Trade Associations Tag Team to Save Members Money

ALBANY, NY (07/01/2010)(readMedia)-- The Retail Council of New York State and Food Industry Alliance of New York State (FIA) have joined forces to reduce the cost of workers' compensation insurance for members of both trade associations. Grocery store members of FIA now have access to the Retail Council's established workers' compensation Safety Group 493, which is underwritten by the New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF).

"The Retail Council's Safety Group 493 is a turnkey solution for our association," said FIA President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Rogers. "We are always looking for new ways to help our members keep their operating costs down and this is a sure bet for many of them. Why re-create the wheel when another like-minded association already has a program in place?"

Eligible FIA members stand to save 50 percent or more on their workers' compensation insurance through the Retail Council's program.

"Associations are always looking for new members and new programs. This partnership provides a mix of the two. The Retail Council will gain more Safety Group participants from this relationship, which strengthens our program and reduces the cost of workers' compensation for all member merchants. At the same time, FIA is adding another money-saving benefit, which makes becoming a member even more valuable," said Retail Council President and Chief Executive Officer James Sherin.

This isn't the first time the Retail Council and FIA have worked together. The associations are frequent allies on issues shared by both memberships before the New York state Legislature.

"The Retail Council and FIA have a long-standing working relationship," said Sherin. "It's very effective to collaborate on legislative issues. When we form a united front we carry a lot more weight in the governor's office, the Legislature and regulatory agencies. We expect the same collaboration with our joint workers' compensation insurance program."

The Retail Council is able to significantly cut FIA members' workers' compensation insurance costs thanks to a combination of dividends and an up-front policy discount. Although dividends, which are a portion of premiums returned to eligible Group members based on previous performance of the group, aren't guaranteed, a dividend has been issued every year since the 1976 inception of the Retail Council's workers' compensation program with more than $96 million being returned to members. The dividend is in addition to an upfront policy discount of 20 percent.

"The recession affected membership-based associations too and we're becoming more creative and adaptable in response," said Jim Sherin. "Fortunately, the association community tends to be collaborative and our partnership with the Food Industry Alliance is a good example of sharing resources for the benefit of both groups."

About the Retail Council of New York State:

The "Voice of Retailing" in New York state, the Retail Council offers money-saving group benefit programs and government relations advocacy to thousands of retailers and other service providers. Learn more by visiting www.retailcouncilnys.com.

About the Food Industry Alliance of New York State:

FIA is the only trade association in New York representing the full spectrum of the grocery industry before state and local legislative bodies and regulatory agencies. FIA's 850 corporate members include independents, supermarket chains, convenience stores, wholesalers, co-operatives and – through its active Trade Relations program – manufacturers/suppliers. Visit www.fiany.com for more information.

###