WSA Member Update 3.15.23

March 15, 2023  Dear WSA Members,  I spoke to several Transblue representatives while working my way to the person in charge of Transblue’s account for Lowe’s parking lot sweeping services. I noted that – when each of the first reps I spoke to learned who I was and what I did – they were eager to send me a list of the locations where they were looking to procure sweeping contractors. I told them that at least until a number of Transblue‘s iffy contract clauses were eliminated I wouldn’t be assisting.  Once I reached the designated manager for the Lowe’s account, I was allowed about 15 minutes of explaining the many issues often seen with previous third party vendors. I also brought up several of the clauses in their contract, which is essentially a copy of the one Shields FM was using). As you know if you read my analysis, this includes the requirements of having twin gutter brooms as well as a sweeping head that had to auto-raise if the sweeper backed up. And others. So he could read the contract analysis I had done for WSA I took the password protection off and sent him the link. He’s supposedly going to call me back, which is the reason I’m now holding my breath.  Shauna had many great ideas in her NPE seminar, “The Basics of Running a Small Business: Day-to-Day Operations,” which I linked for you in the last WSA Update. So, I asked if she’d be willing to do a LIVE Zoom session just for our WSA members. She agreed and we now have that scheduled for March 28th at 1pm, Pacific Time. You’re all invited to watch and participate, ask her questions, etc. Here’s the Zoom link information (note that the best experience is when you have the Zoom app): https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81187159345?pwd=cVVCcnNleWdPbnlLK05Fa1g5VHUzZz09 Meeting ID: 811 8715 9345 Passcode: 017403 The N.E.L.T.S. saga grows ever weirder… As a result of our N.E.L.T.S. investigation article, last week I received a call from a former N.E.L.T.S. employee. S/he alleged a wide variety of disturbing actions by the company’s CEO, Antonio Portunato. These included not paying unemployment compensation on his employees, many of which were erroneously classified as salaried so he could keep from paying overtime. Other allegations included not actually using sweepers when the company cleaned Home Depot lots in Connecticut; rather, I was told he had people just show up to hand-pick into buckets.  Perhaps most shockingly, the caller said that as a way to increase revenue Portunato instructed employees (and some contractors) to go find large debris such as couches and the like, transport them onto the Home Depot lot, take photos, remove, take photos, bill for removal. Also said was that required photos were routinely Photoshopped to show debris, then another photo to show the debris was gone.  On behalf of WSA, I contacted Home Depot corporate, provided an overview of the situation, and then sent the link to the N.E.L.T.S. investigation. I also provided the representative with some of the recent audio interview revelations. It will be interesting to see what, if any, reaction/action follows. I will, of course, let you know.  Our March Safety First! post by John Meola offers the following good reminder topics as we start the month of “March Madness:” • Watch out for the ‘Ides of March’ • Reminder: Spring brings out the ‘critters’ • Always important to remember the 5 keys to defensive driving • Ergonomics in the time of Spring Fever • March is ‘Ladder Safety Month:’ Follow these tips • Change your footwear with the seasonal change As always, if you have questions or comments about this WSA Member Update, or anything else to do with the World Sweeping Association or power sweeping in general, please let me know.  Good Sweeping,  Ranger Kidwell-Ross, Executive Director World Sweeping Association March 15, 2023  Dear WSA Members,  I spoke to several Transblue representatives while working my way to the person in charge of Transblue’s account for Lowe’s parking lot sweeping services. I noted that when each of the first reps I spoke to learned who I was and what I did they were eager to send me a list of where they now wanted to procure sweeping contractors. I told them that at least until a number of Transblue‘s iffy contract clauses were eliminated I wouldn’t be assisting.  Once I reached the designated manager for the Lowe’s account, I was allowed about 15 minutes of explaining the many issues often seen with previous third party vendors. I also brought up several of the clauses in their contract, which is essentially a copy of the one Shields FM was using). As you know if you read my analysis, this includes the requirements of having twin gutter brooms as well as a sweeping head that had to auto-raise if the sweeper backed up. And others. So he could read the contract analysis I had done for WSA I took the password protection off and sent him the link. He’s supposedly going to call me back, which is the reason I’m now holding my breath.  Shauna had many great ideas in her NPE seminar, “The Basics of Running a Small Business: Day-to-Day Operations,” which I linked for you in the last WSA Update. So, I asked if she’d be willing to do a LIVE Zoom session just for our WSA members. She agreed and we now have that scheduled for March 28th at 1pm, Pacific Time. You’re all invited to watch and participate, ask her questions, etc. Here’s the Zoom link information (note that the best experience is when you have the Zoom app): https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81187159345?pwd=cVVCcnNleWdPbnlLK05Fa1g5VHUzZz09 Meeting ID: 811 8715 9345 Passcode: 017403 The N.E.L.T.S. saga grows ever weirder… As a result of our N.E.L.T.S. investigation article, last week I received a call from a former N.E.L.T.S. employee. S/he alleged a wide variety of disturbing actions by the company’s CEO, Antonio Portunato. These included not paying unemployment compensation on his employees, many of which were erroneously classified as salaried so he could keep from paying overtime. Other allegations included not actually using sweepers when the company cleaned Home Depot lots in Connecticut; rather, I was told he had people just show up to hand-pick into buckets.  Perhaps most shockingly, the caller said that as a way to increase revenue Portunato instructed employees (and some contractors) to go find large debris such as couches and the like, transport them onto the Home Depot lot, take photos, remove, take photos, bill for removal. Also said was that required photos were routinely Photoshopped to show debris, then another photo to show the debris was gone.  On behalf of WSA, I contacted Home Depot corporate, provided an overview of the situation, and then sent the link to the N.E.L.T.S. investigation. I also provided the representative with some of the recent audio interview revelations. It will be interesting to see what, if any, reaction/action follows. I will, of course, let you know.  Our March Safety First! post by John Meola offers the following good reminder topics as we start the month of “March Madness:”Watch out for the ‘Ides of March’Reminder: Spring brings out the ‘critters’Always important to remember the 5 keys to defensive drivingErgonomics in the time of Spring FeverMarch is ‘Ladder Safety Month:’ Follow these tipsChange your footwear with the seasonal changeAs always, if you have questions or comments about this WSA Member Update, or anything else to do with the World Sweeping Association or power sweeping in general, please let me know.  Good Sweeping,  Ranger Kidwell-Ross, Executive Director World Sweeping Association