EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE  July 26, 2011                             Exhibit

Chair                                                   Port Commission than"
Madelin White                                             "   MeetingMM
Merle Norman Cosmetics
Treasurer
Port of Seattle Commission
Francisco Uribe
Home Depot  Public Hearing
Chair
Governmental Affairs
Robin Pavlish   Re:     Worker Retention Airport Concessions Program
7  Eleven, Inc.
Chair
Small Business Committee   Dear Port Commission Members:
Lowell Gordon
The Creative Office
On behalf ofthe Washington Retail Association and the 2,800 stores in
Chair
Human Resources  Washington that we represent, I would like to address our opposition to your
Kevin Groff
current dra proposal related to employment at the airport.
Safeway                                                      Primarily, we do
Chair   not support the requirement for a worker pool for concession operators and
Retrospective   the conditions attached to requiring them to hire from the "pool".
Ratings Program
Charlie Extine
Northwest Tire Dealers   We have concerns that this program could have a number ofunintended
Association
Industrial Tire, Inc.    consequences including a net loss ofjobs.
DirectorAt Large
Glen Bachman
BeIIevue Square       o   This proposal removes the "atwill" employment for employers.
Retailers need to be able to compete and their labor pool is one area
PresidenthEO
where they can choose to hire based on certain skills needed at the
Jan Teague
Washington Retail Assoaatlon          time, and choose to re based on a number ofvalid circumstances.
If retailers are required to hire from a certain pool of workers or
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
justify why they did not, this involves both the port and the retailer
Mindy Baker
Walgreens Co.          in possible privacy or discrimination lawsuits based on the
Thomas 5. James. Jr.         information used to justify an employment decision and the retailer
Opus Law Group, LLC
or the port's response to that decision.
Chuck Miller
Macy's      0  Companies who contract with the airport will have limited or
Rick O'Connor         reduced opportunities to sell their business if a potential buyer sees
Super Color Photo
these onerous employment conditions. A buyer may see these
John Penn
Best Buy          restrictive employment conditions as a risk to operating at that
Ralph Rutledge        property. Current owners could incur serious lost opportunities if
].C. Penney Co.
buyers delay or can't be found.
Perry Saueressig
. Ben Bridge Jewelers       0   This proposal could also drive business away from the airport during
Jennifer Spall          a time when growth is important to our recovery. Some retailers
\X/aI-Mart Stores, Inc
Greg Wood        may simply decide to move to more iendly properties where their
Target Co.           business is welcomed and reected in the tone and substance of the
property's lease agreements.


PO Box 2227 0 Olympia WA 98507 0 Toll Free: 1.800.752.9552 0 Local: 360.943.9198 0 retailassociation.org

0  When companies do move in or acquire an existing company, they
will take a conservative approach to hiring and could hire fewer
employees in an attempt to reduce their labor risks.

Providing opportunities for the retail concession stores to grow without
unnecessary employment restrictions results in job growth and helps with
the economic recovery.

The Washington Retail Association will be glad to participate in future
discussions as it works through the needs of retailers and the appropriate
involvement ofthe Port in matters of employment for their tenants.

Sincerely,          A
K

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Tammie Hetrick
Vice President, Retail Services

















Washington Retail Association 0 PO Box 2227 0 Olympia WA 98507 0 Toll Free: 1.800.752.9552 . Local: 360.943.9198 0 retailassociation.org