From bob.estabrook at state.or.us Wed Jan 2 16:38:12 2013 From: bob.estabrook at state.or.us (Estabrook Bob) Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2013 00:38:12 +0000 Subject: NEWS ADVISORY: Four Statewides to Hold Joint Swearing-In Ceremony Message-ID: <050F2D1BA8177F4B927C6F3AC041EF8215195B5A@D5DAG1A.D5.USA.NET> [Offices of Oregon's Statewides Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Attorney General, Labor Commissioner][Description: Oregon_state_seal] Press Advisory For News Planning January 2, 2013 CONTACT: Bob Estabrook, 503-709-0730 Four Statewides to Hold Joint Swearing-In Ceremony Governors Kitzhaber, Roberts to participate in historic investiture SALEM- The offices of four of Oregon's statewide elected officials-Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Attorney General and Commissioner of Labor and Industries-will hold a joint swearing-in ceremony on January 4, 2013, to kick-off their new term in office. Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber, M.D., will administer the oath of office while former Governor Barbara Roberts will emcee the ceremony. Friday's swearing-in ceremony is the first in 66 years to include four statewide elected officials. In 1947, the newly reelected Governor, Secretary of State, Superintendent of Public Instruction and Labor Commissioner took their oaths of office on the same day. At that time, all four positions were elected on a partisan basis and three of the four officials were Republicans. Specific event details: WHO: Secretary of State Kate Brown, State Treasurer Ted Wheeler, Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum and Labor and Industries Commissioner Brad Avakian WHAT: Historic Joint Swearing-In Ceremony WHEN: 11:00am on January 4, 2013 WHERE: State House Chambers at the Oregon Capitol in Salem Media availability for any statewide elected official should be scheduled through the respective spokesperson for their office: Secretary's Office - Andrea Cantu-Schomus: andrea.l.cantu-schomus at state.or.us Treasurer's Office - James Sinks: james.sinks at state.or.us Attorney General's Office - Jeff Manning: jeff.d.manning at state.or.us Commissioner's Office - Bob Estabrook: bob.estabrook at state.or.us ###### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: Statewides Swearing In Program.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 236189 bytes Desc: Statewides Swearing In Program.pdf URL: From bob.estabrook at state.or.us Thu Jan 3 16:55:48 2013 From: bob.estabrook at state.or.us (Estabrook Bob) Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2013 00:55:48 +0000 Subject: NEWS RELEASE: Avakian Statement on Joint Swearing-In Ceremony Message-ID: <050F2D1BA8177F4B927C6F3AC041EF8215196225@D5DAG1A.D5.USA.NET> [cid:image001.png at 01CDE9D2.EFF02870] Commissioner Brad Avakian Bureau of Labor & Industries Press Release For Immediate Distribution January 4, 2013 CONTACT: Bob Estabrook, 503-709-0730 Avakian Statement on Joint Swearing-In Ceremony SALEM - Oregon Labor and Industries Commissioner Brad Avakian, who took his oath of office today in a joint ceremony with fellow statewide elected officials Kate Brown, Secretary of State; Ted Wheeler, State Treasurer; and Ellen Rosenblum, Attorney General, has issued the following statement: Standing alongside my fellow statewide elected officials today was a great honor, and a great reminder of the potential that we have, individually and collectively, to advance the important priorities we have identified for our state. With Kate Brown ensuring fair elections, Ted Wheeler guaranteeing sound financial management and Ellen Rosenblum ably representing the state's legal interests, I will continue to drive the restoration of 21st century shop classes to all of our middle and high schools-the key economic development priority that will ensure Oregon has the best trained, most competitive workforce available anywhere. 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 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... 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Name: 01.04.13_BOLI_Release_-_Swearing_In.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 27788 bytes Desc: 01.04.13_BOLI_Release_-_Swearing_In.pdf URL: From charlie.burr at state.or.us Thu Jan 17 14:18:08 2013 From: charlie.burr at state.or.us (Burr, Charlie) Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2013 22:18:08 +0000 Subject: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian files civil rights complaint against K&O Contracting LLC References: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA407261176C174B@D5DAG1A.D5.USA.NET> Message-ID: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA407261176C18BD@D5DAG1A.D5.USA.NET> [Description: Description: BOLI logo] Commissioner Brad Avakian Bureau of Labor and Industries Press Release For Immediate Release January 17, 2013 CONTACT: Charlie Burr, (971) 673-0788 wk., (503) 913-5407 mobile Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian files civil rights complaint against K&O Contracting LLC BOLI will investigate allegations of retaliation against wage and hour whistleblowers PORTLAND-State Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian has filed a commissioner's complaint against K&O Contracting LLC (originally KO Construction LLC) of Aloha alleging the likelihood of unlawful retaliation against several workers cooperating with the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) and the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) during a separate wage and hour dispute. An earlier complaint with BOLI's Wage and Hour Division in March 2012 alleged misclassification of workers as carpenters rather than sheet workers under Oregon's prevailing wage laws. As part of the wage and hour complaint, BOLI and USDOL investigators interviewed approximately 14 workers about potential violations. Allegations of whistleblower retaliation contained in the just-filed commissioner's complaint include: * Reduction of hours * Suspension from job site for a week without pay * False and malicious rumors about an employee * Failure to rehire a returning workers who was previously promised a position * Removal from projects "No Oregon worker should have to fear retaliation for cooperating with a wage and hour investigation," said Commissioner Avakian. "These are serious allegations. I've directed the state Civil Rights Division to investigate whether there's substantial evidence of unlawful activity." A K&O Contracting employee allegedly would not cooperate with the investigation because of fear of termination and eviction from a company-provided apartment. Oregon law authorizes the Labor Commissioner to file a complaint on behalf of the state when he has reason to believe that violations of civil rights law are occurring. This power is especially important in whistleblowing cases in which workers fear retaliation and punishment for asserting their rights. After gathering and reviewing information, an investigator from BOLI's Civil Rights Division will determine whether there is substantial evidence of one or more violations of the law. A commissioner's complaint does not limit or preclude private legal action by current or former employees. After gathering and reviewing information, an investigator from BOLI's Civil Rights Division will determine whether there is substantial evidence of one or more violations of the law. BOLI protects all Oregonians from unlawful discrimination, investigating allegations of civil rights violations in workplaces, career schools, housing and public accommodations, and enforces compliance with state laws relating to wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment. The labor commissioner can issue cease and desist orders, award both economic and non-economic damages and assess civil penalties for violations of civil rights law. ### 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. Charlie Burr Communications Director [Description: BOLI_logo_signature] Direct: 971-673-0788 Cell: 503-913-5407 Charlie.Burr at state.or.us www.oregon.gov/BOLI/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 5977 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image004.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 2509 bytes Desc: image004.jpg URL: From charlie.burr at state.or.us Mon Jan 21 12:44:30 2013 From: charlie.burr at state.or.us (Burr, Charlie) Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2013 20:44:30 +0000 Subject: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian issues message in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2013 Message-ID: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA407261176C584F@D5DAG1A.D5.USA.NET> [cid:image002.png at 01CDF7D4.C737C220] Commissioner Brad Avakian Bureau of Labor & Industries Press Release For Immediate Release January 21, 2013 CONTACT: Charlie Burr, (503) 913-5407 cell. Oregon Labor Commissioner Avakian issues MLK Day message Investment in career and technical education creates a pathway to economic justice, says Avakian PORTLAND - Oregon Labor and Industries Commissioner Brad Avakian, chief of the state's Bureau of Labor and Industries, today issued the following statement in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. dedicated his life to economic and social justice. Today, we celebrate his legacy of service not just against the most insidious forms of discrimination, but also as a pioneer in the fight to recognize the dignity of all labor. In his last Southern Christian Leadership Conference address, Dr. King noted that "the problems of housing and education, instead of preceding the elimination of poverty, will themselves be affected if poverty is first abolished. The poor transformed into purchasers will do a great deal on their own to alter housing decay.... The dignity of the individual will flourish when the decisions concerning his life are in his own hands, when he has the means to seek self-improvement." Today, more Oregonians enjoy greater access to economic opportunity because of Dr. King's work, yet too many workers still face unlawful discrimination, lower wages and barriers to employment and housing. As a former civil rights attorney in private practice - and today, as Oregon's Labor Commissioner enforcing the state's civil rights laws - I've worked to aggressively protect the rights of Oregon workers. But breaking the barriers of discrimination alone will not end the cycle of poverty. We must build a foundation of true equality in which all Oregonians enjoy access to a quality education and living wage job. Oregon can provide greater opportunity for students and young people by investing in career and technical education in our middle schools and high schools. In fact, the greatest investment we can make to create a vibrant, more just economy for the next generation of leaders is to ensure that Oregonians throughout the state enjoy access to 21st Century shop classes. Employers consistently tell me that their workforce needs are not being met because they can't find workers with the applicable skills. We need to reverse the disinvestment in the shop classes and vocational training that were once a staple in Oregon public schools. With smart, cost-effective investments in Oregon's workforce, we can not only prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow, but also help employers looking to fill well-paying - but difficult to fill- positions today. Dr. King believed that one of life's most urgent and persistent questions was: "What are you doing for others?" As a state, we should ask ourselves what we are doing for Oregon students and workers and recommit ourselves to investing in a more equitable and prosperous future. Restoring modernized shop classes and practical applications of classroom learning can create a pathway to economic justice and opportunity for Oregon students and communities." Visit www.oregon.gov/BOLI for more information about all of BOLI's work to protect workers' rights and support local employers. ### 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. Charlie Burr Communications Director [Description: BOLI_logo_signature] Direct: 971-673-0788 Cell: 503-913-5407 Charlie.Burr at state.or.us www.oregon.gov/BOLI/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image003.png Type: image/png Size: 5977 bytes Desc: image003.png URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.png Type: image/png Size: 11416 bytes Desc: image002.png URL: From charlie.burr at state.or.us Tue Jan 29 10:33:54 2013 From: charlie.burr at state.or.us (Burr, Charlie) Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2013 18:33:54 +0000 Subject: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : Avakian files formal discrimination charges against P Club of Portland In-Reply-To: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA407261176C87C5@D5DAG1A.D5.USA.NET> References: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA407261176C87C5@D5DAG1A.D5.USA.NET> Message-ID: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA407261176C8901@D5DAG1A.D5.USA.NET> [Description: cid:image002.png at 01CDFD5A.69C16B60] Commissioner Brad Avakian Bureau of Labor & Industries Press Release For Immediate Release January 29, 2013 CONTACT: Charlie Burr, (503) 913-5407 cell. Avakian files formal charges against P Club for discrimination Charges represent first commissioner's complaint filed under landmark 2007 civil rights law PORTLAND-Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian has filed formal charges of unlawful discrimination against Portland's Twilight Room Annex, formerly known as the P Club. Civil Rights Division investigators with the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) previously found substantial evidence of discrimination against transgender patrons of the North Portland bar. Despite the investigation's findings, parties failed to reach a settlement. "No Oregonian should face discrimination where they live, work or play," said Commissioner Avakian. "Our Administrative Prosecution Unit is working to ensure that the civil rights of all Oregonians are protected from unlawful discrimination." After a formal commissioner's complaint was launched, BOLI investigators found evidence confirming that bar owner Chris Penner left phone messages asking a group of transgender patrons to stop visiting the establishment because he didn't want the P Club known as a "tranny bar." During interviews with P Club employees and patrons, investigators also found no evidence to support Penner's contention that the group, known as the Rose City T-Girls, disrupted business. Further, the agency's letter of determination concludes that Penner failed to notify the group of any complaints about their behavior, instead blocking the entire group from the bar. The charges are the first commissioner's complaint filed under the landmark 2007 Oregon Equality Act, a law to protect the rights of gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender Oregonians in employment, housing and public places. As a legislator, Avakian championed the legislation and carried it on the Senate floor. "Business owners cannot discriminate against patrons based on gender identity," said Avakian. "Our agency will use its full spectrum of tools to make sure that businesses follow the law, including filing commissioner's complaints when there may be barriers to individuals filing themselves." Oregon law authorizes the Labor Commissioner to file a complaint on behalf of the state when he has reason to believe that violations of civil rights law are occurring in a place of public accommodation. A commissioner's complaint does not limit or preclude private legal action by current or former employees. BOLI protects all Oregonians from unlawful discrimination, investigating allegations of civil rights violations in workplaces, career schools, housing and public accommodations, and enforces compliance with state laws relating to wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment. The labor commissioner can issue cease and desist orders, award both economic and non-economic damages and assess civil penalties for violations of civil rights law. For more information about BOLI's efforts to protect workplaces and the civil rights of all Oregonians, visit http://www.oregon.gov/BOLI. ### Charlie Burr Communications Director [Description: Description: BOLI_logo_signature] Direct: 971-673-0788 Cell: 503-913-5407 Charlie.Burr at state.or.us www.oregon.gov/BOLI/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image003.png Type: image/png Size: 5977 bytes Desc: image003.png URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.png Type: image/png Size: 11416 bytes Desc: image002.png URL: From donna.brown at state.or.us Thu Jan 31 13:57:14 2013 From: donna.brown at state.or.us (Brown Donna) Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2013 21:57:14 +0000 Subject: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian files civil rights complaint against K&O Contracting LLC In-Reply-To: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA407261176C183A@D5DAG1A.D5.USA.NET> References: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA407261176C174B@D5DAG1A.D5.USA.NET> <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA407261176C183A@D5DAG1A.D5.USA.NET> Message-ID: <7D38F7B9B2759E49B557474C02A9D4582BD72A8E@D5DAG1A.D5.USA.NET> unsubscribe From: Burr, Charlie Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2013 1:48 PM To: boli_media at listsmart.osl.state.or.us Cc: Burr, Charlie Subject: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian files civil rights complaint against K&O Contracting LLC [Description: Description: BOLI logo] Commissioner Brad Avakian Bureau of Labor and Industries Press Release For Immediate Release January 17, 2013 CONTACT: Charlie Burr, (971) 673-0788 wk., (503) 913-5407 mobile Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian files civil rights complaint against K&O Contracting LLC BOLI will investigate allegations of retaliation against wage and hour whistleblowers PORTLAND-State Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian has filed a commissioner's complaint against K&O Contracting LLC (originally KO Construction LLC) of Aloha alleging the likelihood of unlawful retaliation against several workers cooperating with the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) and the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) during a separate wage and hour dispute. An earlier complaint with BOLI's Wage and Hour Division in March 2012 alleged misclassification of workers as carpenters rather than sheet workers under Oregon's prevailing wage laws. As part of the wage and hour complaint, BOLI and USDOL investigators interviewed approximately 14 workers about potential violations. Allegations of whistleblower retaliation contained in the just-filed commissioner's complaint include: * Reduction of hours * Suspension from job site for a week without pay * False and malicious rumors about an employee * Failure to rehire a returning workers who was previously promised a position * Removal from projects "No Oregon worker should have to fear retaliation for cooperating with a wage and hour investigation," said Commissioner Avakian. "These are serious allegations. I've directed the state Civil Rights Division to investigate whether there's substantial evidence of unlawful activity." A K&O Contracting employee allegedly would not cooperate with the investigation because of fear of termination and eviction from a company-provided apartment. Oregon law authorizes the Labor Commissioner to file a complaint on behalf of the state when he has reason to believe that violations of civil rights law are occurring. This power is especially important in whistleblowing cases in which workers fear retaliation and punishment for asserting their rights. After gathering and reviewing information, an investigator from BOLI's Civil Rights Division will determine whether there is substantial evidence of one or more violations of the law. A commissioner's complaint does not limit or preclude private legal action by current or former employees. After gathering and reviewing information, an investigator from BOLI's Civil Rights Division will determine whether there is substantial evidence of one or more violations of the law. BOLI protects all Oregonians from unlawful discrimination, investigating allegations of civil rights violations in workplaces, career schools, housing and public accommodations, and enforces compliance with state laws relating to wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment. The labor commissioner can issue cease and desist orders, award both economic and non-economic damages and assess civil penalties for violations of civil rights law. ### 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. Charlie Burr Communications Director [Description: BOLI_logo_signature] Direct: 971-673-0788 Cell: 503-913-5407 Charlie.Burr at state.or.us www.oregon.gov/BOLI/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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