FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Dave Heylen, V.P. Communications California Grocers Association
Tel: 916.448.3545
Fax: 916.448.2793
E-mail: [email protected]

California Grocers Association
1415 L Street, Suite 450
Sacramento, CA 95814

SACRAMENTO, CA (November 28, 2011) – Attorneys with Pacific Legal Foundation have petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of the California Grocers Association to review a City of Los Angeles ordinance that denies new grocery store owners the right to hire their own employees, unless they agree to maintain a unionized workforce.

The petition for certiorari asks the Court to review the city’s Grocery Worker Retention Ordinance, which requires companies that purchase grocery stores of 15,000-square feet or larger to hire employees only from existing staff and retain them for at least 90 days. This restriction does not apply if the new owner consents to a collective bargaining agreement with a union.

The Foundation agreed to petition the Court on CGA’s behalf after the California Supreme Court in June overturned a First District Court of Appeal decision that had ruled against the ordinance. Employers, the State Supreme Court’s majority opinion said, have no right to choose their own workforce, and the ordinance is a routine regulation of the economy.

“While we’re extremely disappointed with the California Supreme Court’s decision, we are encouraged that the Pacific Legal Foundation finds merit in petitioning the highest court in the land,” said Ron Fong, CGA President and CEO. “The challenge is important enough to grocers that CGA believes it needs to exhaust every legal remedy.”

Fong said the ordinance is a major step backwards in a national effort to bring affordable and healthy food to some of the most underserved areas in Los Angeles. “Putting politics before helping inner-city working families is bad public policy,” he said.

The ordinance was passed in 2005 and challenged by CGA in 2006. A Los Angeles County Superior Court judged ruled the ordinance unconstitutional, which was later upheld by the Second District Court of Appeal in 2009. The case then moved to the California Supreme Court where the decision was overturned.

“This law is a brazen scheme to punish non-union employers,” said PLF Principal Attorney Timothy Sandefur. “But federal law prohibits localities from muscling in on the bargaining process between businesses and unions. To be specific, the National Labor Relations Act bars states and local governments from interfering with the bargaining of unions and employers, yet that’s exactly what L.A. has done through this ordinance.”

The California Grocers Association is a non-profit, statewide trade association representing the food industry since 1898. CGA represents approximately 500 retail members operating over 6,000 food stores in California and Nevada, and approximately 300 grocery supplier companies.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Dave Heylen, V.P. Communications California Grocers Association
Tel: 916.448.3545
Fax: 916.448.2793
E-mail: [email protected]

California Grocers Association
1415 L Street, Suite 450
Sacramento, CA 95814

SACRAMENTO, CA (November 21, 2011) – The California Grocers Association is pleased to announce the hiring of Sarah Paulson Sheehy as Director, Local Government Relations, Southern California, effective November 29, 2011.

In this position, Sheehy is responsible for CGA’s local government advocacy and outreach for the Southern California region. In addition, she will research and analyze ordinances and regulatory proposals, draft advocacy plans and messages and communicate with elected officials and regulatory staff, and member companies. Sheehy will also serve as CGA’s representative in Southern California on many Association issues. Her office is located in Burbank, CA.

Sheehy joins CGA after three plus years at Cerrell Associates, a Los Angeles-based lobbying and consulting firm, where she was responsible for media relations and communications, advocacy, and grassroots development for a variety of clients.

Additionally, Sheehy has worked for public and private entities including Miramax Films, the Los Angeles Unified School District and Shallman Communications, one of the foremost campaign consulting firms in Southern California. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from the UCLA School of Public Affairs.

“CGA is very fortunate to have someone with Sarah’s experience and expertise join our government relations team,” said Keri Askew Bailey, CGA Vice President, Government Relations. “Her experience both in the public and private sectors will be tremendous assets and will greatly assist strengthening our advocacy program in Southern California.”

Sheehy replaces Matthew Dodson who recently accepted a position as Vice President for the California Shopping Cart Retrieval Corp., also based in Burbank, CA.

Contact information:
Sarah Paulson Sheehy
1020 N. Lake Street
Burbank, CA 91502
(818) 841-8640

The California Grocers Association is a non-profit, statewide trade association representing the food industry since 1898. CGA represents approximately 500 retail members operating over 6,000 food stores in California and Nevada, and approximately 300 grocery supplier companies.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Dave Heylen, V.P. Communications California Grocers Association
Tel: 916.448.3545
Fax: 916.448.2793
E-mail: [email protected]

California Grocers Association
1415 L Street, Suite 450
Sacramento, CA 95814

A Victory for Fairness in Food Retailing and Inner City Consumers

SACRAMENTO, CA — (November 2, 2011) – The California Grocers Association presented its first Government Relations Advocacy Awards to five member companies in recognition of their significant support of the Association’s government relations efforts.

“Government relations advocacy is the foundation of our Association,” said CGA President/CEO Ronald Fong. “We wanted to recognize those companies and individuals that went the extra mile this past year in supporting the many CGA advocacy programs through their active participation.”

Those receiving the inaugural award during the Association’s annual Government Relations Committee meeting on November 2, 2011, included:

• 2011 Advocate of the Year (Individual)
  Alicia Rockwell, Save Mart Supermarkets, Modesto, CA
• 2011 Advocate of the Year (Independent Retailer)
  Super King Market, Anaheim, CA
• 2011 Advocate of the Year
  Safeway Inc., Pleasanton, CA
  Raley’s, West Sacramento, CA
• 2011 Supplier Advocate of the Year
  C&S Wholesale Grocers, Fresno, CA

Fong said CGA is fortunate to have strong membership advocacy support. For the Association to succeed with its government relations agenda both at the state and local level membership needs to engage in the issues, he added.

“We’re especially excited to award Alicia Rockwell with our first ever Advocate of the Year award,” Fong said. “She was our go-to person throughout the year. When we needed in-person industry participation, she was always there. She really personifies membership involvement.”

The California Grocers Association is a non-profit trade association representing the food industry since 1898 and represents approximately 500 retail members operating over 6,000 food stores in California and Nevada