Legislate for Success
Legislate for Success
Introduction
NAPAA's Mission Statement
NAPAA is dedicated to the success of Allstate Exclusive Agency Owners and to advance the independence and entrepreneurial spirit of our members.
Introduction
NAPAA's Board of Directors has been working hard to make our mission statement a reality. Ultimately, this statement can be divided into two goals: Success in your independent exclusive agency business and expanding the definition of "independent contractor." NAPAA is dedicated to our members who are independent contractor exclusive agents for Allstate Insurance Company.
History: NNOAC was formed in 1990 to promote dialogue between agents and Allstate. In 1993, Allstate separated from Sears and their plans have been evolving ever since. 1998, NNOAC changes its name to NAPAA to reflect a change in the agency force. California employee agents are terminated as part of a pilot program that later expands to the entire US. NAPAA tries talking with Allstate, but they declare they will not be run by an outside organization and refuse all invitations to talk.
NAPAA took Allstate to a federal court to get a judgment on Allstate's ability to unilaterally change the R3001 contract. The judge ruled agents signed a contract giving Allstate the ability to change the contract at will on many items.
A few months after our case went to court, the OPEIU, a union for professional workers, approached NAPAA in an effort to unionize Allstate agents. Since agents are independent, they were prevented from unionizing as federal law allows only employees the ability to unionize. NAPAA's bigger interest in this action was the definition of independent contractor. Our position has been that Allstate's control exceeds the definition of independent contractor.
Over the past two years, NAPAA's board has hammered out a plan based on several realities. NAPAA can only control NAPAA: Our members are Allstate agency owners whose livelihood relies on selling, and maintaining a book of business that is centered on the Allstate product and brand name recognition. Success of an agency will be determined by an agencies ability to support corporate goals.
However, we also recognize the responsibility agents and insurance companies have for consumers. To this end, NAPAA has identified several issues that are geared toward the insurance industry and are not specifically aimed at Allstate. Our goal is to work with legislatures on a state-by-state basis to make positive changes in the industry. This will assure that Allstate's brand name is not diminished and Allstate will not suffer an unfair competitive disadvantage in the marketplace.
By the Legislate For Success initiative, we will make every effort to create or modify state laws that protect consumers and advance the entrepreneurial spirit of your businesses.
NAPAA's ability to be politically active on the agents' behalf is totally dependent on the level of monetary support we receive (donations to the NAPAA Action Fund) and the active participation by agents. The members of NAPAA's board cannot do these things for you.
Groups of agents in each state will have to organize, raise money both locally and for the NAPAA Action Fund, do research, etc. NAPAA can help with direction, materials and communications.