From charlie.burr at state.or.us Tue Apr 9 09:15:29 2013 From: charlie.burr at state.or.us (Burr, Charlie) Date: Tue, 9 Apr 2013 16:15:29 +0000 Subject: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oregon Labor Commissioner Avakian Issues Equal Pay Day Message Message-ID: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA407261176D8EC0@D5DAG1A.D5.USA.NET> [cid:image001.png at 01CE3502.39A1B9F0] Press Release For Immediate Release April 9, 2013, 2013 CONTACT: Charlie Burr, (971) 673-0788, (503) 913-5407 cell. Oregon Labor Commissioner Avakian Issues National Equal Pay Day Message Investment in career and technical education can help address pay equity, says Avakian PORTLAND - Oregon Labor and Industries Commissioner Brad Avakian today issued the following statement about pay equity in Oregon: "On Equal Pay Day, we mark the day of year that represents how far into 2013 women must work to earn the same as what men earn for comparable work. Despite our state's leadership - and first-in-the-nation Equal Pay Law, there's more to be done to ensure equal pay for equal work. Pay disparity affects short-term earnings, long-term savings, retirement security and educational opportunity. According to the U.S. Census Bureau statistics, women in Oregon in 2010 earned 77.3 cents for every dollar that male workers earned in the state. And disparity among women of color is even more acute - an Oregon Employment Department report found that in 2007, white women Oregon were earning an average income of $34,152 for full-time, year-round work compared to $32,739 for Asian women and $20,333 for Hispanic and Latina women. As the state's chief civil rights enforcement officer, I've directed the Oregon Council on Civil Rights to develop recommendations and actionable, short- and long-term policy options to address the challenge. National Pay Equity day is a day to recognize that an unacceptable gap still exists, but also that Oregon stands ready to serve as a national model again to keep our state - and all of our citizens - moving ahead. Enforcement tools alone will not end the cycle of disparity. We must work to build a stronger economy and highly skilled workforce so that all Oregonians enjoy access to economic opportunity and hope for a better life. A good place to start is investing in career and technical education for students and young women in our middle schools and high schools. With smart, cost-effective programs, we can bring back the shop classes and vocational trainings that provide young women access to hands-on learning and skills development. To rebuild our middle class and move our state forward, we need to break down barriers and provide economic opportunity for all Oregon citizens." ### The mission of the Bureau of Labor and Industries is to protect employment rights, advance employment opportunities, and ensure access to housing and public accommodations free from discrimination. Charlie Burr Communications Director Bureau of Labor and Industries 800 NE Oregon St., Ste. 1045 Portland, OR 97232-2180 (971) 673-0788 wk. (503) 913-5407 cell. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 8964 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From charlie.burr at state.or.us Tue Apr 16 10:41:19 2013 From: charlie.burr at state.or.us (Burr, Charlie) Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2013 17:41:19 +0000 Subject: NEWS RELEASE: Avakian helps recover $113,000 in unpaid wages for workers on Portland reservoir project Message-ID: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA407261176DCF98@D5DAG1A.D5.USA.NET> [cid:image002.png at 01CE3A8D.1457A110] Press Release For Immediate Release April 16, 2013, 2013 CONTACT: Charlie Burr, (971) 673-0788 Avakian helps recover $113,000 in unpaid wages for workers on Portland reservoir project Powell Butte Reservoir subcontractor ineligible for public projects for five years Portland, OR-The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries has secured more than $113,000 in unpaid wages from a subcontractor working on a Powell Butte Reservoir construction project for the City of Portland's Water Bureau. A worker with subcontractor Affordable Safe and Professional Flagging, LLC (ASAP) filed the initial wage complaint with the Bureau of Labor and Industries on December 12, 2012. In total, the subcontracting firm denied 36 employees fair compensation on the Powell Butte Reservoir project at 15800, 16190 and 16198 SE Powell Blvd. Commissioner Avakian praised the efforts of the agency to investigate and prosecute the company. "Oregon workers deserve protection from companies that deny them fair wages," said Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian. "Strong enforcement of wage protection laws helps workers and ensures a level playing field for the businesses that follow the rules and honor their commitments." Workers with ASAP performed flagging for traffic control, among the most dangerous jobs on a construction site. ASAP's work on the project spanned December 2011 to January 18, 2013, when the prime contractor, SSC Construction, terminated the contract. Timothy Covington Sr. is listed as ASAP's Registered Agent, manager and principal. Previously, the Bureau of Labor and Industries secured debarment of ASAP Flagging and Traffic Control, Inc., Affordable, Safe and Professional Flagging, LLC., and Timothy Covington, placing the company and principal on its list of contractors ineligible for any future contract or subcontract with Oregon public works projects for a period of five years (ending on Sept. 16, 2017). In addition, the Bureau of Labor and Industries imposed civil penalties of $86,000 against ASAP Flagging for prevailing wage and certification violations. Penalties stem from 52 prevailing wage violations (at $1000 per violation) at several Oregon projects: OR 217: Sunset Highway - TV Highway Section, I-405 Fremont Bridge - Marquam Bridge, I-84: Right Turn Lane at 257th Street, and North Bank Road & Schooner Creek Road. The company also failed to file certified statements on the projects for 34 violations at $1,000 per infraction. ### Charlie Burr Communications Director Bureau of Labor and Industries 800 NE Oregon St., Ste. 1045 Portland, OR 97232-2180 (971) 673-0788 wk. (503) 913-5407 cell. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 3391 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From charlie.burr at state.or.us Tue Apr 23 09:12:20 2013 From: charlie.burr at state.or.us (Burr, Charlie) Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:12:20 +0000 Subject: NEWS RELEASE: Court of Appeals denies stay of enforcement in Bend religious discrimination judgment Message-ID: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA407261176E305B@D5DAG1A.D5.USA.NET> [cid:image003.png at 01CE3FFF.903CB0F0] Press Release For Immediate Distribution April 23, 2013 CONTACT: Charlie Burr, 971-673-0788 Court of Appeals denies stay of enforcement in Bend religious discrimination judgment "Employers cannot force workers to attend Scientology-based training," says Avakian BEND-The Oregon Court of Appeals has denied a Bend dentist's request for a stay of enforcement in a Bend religious discrimination case. Last year, an investigation by Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) found that Dr. Andrew Engel ordered an employee to attend a Scientology-based training, despite the employee's concerns that the training conflicted with her religious beliefs. In response, Dr. Engel badgered the employee and refused to find a non-religious training alternative. As a result, the employee eventually was forced to move out of state to find other employment, creating substantial expenses, stress and anxiety. The woman also endured separation from her teenage daughter during the subsequent job search. "Dr. Engel attempted to force his employee to take a Scientology-based training, despite her religious objections," said Labor Commissioner Avakian. "It is wrong and illegal to violate an employee's religious beliefs. No employee should be force to quit a good job to get away from such a hostile work environment." In the Final Order, Labor and Industries Commissioner Brad Avakian directed Dr. Andrew W. Engel and his Bend dental practice, AWE Dental Spa, to pay nearly $350,000 in damages for the employee's lost wages, expenses and emotional strain. Dr. Engel and AWE Dental Spa sought a stay of enforcement with the Oregon Court of Appeals (Court of Appeals No. A152910). In denying the motion, the court found that Dr. Engel failed to provide sufficient information for a temporary halt to the order. "We will hold employers accountable if they violate employees' civil rights," said Avakian. "I'm pleased that the Oregon Court of Appeals has denied this request by AWE Dental Spa to avoid taking meaningful responsibility for its discriminatory actions." The Final Order can be found online here. Visit www.oregon.gov/BOLI for more information about all of BOLI's work to protect workers' rights and support local employers in Oregon. ### The mission of the Bureau of Labor and Industries is to protect employment rights, advance employment opportunities, and ensure access to housing and public accommodations free from discrimination. Charlie Burr Communications Director Bureau of Labor and Industries 800 NE Oregon St., Ste. 1045 Portland, OR 97232-2180 (971) 673-0788 wk. (503) 913-5407 cell. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image003.png Type: image/png Size: 8969 bytes Desc: image003.png URL: