Walmart, Lowe's, Safeway, and Nordstrom Are Bankrolling a Nationwide Campaign to Gut Workers' Comp

Nearly two dozen major corporations, including Walmart, Nordstrom, and Safeway, are bankrolling a quiet, multistate lobbying effort to make it harder for workers hurt on the job to access lost wages and medical care—the benefits collectively known as workers' compensation.

The companies have financed a lobbying group, the Association for Responsible Alternatives to Workers' Compensation (ARAWC), that has already helped write legislation in one state, Tennessee. Richard Evans, the group's executive director, told an insurance journal in November that the corporations ultimately want to change workers' comp laws in all 50 states. Lowe's, Macy's, Kohl's, Sysco Food Services, and several insurance companies are also part of the year-old effort.

Lowe’s hires Ottawa lobbyist in push for Rona takeover

U.S. retailer Lowe’s Cos. Inc. has retained the services of an Ottawa lobbyist as it tries to navigate tricky political waters in its attempt to land Quebec hardware chain Rona Inc.

Robert Evershed, principal at Prospectus Associates in Corporate Development Inc., disclosed in Canada’s registry of lobbyists that his firm began promoting Lowe’s interests as of Aug. 20.

Lowe’s takes heat in bid for RONA

U.S. home improvement giant Lowe’s is hoping to build itself a bigger piece of the Canadian market with an unsolicited $1.76 billion takeover bid for Quebec-based RONA Inc.

The bid, announced (and rejected) by RONA Tuesday morning, got a big thumbs-down from credit ratings agencies and stock markets, drew heated criticism from Quebec’s finance minister, and a boost in holdings by RONA’s biggest shareholders. But experts say it’s far from dead, despite the opposition.

“The board believes that, in the best interests of RONA and its stakeholders, the corporation should remain focused on executing its business plan with a view to capturing significant opportunities that it sees for its business,” RONA said in a written statement.