Pa Liquor Store

Independent State Store Union Denounces Anti-Employee PLCB-Sponsored Legislation

This bill denies all future employees of any Civil Service rights and eliminates the veterans' preference in the hiring process as currently provided by law.  Under current Civil Service rules, veterans receive a ten-point preference when testing to be hired.  This bill strips veterans of the preference rights currently guaranteed under Civil Service and permits the agency to merely consider veterans' preference in hirings as an option – not a requirement.  This provision is a slap to the face for our proud and deserving veterans.

An amendment to HB 1356 also passed which will effectively strip current employees of Civil Service rights.  Civil Service status will only be retained by current employees as long as they remain in the same position.  Once a person takes another position, they will lose Civil Service status.

"In their lust to act as a 'world-class retailer,' the current management with the PLCB has denigrated all past and present employees, veteran and non-veteran alike, who have been the backbone of this government agency," says , president of the Independent State Store Union.  

"Unfortunately, the House Liquor Control Committee took action in this bill without the benefit of public hearings to assess the real impacts and the far reaching implications of the proposal on current employees and veterans," Wanamaker said.  "Hopefully, the House of Representatives will be more deliberative and thoughtful should this bill ever come before them for a vote – especially with respect to veterans' preference and protections for workers," he concluded.

Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board continues price freeze ...

At its meeting today, the board voted against a request from some of its suppliers to raise prices on 400 wines and liquors. The price requests were generally $1 to $2 and in some cases as much as $10 for higher-end products.

Board Chairman P.J. Stapleton said the board agreed to was not the right time to raise prices for consumers who are still struggling in light of the economy. Many consumers continue to buy down or buy cheaper priced wines and liquors, he said.

“Holding prices down is the appropriate thing to do,” he said.

The LCB implemented a moratorium on vendor price increases in November 2010. Suppliers are permitted to request price increases four times a year.

The same could be said if the state entered the business of selling, say, wireless service. But would that make it right? My point is there are many things the state could sell and "contribute" to the state budget but would that make it right? The state needs to get out of this industry which they have no business being in in the first place.

With regards to "providing the state a service", shouldn't they be providing the people a service? Private companies would do a MUCH better job at that.

So we should just nationalize everything and let the government run it? Sort of like in a communal way? Aaaah...haaaa...haaaa....haaa! I'm a Democrat and even I wouldn't dream of ever wanting to live in that kind of society. No government should be in the retail business. Running a business and running a government are two completely different philosophies.

Except that all prices are uniformly set in every state store. They are set at a specific mark up. The ONLY way prices increase are if the manufacturer increases the prices. As the only retailer on the state, the state gets to decide if and when the manufacturer is allowed to increase the price, not the other way around.

Imagine what the cost of gas would be if the federal government purchased the fuel and resold it directly. Imagine that buying power.

The ONLY way prices increase are if the manufacturer increases the prices.

Not sure what you're trying to say, because the way I read the article, manufacturers ARE trying to increase their prices, but the state (via PLCB) won't allow it. The ONLY way prices increase are if the STATE allows it! The manufacturer has two choices...eat it or beat it (less/no profit or stop selling).

For labor's sake, gains and pains as told by 28 creative inside reformers

The Pennsylvania manual

Privatize This?, Assessing the Opportunities and Costs of Privatization

Pennsylvania liquor code and related laws

Guidebook to Pennsylvania Taxes