owners, activists have marched through downtown streets and hundreds of people have packed into City Hall to share their views.

Council members said they’re looking forward to getting the ordinance passed.

“Hopefully, it will be a celebratory moment for us all,” said Council Member Rebecca Noecker. “We’ve done the hard work, we’ve asked the right questions and I think this is an ordinance St. Paul can be proud of.”

According to the city, more than 56,000 St. Paul workers will get a raise as a result of the ordinance, which will require employers to start phasing in the wage hike in 2020. People who work for the city or at large corporations will start making $15 an hour on July 1, 2022; those at the smallest businesses won’t see that wage until July 1, 2027.

About 200 people attended a Nov. 7 public hearing on the ordinance, and much of the testimony focused on whether there should be an exemption for tipped workers. Though some council members said they would support an exemption, the ordinance does not include one.

“Our goal is to raise the minimum wage in the city of St. Paul, and we didn’t think a tip penalty/carveout was good for workers,” said Council Member Chris Tolbert.

Council President Amy Brendmoen said she talked to restaurant owners after the public hearing, and she told them the council can modify the ordinance in the future if need be.
Add Your Voice At MnRA's Annual Legislative Agenda Setting Summit Wednesday
Join retailers and the Minnesota Retailers Association as we discuss retail's legislative agenda and proposed policies for 2019. This is your opportunity to help shape MnRA policy positions.

Your Issues, Your Agenda: Retail Legislative Policy Summit
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
2:30 - 4:00 p.m.
MnRA Offices - St. Paul
Dial-in option available

This is a members-only event.
Restaurants With Labor Agreements No Longer Have An Out Under $15 Minimum Wage Proposal
From the Pioneer Press, Fredrick Melo, November 12, 2018

When the St. Paul City Council votes on a $15 minimum wage proposal on Wednesday, it will be missing key language that had been proposed by Mayor Melvin Carter’s office — a potential out for restaurants and restaurant workers that sign collective bargaining agreements.

On Oct. 9, the proposal presented by Carter’s office in collaboration with Council Member Chris Tolbert would have allowed restaurants to sidestep the $15 minimum wage if workers agreed to an alternative through a labor agreement.

The provision seemed like a win for labor unions, as workers who favor a “tip credit” would suddenly have new incentive to unionize.

Many restaurant workers have said they make more in tips than $15, and they’ve worried that raising their wages would result in higher food prices but lower tips.

On Wednesday, Tolbert submitted an amendment to the council that does away with Ordinance 224.04 (Section e), which is now crossed out entirely in the proposal:

“(e) Collective Bargaining. All or any portion of the applicable requirements of this Chapter shall not apply to employees covered by a bona fide collective bargaining agreement to the extent that such requirements are expressly waived in the collective bargaining agreement in clear and unambiguous terms.”
Retailers Lure Shoppers With In-Store Holiday Experiences
From the Retail Dive, Pamela DeLoatch, November 9, 2018

Remember when Black Friday shopping didn't start until the day after Thanksgiving? Or how consumers had to get up that day at dawn o'thirty to trek down to their favorite store because that was the only way to get the best deals of the season?

Online shopping has made in-person holiday shopping less of a necessity, as consumers can now search for the best holiday deals 24/7, while still in their pajamas. But brick-and-mortar stores want to bring back the good old days of having consumers actually venture into the stores, and there's no better time for that than the upcoming holidays. With record numbers of holiday dollars expected to be spent online according to some estimates, this isn't an easy ask.

Brick-and-mortar retailers are searching for ways to offer benefits that online stores can't. Competing on price isn't a successful long-term strategy, and offering personalized services may not be enough. Retailers are looking at new ways to connect with consumers, by creating experiences.
The gift of experience is growing

The typical gift that shoppers are buying is changing. Instead of giving products, consumers are increasingly giving experiences. Accenture reports that while consumers are expected to spend more money on gifts this year, instead of buying products (i.e. neckties, perfume), consumers will spend money on travel, dining out and gifts of services, such as lawn care or spa treatments.

With recent studies saying that happiness comes more from experiences than from acquiring products, the increase in experiential gift-giving makes sense. Retailers, who want to sell products, are looking for ways to tie the purchase of their product in with an experience that engages the customer. .
Minnesota Retailers Expresses Concern About Tariffs In NRF Video Series
Creative Kidstuff, a Minnesota small business selling toys and other products for kids, warns tariffs will hurt local retailers and consumers
2018 Election Results
From Faegre Baker Daniels, November 7, 2018

On Tuesday, November 6, Minnesotans went to the polls in large numbers to vote in the first midterm election of the Trump presidency. Minnesota took center stage, as both U.S. Senate seats,all eight Congressional seats (four of them rated as toss ups or competitive), the Governor’s Office and the Minnesota House of Representatives were all decided. Overall, the DFL had a successful evening, winning two Senate seats, five of the eight Congressional seats, the Governor’s Office and three other Constitutional Offices. The DFL also flipped control of the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Republicans maintained control of the Minnesota Senate by winning the Special Election in District 13. We take a closer look at each contest below. For a one-sheet summary of all races, please view our 2018 Election Scorecard.

Governor
Congressman Tim Walz (DFL) will become the 41st Governor of Minnesota in January after defeating Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson (R). Walz received 54 percent of the vote to Johnson’s 42 percent. Both Democrats and Republicans began eyeing the seat when Governor Mark Dayton (DFL) announced he would not seek another term. Walz and his running mate, State Representative Peggy Flanagan, successfully carried five of the eight congressional districts. Flanagan will become the first indigenous Lieutenant Governor in Minnesota’s history. Over the next two months, a transition team will help bridge the gap between the outgoing Dayton administration and the incoming Walz administration. Commissioners for each of the agencies and the Governor’s Office staff will be announced during this time.
Minnesota Constitutional Offices

Attorney General
Congressman Keith Ellison (DFL) has successfully succeeded Attorney General Lori Swanson. Ellison beat former State Representative Doug Wardlow (R). Ellison received 49 percent of the vote to Wardlow’s 45 percent.

Secretary of State
Secretary Steve Simon (DFL) will begin his second term as Secretary of State in January after beating John Howe (R). Simon received 52 percent of the vote to Howe’s 44 percent.

State Auditor
Julie Blaha (DFL) beat former State Representative Pam Myhra (R) to become the next State Auditor. Blaha received 49 percent of the vote. Myhra received 43 percent. Current State Auditor Rebecca Otto (DFL) did not run for re-election after first being elected in 2006.

Minnesota Legislature
Minnesota has the only Legislature under divided control in the entire country.

Minnesota House
All 134 seats in the Minnesota House of Representatives were up for re-election this year. The make-up of the body is now 75 DFLers and 59 Republicans. The DFL picked up 18 seats, beating 15 Republican incumbents and winning three open seats previously held by Republicans. 15 of these seats were in the metro area.
Watch The Minnesota's Retail Champions Video: 10 Award Winner
The Minnesota Retailers Association (MnRA) was pleased to be recognize ten organizations leading the way in attracting consumers with the announcement of the 2018 Minnesota’s Retail Champions at Retail Rally October 9.

Watch the awards video now!