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September 30, 2021
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 Inside this issue
  Executive Directors Message  
 

 

 

RETURN AND EARN INCENTIVE PROGRAM ANNOUNCED

GAS TAX TO DROP ON FRIDAY

PLASTIC STRAW BAN GOES INTO EFFECT NOVEMBER

IS YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION UP TO DATE?

JOIN US AT SEMA/APPEX!

 

RETURN AND EARN INCENTIVE PROGRAM

Governor Murphy recently announced the 'Return and Earn' program which will provide a $500 check for unemployed workers reentering the workforce and receiving job training from businesses with 100 or fewer employees. Employers who participate can receive the wage subsidy for up to 6 months, up to the cap of $10,000 per Return and Earn employee and are limited to a total Return and Earn subsidy across all employees of $40,000. We are still awaiting details on the program, however, it may not be a program that helps NJGCA members much. The only employees who get the $500 are those who go to a job where they will be trained and given industry recognized credentials. The money for the employers only goes to those who are giving program-participating employees training that ends with them receiving industry recognized credentials, which our industry largely does not provide for the areas in which they are in need of employees (i.e. gas pumpers or cash registers). Also, they only plan to appropriate $10 million towards the program which will only serve a few hundred employers at most. As more details are released we will report on any changes that would benefit NJGCA members. You can learn more about the program on the NJ DOL website

 

GAS TAX

I want to remind you all that the petroleum products gross receipts tax (gas tax) goes down 8.3ยข a gallon on THIS FRIDAY October 1st. This applies to gas and diesel fuel at the same rate. This is collected at the rack so the drop will be passed on to retailers. While there is no direct action that needs to be taken, if you are able to put off any deliveries scheduled for today until tomorrow you should plan to do so in order to benefit from the savings. There is nothing other than competition that requires you to lower your price on October 1st when the tax goes down. Keep in mind the product you already have in the ground, and there is nothing wrong with earning a better margin. You raise or lower your price according to your business strategy and competition. Do not let anyone tell you that you are required to lower your price.

 

PLASTIC STRAWS

Though we are several weeks away, I also want to remind you that the plastic straw ban will go into effect November 4th, 2021. According to NJ DEP, beginning on November 4, 2021, food service businesses may only provide a single-use plastic straw to a customer upon request by the customer. Therefore, businesses are still allowed to stock single-use plastic straws and should have them on hand should a customer request them. Food service businesses are required to keep an adequate supply of single-use plastic straws. Stores may continue to sell packages of single-use plastic straws and provide/sell a beverage pre-packaged by the manufacturer with a single-use plastic straw, i.e., juice boxes. If you are interested in providing paper straws or lids that don't require straws in case there is a shortage, I suggest contacting our Member Benefit Partner HLA and mention you are part of our program. You can find their contact information in your 2021 MBP Brochure. 

 

VOTER REGISTRATION

There are only a few weeks to go until Election Day (November 2nd). This year is an important voting year in New Jersey with a gubernatorial election as well as elections on the State Senate and Assembly. Governor Phil Murphy and Jack Ciattarelli debated on Tuesday night over several issues in the state, you can watch the entire debate HERE. It's a good time to ask yourself: Is your voter registration up to date? The voter registration deadline is October 12. If you or a family member needs to register to vote or to register with a new address because you've moved, visit this website to do so. 

 

SHOP OWNERS JOIN US AT SEMA/APPEX

We are less than six weeks away from industry week and hoping to gather NJGCA shop owners by inviting our auto repair members to SEMA/APPEX in November. This conference is vital in order to build on the professionalism that is required to run a shop today. It is beneficial for colleagues to be together, learn together, and have fun together. We are building all of those things into what is known as industry week in Las Vegas or the SEMA/APPEX shows. I'm sure many of you not only have heard of these two shows but may have already attended in previous years. We want NJGCA members to attend together and even bring your spouse! We recently included details for a group trip we are organizing to Red Rock Canyon, 7 Magic Mountains, Boulder City & Hoover Dam a day before the conference officially kicks off in order to build collegiality amongst our members. If you are interested in more information on the conference and any other events we are organizing that week, please contact Joe Ocello at joe@njgca.org. See the announcement we emailed to members yesterday and register HERE.

 

Be Well -  

Sal Risalvato
Executive Director
 


 

 

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  Training Class Schedule  
 

All classes held at NJGCA HQ -- 4900 Route 33 West, Wall Township, NJ 07753


Contact Nick De Palma at Nick@njgca.org to inquire about potential trainings and class dates

 

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  News Around The State  
 

 

9/29/21

Car Washes, Oil Change Shop Ordered To Pay $325k In Back Wages For Underpaying Employees

The owners of two car washes and an oil change shop in Westwood have been ordered to pay employees $325,000 in back pay and damages because they didn't pay minimum wage or overtime for three years. At least 45 car wash and oil change technicians as well as cashiers were short-changed, the U.S. Department of Labor said Wednesday. They will receive $162,500 because they were paid less than $7.25 an hour and only paid straight time for sometimes working as many as 70 hours a week in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act, according to a consent judgment. In addition, the employees will get the same amount in damages.

 

9/29/21

U.K. Gas Pumps Run Dry As Truck Driver Shortage Causes Supply Chain Chaos

A shortage of truck drivers in Britain has led to a national fuel crisis that is causing long lines at gas stations across the country, with many pumps running dry. . .The government put part of the blame for fuel crisis on panic buying. . .Another big reason for the crisis is a shortage of truck drivers. When the U.K. left the European Union, it became harder for many foreign workers, including truck drivers, to work in Britain. Then, the coronavirus pandemic caused delays that left a backlog of license applications.

 

9/28/21

9 Reasons It's Stupid That We Don't Have Self-Serve Gas In NJ (Opinion)

All I want to do is get in and out as quickly as possible. Which is why New Jersey's antiquated law banning self-serve gas is absurd. It's the opposite of progress. It's the stuff of the Amish. We are the only state that has a full ban on self-serve gas and that fact alone ought to speak volumes. The law has been this way since the 1940s when a New Jersey businessman launched an incredibly successful self-serve gas station and undercut the competition by charging less per gallon. There were no safety issues. The price was less, not more. But the other gas stations colluded against him and try to drive him out of business. They tried through physical coercion and when that did not work they turned to the biggest thugs of all: the state Legislature. It's time this ban went away. Here's why.

 

9/28/21

N.J. To Offer $500 'return-To-Work' Bonuses, Up To $10k For Businesses To Train New Hires

As business continue to struggle with labor shortages throughout the country and state, New Jersey will offer $500 return-to-work bonuses for unemployed residents in their first paycheck after hiring and employers will be eligible for up to $10,000 in wage subsidies to hire and train new workers, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday. Businesses must have 100 or fewer employees and the positions they're looking to fill need to pay at least $15 an hour to be eligible for the subsidies, he said. His administration is calling it the Return and Earn Program. "It will assist unemployed workers in their return to work," Murphy said. "And it will help small businesses fill the positions they need to fill to grow, thrive, and lead our economic recovery."


 

 

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  Energy Information Agency Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices  
 

Each week, the Energy Information Administration publishes a list of average gasoline prices for the previous three weeks. NJGCA will begin including this list with the Weekly Road Warrior. Remember, these prices are reflective of self-serve everywhere except NJ.
 

 

 

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  Member Benefit Partner Message Board  
 

    

 

 

 

 

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  Classifieds: For Sale and Help Wanted Ads  
 


Parts For Sale: Incon TS-1000 tank monitor works well just taken out of service. Printer is aprox 2 months old. Also, Incon 8, tank probes. System replaced because on an Exxon upgrade. Call John Twin Towers Exxon (201) 224-8444

 



 

 

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