OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

Retailers upset with “harmful” NLRB ruling
Arlington, VA - Retailers on Friday criticized the National Labor Relations Board decision that gave the go-ahead to new laws to expedite the union election process. The amendments, to go into effect April 14, provide for electronic filing and transmission of election petitions and other documents; eliminates or reduces unnecessary litigation; and allows parties to consolidate election-related appeals to the board into a single appeals process, the NLRB said in a statement.
Commentary: Don’t buy into the hype—EMV is not a security “catch-all”
By Joe Majka, Verifone President Obama’s BuySecure Initiative sets the U.S. Government on track to adopt chip and PIN payment security, parallels - and seeks to encourage - a commercial industry shift toward EMV card technology.

Insights: Supreme Court Win for Employers

By Patrick Bannon, Rebecca DeGroff, Noah Finkel, Richard Alfred (Seyfarth Shaw LLP) The Supreme Court has unanimously that the Fair Labor Standards Act does not require employers to pay employees for time spent passing through post-shift security screening.
Kroger chairman retires, CEO Rodney McMullen to assume additional role

CINCINNATI — David Dillon, who led Kroger's development of the company's successful Customer 1st Strategy, will retire as chairman of the board on Dec. 31 after 38 years of service. As expected, the Kroger Board of Directors on Thursday elected Rodney McMullen, Kroger's CEO, to the additional post of chairman, commencing Jan. 1, 2015. McMullen has served on the board of directors since 2003.
Report – EBay may cut thousands of jobs in 2015

San Jose, Calif. – EBay Inc. is reportedly considering cutting up to 3,000 jobs early in 2015. According to the Wall Street Journal, the staff reductions would primarily occur in the EBay Marketplace unit as the company prepares to spin off its PayPal unit.
Forget the hype—Amazon not opening store in New York City

New York - Back in the fall, reports were rampant that Amazon would open a physical store in mid-town Manhattan in time for the holiday rush. The online giant had rented space across from the Empire State Building, according to reports, with plans to open a space that would double as a store and mini-depot where select orders could be picked up and returned. But with the holiday season in full-swing, there is no Amazon storefront on West 34th Street—and it doesn’t appear any is likely in the near future.
Walgreens CEO Greg Wasson to retire on completion of merger with Alliance Boots

DEERFIELD, Ill. - Walgreens president and CEO Greg Wasson informed the company’s board of directors that he will retire shortly after the completion of the merger between Walgreens and Alliance Boots, of which shareholders are scheduled to vote on Dec. 29, 2014.
Walmart promotes chief development officer to COO

Bentonville, Ark. - Wal-Mart Stores has promoted Judith McKenna to COO for Walmart U.S., effective immediately. She succeeds Gisel Ruiz, who has been appointed executive VP of Walmart’s International People Division, effective immediately. McKenna will continue to report directly to Walmart U.S. president and CEO, Greg Foran. Ruiz will report to Walmart International president and CEO, David Cheesewright.  
Buckle shuffles management roster

Kearney, Neb. – The Buckle Inc. has made a number of reappointments to its executive staff. Kelli D. Molczyk has been appointed to the position of VP of women’s merchandising, Diane L. Applegate has been appointed to the position of VP of supply chain and merchandising operations, and Thomas B. Heacock has been appointed to the position of VP of finance, treasurer, and corporate controller and has been appointed as a member of the company’s executive committee.
Supreme Court rules Amazon doesn’t have to pay workers for security-screening time

New York - The Supreme Court handed out a victory to Amazon and other employers when it ruled unanimously on Tuesday that a temp agency was not required to pay workers at Amazon warehouses in Nevada for the time they spent waiting for and undergoing security checks at the end of their shifts. The court reversed a lower court ruling from last year which had allowed the workers to sue under the theory that since their screening time was required by the employer, it should be compensated.