From charlie.burr at state.or.us Thu Sep 5 16:53:26 2013 From: charlie.burr at state.or.us (Burr, Charlie) Date: Thu, 5 Sep 2013 23:53:26 +0000 Subject: NEWS RELEASE: Same-sex couple files civil rights complaint against Broadway Cab Message-ID: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA4072612AD90169@D5DAG1B.D5.USA.NET> [cid:image001.gif at 01CEAA58.5AC02970] Press Release For Immediate Release Sept. 5, 2013 CONTACT: Charlie Burr, (971) 673-0788 Same-sex couple files civil rights complaint against Broadway Cab "We are committed to a fair, through investigation," says Labor Commissioner Avakian Portland, OR-A same-sex couple has filed an anti-discrimination complaint with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) against Broadway Cab for allegedly refusing service based on sexual orientation. BOLI will conduct an investigation to determine if the business violated the Oregon Equality Act of 2007 protecting the rights of gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender Oregonians in employment, housing and public places. Under Oregon law, Oregonians cannot be denied service based on sexual orientation. The law provides an exemption for religious organizations and schools, but does not allow private business owners to discriminate based on sexual orientation, just as they cannot legally deny service based on race, sex, age, disability or religion. The Broadway Cab filing represents the 12th complaints of unlawful discrimination in public places under the 2007 equality law. After the agency's investigations, BOLI found no substantial evidence in five of the complaints. Parties negotiated settlements in three cases, with another case (Sweet Cakes) still being reviewed by BOLI investigators. In total, the agency has received 182 Oregon Equality Act employment, housing and public accommodations complaints, finding no substantial evidence in 103 of the investigations. "Each case is unique. We're committed to a thorough and impartial investigation to determine whether there's substantial evidence of unlawful discrimination," said Oregon Labor Commissioner Avakian. "For businesses seeking to navigate Oregon's equality law, we can help them navigate this and other civil rights laws so that they can avoid potential violations in the first place." BOLI investigations are statutorily required to conclude within a year. If investigators find substantial evidence, the bureau may bring formal charges if parties cannot reach a settlement through conciliation. The case then moves to the Administrative Prosecution Unit, responsible for processing the contested civil rights division cases pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) and BOLI contested case hearing rules. Copies of the complaint are available upon request. For more information about BOLI's efforts to protect workplaces and support Oregon employers, visit http://www.oregon.gov/BOLI. ### 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.gif Type: image/gif Size: 5043 bytes Desc: image001.gif URL: From charlie.burr at state.or.us Thu Sep 12 12:52:51 2013 From: charlie.burr at state.or.us (Burr, Charlie) Date: Thu, 12 Sep 2013 19:52:51 +0000 Subject: =?Windows-1252?Q?NEWS_RELEASE:_Avakian_directs_$150, 000_to_Pacific_Cargo_?= =?Windows-1252?Q?Services_LLC_workers_who_didn=92t_received_paychecks?= Message-ID: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA4072612AD935E3@D5DAG1B.D5.USA.NET> [cid:image001.gif at 01CEAFB6.37022840] Press Release For Immediate Release September 12, 2013 CONTACT: Charlie Burr, (971) 673-0788 Avakian directs $150,000 to Pacific Cargo Services LLC workers who didn?t received paychecks ?Our Wage Security Fund helps workers receive a fair day?s pay for a fair day?s work,? says Avakian Portland, OR?Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian has directed more than $150,000 from the Bureau of Labor and Industries? Wage Security Fund to 74 Pacific Cargo Services LLC employees who never received paychecks. The Troutdale company was auctioned off in bankruptcy in late July as workers learned that they would not receive nearly three weeks? worth of earnings as part of the deal. ?Our Wage Security Fund helps workers recover a fair day?s wage for a fair day?s work,? said Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian. ?When businesses close their doors or otherwise become insolvent, we can help them make ends meet when workers don?t receive paychecks to which they are entitled.? Wage Security Fund payments to the Pacific Cargo Services LLC and Pacific Courier Services LLC range from $563.76 to $4000. BOLI investigators are still investigating and processing 13 additional claims. Oregon is one of only two states in the country to have such a fund. Workers can qualify for payments of the amount they earned during the 60 days preceding the closure. A maximum of $4,000 may be paid to an individual worker. The fund pays amounts equal to unpaid wages only, and does not cover vacation, sick leave or other accrued compensatory time or benefits. Employees can file a claim directly with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries through its Wage and Hour Division at (971) 673-0761. The Wage Security Fund is financed through a diversion of three cents per $100 of the state?s employment tax paid by employers for one quarter (three months) every odd-numbered year. For more information about BOLI?s efforts to protect workplaces and support Oregon employers, visit http://www.oregon.gov/BOLI. A complete list of Wage Security Fund payments to Pacific Cargo Services LLC and Pacific Courier Services LLC employees is available upon request. ### 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.gif Type: image/gif Size: 5043 bytes Desc: image001.gif URL: From cpulfrey at bna.com Tue Sep 10 06:39:04 2013 From: cpulfrey at bna.com (Pulfrey, Christine) Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2013 13:39:04 +0000 Subject: Requesting guidance regarding annual adjustment to state minimum wage In-Reply-To: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA4072611773582C@D5DAG1A.D5.USA.NET> References: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA4072611773582C@D5DAG1A.D5.USA.NET> Message-ID: Mr. Burr, Good morning to you! My name is Christine Pulfrey. I am an editor and writer for Bloomberg BNA's Payroll Administration Guide Newsletter and Benefits & Compensation Management Update newsletter. I believe it is roughly around that time of year again when Oregon reviews its minimum wage for possible adjustment. I think it was on or around Sept. 12, 2012, when it happened last year. Could you advise: Do you expect guidance shortly regarding an adjustment to the wage? Our readers are payroll professionals around the country, so we want to do our best to help them know as soon as possible of any upcoming wage-related changes so they can get ready. Thank you so much for any guidance you can send my way! Have a good day! Sincerely, Christy >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Christine Pulfrey Editor/Writer BNA Direct 703.341.3806 cpulfrey at bna.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From charlie.burr at state.or.us Tue Sep 17 11:10:20 2013 From: charlie.burr at state.or.us (Burr, Charlie) Date: Tue, 17 Sep 2013 18:10:20 +0000 Subject: NEWS RELEASE: Avakian announces 2014 minimum wage increase for nearly 100,000 workers Message-ID: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA4072612AD96314@D5DAG1B.D5.USA.NET> [cid:image003.png at 01CEB396.86AB1B70] Press Release For Immediate Release September 17, 2013 CONTACT: Charlie Burr, (971) 673-0788 office, (503) 913-5407 cell. Avakian raises 2014 minimum wage for nearly 100,000 workers Wage floor adjustment will boost consumer buying power, strengthen economy, says Avakian PORTLAND-Oregon Labor and Industries Commissioner Brad Avakian today announced that Oregon's minimum wage will increase to $9.10 on January 1, 2014, providing a .15 per hour raise for 98,000 minimum wage workers. "Oregon can build a stronger economy by making sure that workers have the purchasing power they need to keep pace with the rising cost of everyday goods," said Commissioner Avakian. "With this increase in Oregon's wage floor, nearly 100,000 Oregonians will earn more money for groceries, school supplies, gas and other household essentials. That's good not just for individual workers, but for our state's economy." The adjustment will mean that directly-affected employees working 30 hours a week will have $234 more to spend on goods in 2014. The increase is expected to generate more than $20 million in new consumer spending for Oregon's economy. A 2002 ballot measure supported by a coalition of senior, labor and religious leaders - and sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Diane Rosenbaum - directs the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries to adjust the state's minimum wage annually based on inflation. Each year, Commissioner Avakian calculates the adjustment by measuring the increase to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), a figure published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics to track prices for a fixed "market basket" of goods. Earlier this year, Commissioner Avakian testified before the U.S. Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee about Oregon's successful experience indexing its minimum wage to provide businesses with a high level of predictability for payroll expenses over time, avoiding major spikes. A chart tracking minimum wage adjustments since 2002 is available upon request. One common misconception about employees earning a minimum wage is that they are mostly teenagers. However, according to the Economic Policy Institute, roughly 80-percent of all affected minimum wage workers living in states with an indexed minimum wage last year were at least 20 years old. "A strong minimum wage can help address growing income inequality while supporting local businesses that rely on strong consumer demand," said Commissioner Avakian. "Oregon's successful experience with an indexed minimum wage should serve as a model for others looking to support their workforce and provide businesses with stable, predictable wage adjustments over time." ### The Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) protects Oregon's workforce, supports local businesses with technical assistance, and enforces our state's civil rights and wage and hour laws so that workers are protected and responsible employers have a level playing field on which to operate. As Commissioner of Labor and Industries, Brad Avakian works to strength our state's economy and workforce with smart, targeted investment in career and technical education. For more information about BOLI, visit http://www.oregon.gov/BOLI. 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: From charlie.burr at state.or.us Thu Sep 26 09:08:22 2013 From: charlie.burr at state.or.us (Burr, Charlie) Date: Thu, 26 Sep 2013 16:08:22 +0000 Subject: NEWS RELEASE: BOLI seeks pre-apprenticeship proposals to support women and minorities in the construction trades Message-ID: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA4072612AD98A38@D5DAG1B.D5.USA.NET> [cid:image001.gif at 01CEB917.44A678B0] Press Release For Immediate Release September 26, 2013 CONTACT: Charlie Burr, (971) 673-0788 BOLI seeks pre-apprenticeship proposals to support women and minorities in the construction trades "Pre-apprenticeship programs can help students build a great career," says Avakian Portland, OR-The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) is seeking proposals for pre-apprenticeship services to strengthen Oregon's highway construction workforce and encourage more women and minorities to pursue highway construction careers. The pre-apprenticeship programs - a partnership between BOLI and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) - will engage students and young adults about opportunities and potential careers as carpenters, cement masons, ironworkers, laborers, operating engineers, or painters. A total of $200,000 for the Population Specific Pre-Apprenticeship Training RFP will be divided into one to three winning proposals aimed at women and minority recruitment and retention for the highway construction trades. BOLI and ODOT will work to ensure that multiple ODOT regions are covered to the greatest extent possible. "Students can build a great career in the highway construction trades," said Labor and Industries Commissioner Brad Avakian. "We want to ensure that all Oregonians - including women and minorities - have access to the skills and tools necessary to have a fair shot at a well-paying, family wage job." The programs will seek to communicate career opportunities to traditionally underrepresented groups and create a support system for them to succeed in apprenticeship, especially during the first year of training. Career camps for students will be included in the programs. In addition, winning proposers will develop career guidance for those interested in highway construction trades and pre-employment counseling for graduates. During the past legislative session, Sen. Chip Shields (D-Portland) and other legislative leaders helped passed Senate Bill 831A, which directs ODOT to spend up to $2.1 million of federal funds on construction workforce diversity and pre-apprenticeship training programs for women and minorities. The bill also provides resources for supportive services that remove barriers to participation. Interested parties can attend a pre-proposal conference on Thursday, September 26, 2013 at the DAS Building, 1225 Ferry Street SE in Salem. Teams should submit proposals by 2:30 PM on October 28 at the DAS/Procurement Services office in Salem. Successful proposers will start their 18-month programs on January 1, 2014. The RFP (#107-1509-13) is available on the Oregon Procurement Information Network (ORPIN) website. ### 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.gif Type: image/gif Size: 5043 bytes Desc: image001.gif URL: