White House Announces Vaccine Mandate for Large Private Employers |
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On Thursday, Sept. 9, President Biden announced new vaccine mandates for private employers with 100 or more employees. OSHA is currently working on the rules, and we expect them to be published in the coming weeks. At this point there are more questions than answers, but we do expect the rule to require that employees be vaccinated or tested weekly. Employees who get vaccinated in response to the order will be eligible for paid leave for the time to get vaccinated and any adverse reactions. Oregon is in a unique position because it has a fully approved state plan with federal OSHA. That means that the mandate won’t take effect in Oregon until state officials take action to make it a requirement. We are working closely with Oregon OSHA as they develop a response to the action by federal OSHA. Please contact Paloma Sparks if you have questions.
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COVID Cases Declining in Oregon |
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Last week, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) released new modeling data predicting a decline in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations throughout September. This is largely in part to an increase in mask wearing and more people getting vaccinated. The modeling projections were followed up by the latest OHA weekly data report showing a 11% decrease in cases during the week ending September 12 and the most recent daily counts show that decreasing even more. You can stay up to date with the latest data on the OHA COVID-19 website.
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Organized Crime Sprees Hitting Large Retailers |
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Retailers are spending millions a year to battle organized crime rings that steal from their stores in bulk and then peddle the goods online, often on online retail platforms, according to retail investigators, law-enforcement officers and court documents. It is a menace that has been supercharged by the pandemic and the rapid growth of online commerce that has accompanied it.
The Coalition of Law Enforcement and Retail, a trade association, estimates that organized retail theft accounts for around $45 billion in annual losses for retailers these days, up from $30 billion a decade ago. At CVS, reported thefts have ballooned 30% since the pandemic began.
Working with law enforcement, the Coalition expects to close 73 e-commerce cases this year involving $104 million of goods stolen from multiple retailers and sold online. That compares with 27 cases in 2020, involving half the total. CVS has doubled its crime team to 17 over the past two years and purchased its own surveillance van with 360-degree cameras and a high-powered telescope.
Read the full story here.
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National Retail Imports Remain Strong Despite COVID-19 Disruptions |
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Last week the National Retail Federation (NRF) reported single digit import growth at the nation’s largest retail container ports. U.S. ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 2.19 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEU) in July, the latest month for which final numbers are available. That was up 2 percent from June and up 14.2 percent from a year earlier. A TEU is one 20-foot container or its equivalent.
Ports have not reported August numbers yet, but Global Port Tracker projected the month at 2.27 million TEU, which would be up 7.8 percent year-over-year.
The first half of 2021 totaled 12.8 million TEU, up 35.6 percent from the same period last year. For the full year, 2021 is on track to total 25.9 million TEU, up 17.6 percent over 2020 and a new annual record topping last year’s 22 million TEU. Cargo imports during 2020 were up 1.9 percent over 2019 despite the pandemic.
The full release is available on the NRF website.
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Toxic-Free Kids Act Update |
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In 2015, the Legislature passed the Toxic-Free Kids Act which required disclosure and possible removal of chemicals used in children’s products. The OHA is tasked with implementation of the program and continues its work on regulations for these products. The latest rulemaking meeting was on Sept. 10. OBI and several members participate in the advisory committee and attended the meeting. At this most recent meeting, we discussed the high priority chemicals of concern for children’s health (HPCCCH) and how that list aligns with Washington’s requirements. OHA is considering whether amendments are needed for the temporary rules adopted on Aug. 26 or to the HPCCCH list. The next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 24. Additional information on the program can be found on OHA’s rules and implementation site.
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In 2021, OBI joined a large coalition to defeat a “Right to Repair” bill that would have required manufacturers to make protected information widely available to the public. We opposed the bill because of our concerns over consumer safety and trade secrets. Unfortunately, we do expect this legislation to return in a future session. Some advocates have argued that this is an environmental issue. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has partnered with the West Coast Climate & Materials Management Forum to promote a webinar on Sept. 30 at 9:30 a.m. about Right to Repair. Click here to register for the webinar.
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Extended Federal Unemployment Benefits Program Now Ended |
The additional $300 per week in unemployment benefits that jobless Oregonians had been receiving during the COVID-19 pandemic ended on Sept. 7. The benefit was an extension of the program that had originally paid an extra $600 per week in 2020, but which Congress reduced to $300 last December.
Many OBI members, several in the retail sector, had attributed the generous unemployment benefits to a severe worker shortage in Oregon and around the nation. Businesses across the state have had significant trouble finding workers willing to return to jobs once pandemic restrictions were lifted upon widespread vaccination rates June 30.
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Celebrate Oregon Manufacturers with OBI on Oct. 1! |
Join OBI for our annual celebration of Oregon’s thriving manufacturing sector and the critical role these businesses play in supporting our economy and way of life. On Oct. 1, organizations and businesses across the country will mark the occasion with events and acknowledgements in coordination with our partners at the National Association of Manufacturers.
With the success of last year’s virtual event, we’re continuing with the online format and will be taking attendees on a tour of different manufacturers throughout the state, and will host a panel of community leaders to discuss the importance of supporting this industry. We’ll dive into the various challenges facing these businesses in Oregon, the role public policy plays in solutions, and highlight some of the extraordinary contributions and accomplishments OBI manufacturing members have made throughout the past year as the state recovers from the pandemic.
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Now Taking Nominations for the OBI Board |
OBI is seeking your input on applicants to join the OBI Board of Directors. If there is someone (yourself or otherwise) you’d like to nominate please, send their name and resume to Angela Wilhelms. Duties of the board of directors include attending bimonthly meetings and providing legislative and organizational guidance for staff.
Have you joined an OBI Committee? The committees identify hot button issues to advocate on behalf of a strong and healthy business climate for Oregon. Our issue areas include Education & Workforce Development, Health Care, Tax & Fiscal Policy, Employment, Energy & Environment, Retail and Transportation. Reach out to Morgan Beltz for more information or to join a committee today.
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Oregon Business & Industry
1149 Court Street NE
Salem, OR 97301
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