Shift the Narrative The Western Aerosol Information Bureau (WAIB) held its 42nd annual conference in San Diego, CA on Sept. 7-9. The theme focused on Shift the Narrative— Alter our Direction. Mike Freeman, President of the Americas, WD-40 Co., served as Master of Ceremonies. Why did WAIB choose “Shift the Narrative” as its topic? Board Director Frank Facey explains: “The 42nd annual WAIB conference theme, ‘Shift the Narrative,’ was the culmination of the organization’s recent efforts to change how we have addressed our regulatory challenges in California over recent years and to set the stage for our future direction,” said Facey. “In the past, while in the forefront of state and local governmental regulations and challenges from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and California Air Resources Board (CARB), WAIB has always responded by meeting, discussing, educating and negotiating to achieve regulations that are technologically and commercially feasible and help achieve reduced ozone and health risk. “We are Consumer Products that offer benefits of better health, beauty and economy, and we are environmentally responsible,“ continued Facey. “We provide jobs to a large segment of the middle class. We are 25 years of innovation and reformulation for a greener and safer environment. We are largely made in America.” Speakers have their say… Jack Stewart, outgoing President of the CA Manufacturers & Technology Association, gave an overview of manufacturing in California. He claimed that California’s regulations, high costs, fees, taxes and business climate are driving out manufacturing jobs that pay better and contribute to a healthy middle class. Most new jobs in California are in lower-paying trades that are concentrated in the service sector. He listed four manufacturing principles that need to be in place in order to attract investment: predictable future costs, competitive costs, adequate infrastructure and access to skilled workforce. 28 Spray November 2014 Dr. Ryan Ratcliff, Assoc. Professor of Economics at the University of San Diego, said that, while employment has fallen in U.S. manufacturing, productivity has more than doubled since 1990 in terms of output per hour due to improved technologies and efficiencies. Manufacturing has become more capital intensive; it is labor intensive manufacturing that has gone offshore to regions with lower labor costs. Dr. Ratcliff’s data showed that manufacturing is no longer a low skill industry in the U.S. Annual incomes are in the midrange (higher than service sector jobs) and more college degrees are required for manufacturing jobs. While some sectors are declining, the U.S. manufacturing sector is still the third to fourth largest contributor to GDP and a key source of middle class jobs. He cautioned that many manufacturing sector jobs will continue to decline but we should focus on products where we can best compete. U.S. manufacturing needs to remain a higher skilled industry. According to Steve Hunt, President, Shipmate, the “Chemical Compliance Countdown” is underway and a considerable amount of data will now be required for the transport of aerosols. He reviewed the multi-step process and the implementation dates for the new Globally Harmonized System of Classification & Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) standard in the U.S., as adopted by the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). All compliance must be in place by 12/1/2013; 6/1/2015; 12/15/2015 and 6/1/2016. He also pointed out that while we are on the road to global harmonization, we are not there yet. Timothy Sandefur, Principal Attorney, Pacific Legal Fund and author of “Conscience of the Constitution” and “The Right to Earn a Living,” presented insight to some legal battles between entrepreneurs and the government and the history of economic liberty. He contended that wealth producers in today’s society are an undervalued group, citing the current narrative of the antibusiness community that “business exploits people and destroys WAIB meets in San Diego WAIB attendees were treated to dinner and a tour aboard the USS Midway, an aircraft carrier that is now a maritime museum docked in San Diego. Stewart Ratcliff Hunt Sandefur
Spray November 2014
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