From bob.estabrook at state.or.us Mon Jun 13 13:53:25 2011 From: bob.estabrook at state.or.us (Bob Estabrook) Date: Mon, 13 Jun 2011 13:53:25 -0700 Subject: NEWS RELEASE: BOLI Report Draws Path to Diverse Construction Workforce Message-ID: <4DF61654.919A.00CA.0@boli.state.or.us> Press Release For Immediate Distribution June 13, 2011 CONTACT: Bob Estabrook, 503-709-0730 BOLI Report Draws Path to Diverse Construction Workforce Recommendations include policies, programs to support women, minorities SALEM - Oregon?s Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) has delivered its biennial report Diversifying the Construction Workforce to the legislature. The new report identifies continuing barriers to employment in construction for women and people of color, exacerbated by the economic downturn, as well as model success stories and specific recommendations to increase construction workforce diversity. ?Many Oregonians are facing barriers to fulfilling, living-wage employment in the construction trades,? said State Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian, head of BOLI and Oregon?s Apprenticeship and Training Division, which helped to compile the report. ?The impact is not only on the workers whose opportunities are being limited, but on the Oregon communities that lose out on the contribution of potential role models for the next generation of workers.? The 2007 Oregon Legislature established a state goal of increasing diversity among workers employed on public improvement projects subject to state prevailing wage rate laws. As the state?s top civil rights enforcement agency and the agency responsible for the administration of prevailing wage law, BOLI was charged with developing a plan and reporting regularly on recommended steps to increase diversity among workers on public improvement projects. ?To break this cycle of persistent underrepresentation for women and people of color in the construction workforce we have to think creatively,? said Marcus Mundy, President and CEO of the Urban League of Portland. ?Some efforts with promising results are already underway, but to build on those successes and achieve greater results, concrete steps have to be taken on each of the report's recommendations. Good policy must be accompanied by systematic, deliberate and consistent steps, with transparent timeframes, for achieving the aspirations set forth here. The Urban League is anxious to be part of those steps.? The new report offers a series of recommendations to more fully address the existing barriers to recruitment and retention of female and minority construction workers, including: ? Increase funding for pre-apprenticeship programs, ? Reinvest in education and hands-on training in middle and high schools, ? Implement workforce training and hiring goals statewide, ? Consider alternatives to low-bid procurement, and ? Appropriate adequate funding for comprehensive data collection, analysis and workforce research The new report Diversifying the Construction Workforce is available on BOLI?s website. ###### The mission of the Bureau of Labor and Industries is to protect employment rights, advance employment opportunities, and protect access to housing and public accommodations free from discrimination. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 7303 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 06.13.11 BOLI Release - Diversity Report.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 61224 bytes Desc: not available URL: From bob.estabrook at state.or.us Fri Jun 17 14:12:38 2011 From: bob.estabrook at state.or.us (Bob Estabrook) Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:12:38 -0700 Subject: NEWS RELEASE: Avakian Scores Win on Restoring Career and Technical Education Message-ID: <4DFB60D6.919A.00CA.0@boli.state.or.us> Press Release For Immediate Distribution June 17, 2011 CONTACT: Bob Estabrook, 503-709-0730 Avakian Scores Win on Restoring Career and Technical Education Legislators endorse funds, plan to expand CTE options in Oregon public schools SALEM ? The Oregon Legislature?s Ways and Means Subcommittee on Capital Construction today approved House Bill 3362B, State Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian?s priority legislation to reinvigorate career and technical education (CTE) in Oregon public schools. Avakian, head of Oregon?s Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI), has spearheaded a diverse coalition of business interests, labor groups, education professionals and others to advocate for the popular proposal. Approval by this committee paves the way for approval by the full legislature in coming days. ?To regain our economic competitiveness, Oregon must ensure that every student has access to high-quality CTE options that teach emerging or in-demand job skills,? Avakian said. ?21st century vocational education, setting sights on fields like green technology and health professions, will help prepare kids for living-wage jobs, but also show them the real-world application of the material they?re already learning in school.? The revitalization plan, co-sponsored by 59 members of the Oregon Legislature, will jump-start CTE programs in Oregon?s middle and high schools by: (1) establishing a $2 million grant program to fund the restoration and expansion of CTE classes; (2) facilitating the formation of future skill centers and CTE-focused charters; and (3) promoting CTE partnerships between public schools, community colleges, universities, state agencies, local businesses and labor unions. Passage of the bill does not end the coalition?s push on this issue?Avakian has laid out a 10-year vision for every Oregon student to have access to high-quality CTE options. ?We?re making an important investment in Oregon?s economy, here,? said Representative Michael Dembrow (D-Portland). ?But we?re also investing in our kids. CTE programs have a proven track record of success, graduating well over 90% of their students. We're making clear that we want students all over the state to have the skills they need to access a good, living-wage job.? Oregon?s economic health is fundamentally linked to the availability of a skilled workforce. One of the best ways to strengthen our workforce is to revitalize CTE programs so students can develop the practical skills that employers are consistently demanding. With the anticipated growth in numerous high-skill industries in Oregon, it is especially critical that CTE programs be enhanced to equip students to compete for high-wage jobs in these industries, like renewable energy and health care. ?This legislation makes the critical recognition that the skills that employers consistently demand for workers at all skill levels?problem-solving, creativity, analytical thinking, teamwork?can and should be taught before Oregon students leave high school,? said House Republican Leader Kevin Cameron (R-Salem). "In recent years there has been a lot of discussion about making this type of investment. This bill is the first real step in making it happen and investing in our industry's future," said Mike Salsgiver, Executive Director of the Associated General Contractors. ?This is a huge opportunity for our kids and our economy, and we?re proud to have been supporting the Commissioner?s grant program from the beginning." CTE programs help fill the pipeline of workers that businesses need to continue or expand their operations. Restoring and enhancing CTE classes will help address current labor shortages and skill gaps in several industries ? such as health care, manufacturing, construction, and high tech services ? so Oregon can keep its homegrown businesses as well as attract new businesses to the state. HB 3362B also calls on the state to foster CTE partnerships with businesses, giving industry leaders an opportunity to provide valuable insight into the focus areas and skills that can most improve Oregon?s workforce. ?Oregon workers are excited to support these programs and show young people the kind of enjoyable, rewarding careers that they can access without a four-year degree,? noted John Mohlis, Executive-Secretary of the Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council. ?Commissioner Avakian?s and Representative Dembrow?s leadership on this issue has been invaluable.? Additional information about HB 3362B, the importance of career technical education and the coalition of supporters can be found here. The bill now moves to the full Ways and Means Committee, and then to the House and Senate floors. ###### The mission of the Bureau of Labor and Industries is to protect employment rights, advance employment opportunities, and protect access to housing and public accommodations free from discrimination. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 7303 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 06.17.11 BOLI Release - CTE W&M Win.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 53590 bytes Desc: not available URL: From bob.estabrook at state.or.us Tue Jun 21 15:49:00 2011 From: bob.estabrook at state.or.us (Bob Estabrook) Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2011 15:49:00 -0700 Subject: NEWS RELEASE: Avakian Statement on Passage of CTE Plan Message-ID: <4E00BD6B.919A.00CA.0@boli.state.or.us> Press Statement For Immediate Distribution June 21, 2011 CONTACT: Bob Estabrook, 503-709-0730 Avakian Praises Plan to Rebuild Career and Technical Education Labor Commissioner thanks legislators, coalition for expanding CTE options in Oregon public schools SALEM ? The Oregon State Senate today joined the House in giving final, unanimous approval to House Bill 3362B, State Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian?s priority legislation to reinvigorate career and technical education (CTE) in Oregon public schools. Avakian, head of the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) and Oregon?s Apprenticeship and Training Division Division, had this to say on passage of the popular proposal: ?Enacting this plan, after years of back-and-forth and competing ideas, is really a testament to the broad, diverse coalition that has come together around this issue and created so much momentum. The contributions of educators, business people, labor unions and other local partners to a few existing programs have set the stage for this important reinvestment in career and technical education, and have shown us how to build very successful programs with very limited resources. I'm honored to have worked with such a large, committed coalition of Democrats, Republicans and independents--all of whom recognized the fundamental importance of applied, skills-based CTE for our kids. The legislature?s reinvestment in CTE at this critical time will help build the competitive workforce that Oregon needs for a thriving economy in coming years.? Additional information about HB 3362B, the importance of career technical education and the coalition of supporters can be found here. The bill now goes to Governor Kitzhaber for his signature. ###### The mission of the Bureau of Labor and Industries is to protect employment rights, advance employment opportunities, and protect access to housing and public accommodations free from discrimination. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpg Size: 7303 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 06.21.11 BOLI Release - Avakian Statement on CTE Passage.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 50028 bytes Desc: not available URL: