NEWS RELEASE: Avakian helps recover more than $100,000 in unpaid fringe wages for 37 Sellwood Bridge workers

[Burr, Charlie]

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Press Release
For Immediate Release
October 14, 2013
CONTACT: Charlie Burr, (971) 673-0788

Avakian helps recover more than $100,000 in unpaid fringe wages for 37 Sellwood Bridge workers
Bureau of Labor and Industries will now consider additional penalties for A D Traffic Control Services, LLC

Portland, OR-The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) has collected $103,850 for employees of A D Traffic Control Services, LLC (now doing business as Tri-Star Flagging, LLC) for unpaid fringe wages earned from their work on the Sellwood Bridge replacement project in Portland.

A worker with subcontractor A D Traffic Services, LLC first filed the initial prevailing wage complaint with the Bureau of Labor and Industries on June 18, 2013 after the flagging company failed to pay hourly fringe rates due. In total, the subcontracting firm failed to pay fringe wages for 37 employees on the prevailing wage project.

Commissioner Avakian praised the efforts of the agency to investigate the company and secure the full wages owed.

"Oregon workers deserve protection from companies that deny them fair wages," said Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian. "Our agency is committed to strong wage enforcement as a matter of fairness to employees, but also other businesses that deserve a level playing field when competing for projects."

Employees of the subcontractor performed traffic control, among the most dangerous jobs on a construction site. As a prevailing wage project, each traffic control worker earned $21.61 and $12.10 in fringe benefit wages per hour.

The case will now move to BOLI's administrative prosecution unit where the agency will determine whether to pursue civil penalties and debarment, making the company ineligible for public projects for a fixed period of time.

Tri-Star Flagging, LLC has changed its name several times during the past few years as the company faced wage claims and complaints on other projects. Previously, the company operated as A D Traffic Control Services, LLC and prior to that, Portland Flagging, LLC.

The agency currently has two additional open prevailing wage cases involving A D Traffic Control Services, LLC and Tri-Star Flagging, LLC. Since 2011, BOLI has collected $129,506.11 on behalf of employees of A D Traffic Control Services, LLC.

"BOLI can be a resource for contractors seeking guidance about prevailing wages on taxpayer-funded projects," said Avakian. "We can help businesses figure out what they need to do to avoid potential violations in the first place."

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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.

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