May 4, 2011

Contact: NCL Communications (202) 835-3323, media@nclnet.org

Minneapolis, MN – The National Consumers League and Consumer Action, two of the nation’s leading consumer advocacy groups, today urged Minnesota legislators to approve Senate File 425, a measure that would ensure consumers have the right to share or sell sports and entertainment tickets.

At issue is the relatively new practice of issuing restrictive paperless tickets, tied to a purchaser’s credit card and photo ID, in place of traditional tickets. This process can prevent consumers from transferring a ticket altogether and places burdensome restrictions on consumers. Senate File 425 will not eliminate electronic ticketing; it simply preserves consumers’ options for selling, trading or sharing event tickets.

John Breyault, vice president of public policy, telecommunications and fraud for the National Consumer League, urged the Minnesota Senate Judiciary Committee to support Senate File 425 because it protects consumers’ property rights by permitting the resale of tickets that they have already paid full price for and own. A Committee vote is expected in the coming weeks.

“Paperless tickets are a bold gambit by millionaire artists, billionaire sports team owners and Ticketmaster to eliminate competition in the resale market and wring every last dollar out of consumers,” stated Breyault, who also spoke on behalf of the national consumer group, Consumer Action. “Ticketmaster claims that paperless ticketing provides more convenience for consumers. However, paperless tickets have inconvenienced many more fans because they limit transferability and erase the secondary market.”

There have been reports of fans who are forced to await the arrival of their entire party before entering an event; who do not know their seat assignments until arriving at the stadium; who must accompany their children and stand in line in the cold to show their identification at an event they do not plan to attend; and who have experienced difficulties redeeming their purchases and transferring tickets to friends and family.

The secondary market has grown extensively since it moved from a cash business often conducted outside venues to the internet, where ticket reseller websites guarantee authenticity and allow consumers to buy and sell tickets at market price.

“Consumers frequently turn to the online ticket resale market because it is competitive, transparent, and often offers consumer protections that rival or exceed those of original ticket sellers,” added Linda Sherry, Director of National Priorities at Consumer Action. “I can understand why teams and event producers want to shut off fans’ access to the secondary market. But why should our elected representatives permit this? Haven’t taxpayers already funded stadiums, road, mass transit and others ways of supporting teams and event producers? Must we really give up our resale ticket rights too?”

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

About Consumer Action

Consumer Action has been a champion of underrepresented consumers nationwide since 1971. A nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, Consumer Action focuses on financial education that empowers low to moderate income and limited-English-speaking consumers to financially prosper. Our diverse staff provides expert commentary on key consumer issues supported by solid data. We offer access to victim testimony, as well as expertise on current financial issues affecting low to moderate income and limited-English-speaking consumers.

April 20, 2011

Contact: 202-835-3323, media@nclnet.org

Washington, DC — Just in time for April’s Financial Literacy Month, the National Consumers League (NCL) has announced the 34 state champion teams who have earned a spot at the 2011 National LifeSmarts Championship, which will take place this year in Hollywood, CA, April 30 – May 3. LifeSmarts (www.lifesmarts.org) is NCL’s 17-year-old program that educates teens and tweens on real-world financial and consumer literacy issues.

LifeSmarts is a competitive educational program, in which teams of students begin online. Top-scorers progress to state competitions, and state champion teams meet each April to compete in the National LifeSmarts Championship. Last year’s state champion team from Maryland will return this year to defend its national title. For a complete list of state champions, visit www.lifesmarts.org.

“We are so proud of this year’s state LifeSmarts champions, who have proven themselves to be the best and the brightest of the next generation of consumers,” said Sally Greenberg, NCL Executive Director. “LifeSmarts is a fun, fast, educational program, and a great vehicle for educating young consumers. Our program goes in-depth on the issues kids—and adults–are facing now: making smart choices with financial resources, health care, environmental concerns, and how technology affects our lives.”

The 2011 National LifeSmarts Champion and other winning teams will walk away with prizes including scholarships and savings bonds. In addition to placing as a team, individual students have the opportunity to compete for scholarships for demonstrating knowledge in specific program topic areas. The top eight placing teams and five students who earn individual distinction are awarded prizes.

At this year’s competition, NCL will recognize Visa for a recent announcement of a three-year major grant to underwrite the program, sponsor development of personal finance lessons and teaching tools, increase marketing efforts for the LifeSmarts program, and bolster NCL’s outreach on consumer fraud.

2011 National LifeSmarts Championship headed to Hollywood

Consumer-savvy teens representing 34 states will compete at this year’s national event. Throughout the 2010-2011 program year, more than 22,000 teens competed online for a chance to represent their states at the 2011 National LifeSmarts Championship. Players answered more than 3 million consumer questions in the online competition.

Event info

When:  April 30 – May 3, 2011

Where:  Sheraton Universal City (333 Universal Hollywood Dr., Universal City, CA 91608)

Final match: Tuesday, May 3, 10:45 a.m. PDT / 1:45:p.m. EDT

Awards Ceremony:  Noon – 1:30 p.m. PDT / 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. EDT

Follow the competition online

Parents and teachers can follow the action at the official 2011 National LifeSmarts Championship blog (www.lifesmartsnationals.blogspot.com).

The semi-final and final competition matches will be streamed live at www.lifesmarts.org:

Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Semi-finals- 9 am Pacific Daylight / 12 noon Eastern Daylight
Finals- 10:45 am PDT / 1:45 EDT

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About the National Consumers League and LifeSmarts

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

LifeSmarts is a program of the National Consumers League. State coordinators run state-based programs on a volunteer basis. For more information, visit: www.lifesmarts.org, email  lifesmarts@nclnet.org , or call the National Consumers League’s communications department at 202-835-3323.

April 5, 2011

Contact: NCL Communications, (202) 835-3323, media@nclnet.org

Washington, DC–On this, the one-year anniversary of the terrible and tragic explosion in the Upper Big Branch (UBB) Mine in West Virginia, which killed 29 workers, the National Consumer League (NCL) is calling upon Congress to enact the Mine Safety and Health Act. This bill was introduced last year as HR 5663 and contains many important provisions that have yet to be enacted by Congress.

HR 5663 would close loopholes that allow mine owners to delay addressing egregious safety problems. No longer will they be able to file multiple appeals after their mines have been closed or federal officials have issued fines. Today, dangerous mines, like the UBB Mine, continue to operate. UBB’s explosion resulted in the totally preventable deaths of 29 West Virginia miners. Many of these men knew there were safety problems in the mine but were afraid to speak up for fear of losing their jobs. NCL and the DC Triangle Fire 100^th Anniversary planning committee invited one miner who survived the UBB mine disaster, Stanley “Goose” Stewart, to speak on March 21^st at a symposium on Capitol Hill. Stewart spoke eloquently about the danger that he and others knew they confronted at UBB.

Today, miners who recognize safety problems are afraid to speak up. The Mine Safety and Health Act will protect whistleblowers who seek to help federal officials identify problem mines. The legislation will protect workers who refuse to go to work in unsafe conditions and ensure that workers receive full pay if they believe that it is too dangerous to go into the mines. Going to work should not cost an employee his or her life.

The bill also increases civil and criminal penalties for violations of safety standards. The death of an employee, currently only a misdemeanor, would be changed to a felony and would extend to any responsible party, including a corporate officer. With increased fines and imprisonment, reckless behavior by mine owners would have stern consequences.

The Mine Safety and Health Act would allow the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to assign a “pattern of recurring noncompliance or accident” status to repeat offenders and give the agency stronger enforcement powers, empowering officials to prosecute dangerous and irresponsible mine operators and employers who carelessly endanger the health and safety of their employees

As we mourn the loss of these hardworking miners and stand in solidarity with their fellow miners and their families, the best way to ensure they did not die in vain is for Congress to move forward quickly to enactthe Mine Safety and Health Act.

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization; its mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad.

March 23, 2011

Testimony Before National Highway Traffic Safety Adminstration on Backover Prevention

Hello, my name is Sally Greenberg and I am Executive Director of the National Consumers League. The League is celebrating its 112^th year of advocacy for a more fair and just marketplace for both consumers and workers.

I debated whether it was important for me to be here today. There are many people who can speak far more passionately and from personal experience on the terrible hazard of backing a vehicle up and not being able to see behind you. Mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles, grandparents or brothers and sisters who know all too well what can happen when you cannot see what is behind you.

But then I read this incredible Proposed Rulemaking – and reflected on just how far we have come in 8 years, I felt the need to come and talk about it.

I first met Janette Fennell at a press conference she planned in a Safeway Parking Lot in Bethesda. At the time I was serving as Senior Product Safety Counsel for Consumers Union.  I wasn’t sure what I was going to see or even why I was attending this press conference, but something in the notice told me to go. When i got there, what I saw was a scary demonstration of blind zones  behind vehicles – I also heard a heartbreaking story told by a t a grandfather whose grandson had been backed over and killed. That was the first time I had heard about this safety hazard. AS I drove back to my office in Washington but couldn’t get the grandfather’s story out of my head – or stop thinking “there must be a way to make that car safer” I called Janette up the next week and asked if she’d meet with me and CU next time she was in town.

I’ll never forget going with Janette to see Kevin in Representative Peter King’s office – taking with us a video of Dr. Gary Gulbransen talking about his backover incident, which included pictures of his precious little boy Cameron who had been killed.  Kevin said right away, “we’ll drop a bill.” For which I am ever grateful.

But that’s when things got hard. What a difference 8 years makes  – I credit every since person in this room for their diligence,a hard work compassion, relentless advocacy, financial investment in coming to Washington, political savvy, and above all, refusal to take no for an answer.

So what did the world look like for correcting what should be a pretty simple fix – blind zones  in cars – right? Here’s what we heard as we walked around to congressional offices or talked with representatives from the auto industry or met with NHTSA officials?

• We can’t fix this  it’s the parents fault – if they were more careful their kids would be safe

• It’s the kids fault – they should be trained not to run behind cars

• Its too expensive to fix the blind zone problem –  cameras will cost hundreds of dollars and these  prices will be passed along to consumers and consumers don’t want to pay for things they won’t use – in fact, David Pittle from CU and I met with most of the American and foreign car makers and none of them took up the challenge to be the first to adopt a camera or other rear visibility technology

• Cameras don’t work; consumers won’t use them and won’t pay attention to them

• Beepers signaling a person or object behind the car will just go off for no reason, therefore consumers will ignore them and they won’t do the job

• One former head of NHTSA – he will go unmentioned –  told me personally that he didn’t think NHTSA should have to work on this but since it was kids, he’d been told they would probably have to

• There are no numbers or data to demonstrate this is really happening  and we don’t believe – or can’t use – Kids and Cars Data because its not official

• Anyway, we can’t keep statistics about events that happen in people’s driveways or parking lots

• These are freak accidents; they don’t happen frequently enough to merit government action and they certainly don’t merit forcing a redesign of every vehicle on the road at a cost of billions of dollars.

• We don’t need the government forcing these rules on us – this country’s becoming a Nanny State!

I’m sure I’ve left something out but that gives you the flavor. But guess what – I didn’t read any of that in the rulemaking procedure we’re discussing this morning. Instead, what I read made my heart soar – the tone has changed 180 percent. Like this comment:

• Because many backovers occur off public roadways, in areas such as driveways and parking lots, NHTSA’s ordinary methodologies for collecting data as to the specific numbers and circumstances of backover incidents have not always given the agency a complete picture of the scope and circumstances of these types of  incidents. WOW!

• With regard to injuries and fatalities related specifically to backovers, these account for an estimated 63 percent (292) of the fatalities and 38 percent (18,000) of the injuries in backing crashes for all vehicles (cars, light trucks or vans, heavy trucks, and other/multiple vehicles).

Finally, some government statistics on the backover hazard.

• Similar to previous findings, backover fatalities disproportionately affect children under 5 years old and adults 70 or older.  When restricted to backover fatalities involving passenger vehicles, children under 5 account for 44 percent of the fatalities, and adults 70 and older account for 33 percent.  Finally – an acknowledgement that kids are disproportionately affected and that it isn’t the fault of a parent or caregiver

• Costs for these rearview video systems are estimated at approximately $58-88 for vehicles equipped with a navigation system or other type of multi-function visual display, to $158-$189 for vehicles requiring a dashboard-mounted display screen, or $173-$203 for vehicles ith an RV display integrated into the interior rearview mirror. Finally costs that aren’t wildly exaggerated! 

• And finally, the agency believes its proposal may save the lives of about 100 people killed annually when cars mistakenly back over them — especially small children. About 100 of the nearly 300 fatalities in back-up crashes each year involve children age 5 or younger and “there are strong reasons … to prevent these deaths,” NHTSA once again acknowledging the value this rule will bring. And again here: “ While this rulemaking would have great cost, it would also have substantial benefits, reducing annual fatalities in backover crashes by 95 to 112 fatalities, and annual injuries by 7,072 to 8,374 injuries.”

• “Based on its extensive testing, the agency tentatively concluded that a camera-based system is the only effective type of technology currently available”.  – cameras do work and people in NHTSA’s testing do use them effectively

• “While these benefits cannot be monetized, they could be significant.  A breakeven analysis suggests that if the nonquantified benefits amount $65 to $79 per vehicle, the benefits would justify the costs.  Taking all of the foregoing points alongside the quantifiable figures and the safety issue at hand, the agency tentatively concludes that the benefits do justify the costs. More specifically, we emphasize the following data and considerations: Drivers will also benefit from increased rear visibility in a variety of ways, including increased ease and convenience with respect to parking.”

• “Given the very young age of most of the children fatally-injured in backover crashes, attempting to provide them with training or with an audible warning would not enable them to protect themselves. An acknowledgment that we cannot expect young children to be trained to avoid backover hazards. “

Here we are today with a new set of rules before us. The new standard will require that rearview camera systems to be installed on all passenger vehicles by 2014.

So a new day has dawned. I look around this room and I get emotional – every single person – especially the families here today – many of them working people without financial resources – who traveled to Washington, lobbied Congress, and who spent precious here played their own unique part in getting this legislation passed and helping to shape NHTSA’s rulemaking to make universal rearward visibility  a reality. Hallelujah and I’m honored to have been part of this movement.

KidsAndCars.org was the force behind legislation requiring our government to set a rear visibility standard so we no longer have to back up blindly.

March 21, 2011

Contact: Laura Catalano, (202) 641-5922, catalanolaura@rocketmail.com

Washington, DC – A coalition of labor, consumer and environmental groups is calling on Congress and the White House to take steps in the next 100 days to preserve, protect and bolster labor laws in the United States. The call to action covers several issues ranging from minimum wage and child labor laws, to OSHA and Mine Safety Act reform and collective bargaining rights.

The move comes in response to efforts by lawmakers in Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana and 37 other states to pass anti-labor legislation, including repealing minimum wage laws, banning prevailing wage standards, repealing child labor laws, passing “right-to-work-for-less” laws, and abolishing collective bargaining rights.

“Many of today’s corporate titans have shown the same callous disregard for America’s working families as the owners of the Triangle company,” said Eric Frumin, Safety and Health Director, Change to Win. “But like the Triangle workers, we will not be deterred from our fight for a fair economy that looks out for everyone. The struggle continues, in the memory of the Triangle workers of 1911, the Massey miners of 2010, and workers everywhere seeking justice on the job.”

The five-point call to action urges Congress and the Obama Administration to:

1. Update and reform workplace and mine safety and health laws.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) are working with limited resources and severely restricted enforcement powers. Approximately 4,300 workers die every year in workplace incidents, roughly 12 workers a day , while tens of thousands die annually from occupational diseases. OSHA’s maximum fine for serious violations of safety rules is piddling—only $7,000 per violation. Only when an employer willfully violates OSHA safety standards — creating conditions that lead to a worker fatality — can be charged with a criminal violation, which is a misdemeanor—six months or less in jail for killing an employee.

The House of Representatives and Senate will consider legislation that would overhaul OSHA and MSHA. The Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety and Health Act would address these concerns and significantly strengthen the powers of the agencies responsible for worker safety, and provide real protection to workers who complain about hazardous conditions.

2. Preserve, protect and enhance minimum wage and child labor laws.

In Missouri and Maine, bills to literally repeal child labor laws and prevent state agencies from investigating child labor abuses have been introduced.https://www.senate.mo.gov/11info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=4124271;

The bill has caused a stir in Missouri and throughout the nation. The Governor of Maine is supporting that state’s bill. https://www.sunjournal.com/state/story/997624

In addition, anti- labor legislation has been introduced in 37 states, including bills to repeal minimum wage laws, ban prevailing wage standards, and pass right-to-work laws.

3. Pass federal legislation to protect child farm workers.

Currently farmworker children are denied the protections given to other working young people because agriculture workers are exempted from federal labor protections. Children as young as 12 can legally work in the fields and oftentimes children far younger can be found there as well. The CARE Act (The Children’s Act for Responsible Employment (CARE) ) would change that paradigm. CARE would create a number of disincentives for children to work in the fields, and would help to ensure that young people are in school where they can get an education and end the cycle of poverty that keeps farmworkers in low wage work.

4. Preserve and protect existing worker protection programs, and support the Administration’s request to increase the Labor Department’s budget.

President Obama’s 2012 budget requests an increase of 4.7% for the Department of Labor, which is intended to reverse “years of erosion in funding for labor law enforcement agencies.”

By contrast to the President’s budget,  the Congressional Research Servicesays that the recent GOP budget cuts for FY 2011 will require the National Labor Relations Board to furlough all staff for roughly two entire months.^[1] OSHA is facing similar cuts to its enforcement budget if those cuts are adopted.^[2]

We oppose any budget cuts and applaud the president’s call for increased funding for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, to allow it to “vigorously enforce workplace safety laws and oversight,” provide more resources for the Wage and Hour Division to ensure workers get the pay that is due them, and increase funding for the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, which is charged with pursuing a fair and diverse federal contract work force. Restoring such basic enforcement of labor standards is essential to protecting law-abiding employers from underbidding and competition by unscrupulous executives who  exploit workers without penalty.

5. Uphold the right of collective bargaining for public and private workers that include protections for worker health and safety.

In Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana, public workers have had their rights to engage in collective bargaining with management taken away, which denies them a voice on everything from wages, working conditions, protective equipment, overtime, and maximum hours. The right to collective bargaining is a cornerstone of basic labor protections and is a right recognized through international human rights conventions, including Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“This year as we mark the 100th anniversary of the Triangle fire, workers and workers’ rights and protections are under attack by corporate interests at the federal and state level,” said Peg Seminario, AFL-CIO Safety and Health Director. “Just as after the Triangle fire, workers, unions and their allies are rising up and taking action to defend the right to organize and to have a union, and to demand the right to dignity, respect and safe jobs.”

“The Triangle fire reminds us that the welfare and protection of workers – their wages, benefits and their safety and health – must be high on our agenda,” said Sally Greenberg, Executive Director, National Consumers League. “Roughly five thousand workers die on the job every year – that’s far too many. We can and we must do better. This week’s anniversary of the terrible Triangle fire reminds us that we need to redouble our efforts to preserve and protect worker safety and health.”

The call to action came following a symposium today on Capitol Hill sponsored by the coalition to commemorate the 100^th Anniversary of the historic Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory fire in New York City. The fire, which claimed the lives of 146 mostly young immigrant garment workers, changed the politics of our country and improved working conditions for all Americans. During the symposium a panel of safety and labor experts, historians, academics, and victims and the relatives of victims of recent workplace disasters reviewed the status of worker health, safety and rights in the 100 years since this historic fire. The Washington symposium was one of dozens of events held across the country to commemorate the fire.

Members of the coalition: AFL-CIO; Alliance for Justice; American Rights at Work; BlueGreen Alliance; Change to Win; Coalition of Labor Union Women; Consumer Action; CWA; International Labor Rights Forum; National Consumers League; Public Citizen; Roosevelt Institute Campus Network; SEIU; UFCW; UNITE HERE!

For more information, contact Laura Catalano, catalanolaura@rocketmail.com

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^[1] https://democrats.edworkforce.house.gov/documents/112/pdf/CRSNLRBanalysis.pdf

^[2] https://go.usa.gov/4Jl