From charlie.burr at state.or.us Tue Jan 7 08:30:13 2014 From: charlie.burr at state.or.us (Burr, Charlie) Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2014 16:30:13 +0000 Subject: NEWS RELEASE: Major investment in career technical education will expand hands-on learning to 140 schools Message-ID: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA4072612AE1F409@D5DAG1B.D5.USA.NET> [cid:image005.png at 01CF0B82.B61EF590] [cid:image006.png at 01CF0B82.B61EF590] Press release For immediate release January 07, 2013 Contact: Charlie Burr, BOLI, (971) 673-0788 Crystal Greene, ODE, (503) 947-5650 Major investment in career technical education will expand hands-on learning to 140 schools "A highly skilled workforce is central to Oregon's economic competitiveness," says Avakian PORTLAND, OR-In a major expansion of career readiness investment, 140 Oregon middle schools and high schools - serving more than 90,000 students - will receive Career and Technical Education (CTE) Revitalization Grants totaling $8.87 million, Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian and Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction Rob Saxton announced today. The CTE Revitalization Grant funds will benefit students, schools and local employers around the state in fields such as health care, advanced manufacturing, construction, engineering, agriculture, renewable energy technology and more. "Oregon's competitiveness is fundamentally linked to the availability of a skilled workforce," said Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian. "This is a huge win for students and our ability to support well-paying jobs around the state. Today's announcement represents the most significant investment in career education and hands-on learning in a generation. More students will have access to 21st century shop classes and applied science, technology, engineering and mathematics instruction as a result." The applied learning of CTE programs helps develop both academic and technical skills and contributes to a rich and relevant learning experience. Graduation rates for students in CTE programs are near 90 percent, according to the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium. "As we strive to meet our state's 40-40-20 goals and better prepare our students for college and career, strong programs in Career and Technical Education are essential," said Deputy Superintendent Rob Saxton. "This year's CTE Revitalization Grants will fund hands-on, applied learning opportunities in 140 schools all around our state and will help more of our students graduate with the skills they will need to succeed in higher education and the workforce." The CTE Revitalization Advisory Committee - comprised of representatives from organized labor, trade organizations, education and Oregon's business community - reviewed 62 applications totaling $21.6 million in requests. A diverse coalition of advocates will seek to refill the grant fund during the 2014 Oregon legislative session as part of the larger effort to ensure that every middle school and high school has access to high-quality and engaging CTE programs. The grants build on an earlier investment by the 2011 Legislature to bring back vocational programs to 21 middle schools and high schools with an initial investment of $2 million (HB 3362). During the 2013 Oregon legislative session, a bipartisan coalition sponsored and passed legislation (SB 498) that quadrupled the initial investment to extend hands-on learning to more Oregon students. The grant advisory committee prioritized geographic diversity and strong community partnerships with local employers in its selection of grants. In total, the 24 funded programs will leverage more than $2.6 million in matching funds from community and business partners. The business partnerships also ensure that career readiness education matches the greatest need in high wage, high growth fields. One-third of all grant-funded projects are located in non-metropolitan Oregon counties. A map of grant-funded programs can be found here. District/School/ESD Program Name Award Beaverton SD CTE Excellence through Innovation in the Beaverton SD $353,630.00 Bend-LaPine SD Engineering the Future of Power and Energy $268,045.00 Centennial SD Centennial SD CTE Revitalization Grant $403,430.00 Clackamas ESD Revitalization of Clackamas County Manufacturing Programs: Creating Capacity to Meet Manufacturing Workforce Needs $324,281.00 Enterprise SD Enterprise High School Industrial Arts and Manufacturing and Engineering Program (IAMEP) Revitalization $249,986.00 Grant ESD Eastern Oregon Regional Construction Hub $487,850.00 John Day SD Grant Union Metal Fabrication and Technology Project $194,088.00 Gresham-Barlow SD Students @ Work: Building Capacity, Building Connections $452,410.00 Hermiston SD Columbia Basin Homebuilders Program $371,926.00 Hood River SD Hood River CTE Revitalization $437,991.00 Junction City SD Manufacturing, Engineering, Construction and STEAM in Junction City: College and Career Readiness for All Students $495,280.00 Lane ESD Regional Healthcare Pathways: Innovation in Education $455,208.00 McMinnville SD 21st Century Skills Project $236,648.00 Oregon City SD NexGen (Next Generation) Manufacturing $315,388.00 Philomath SD Philomath HS's Manufacturing Technology Enhancement $253,467.00 Portland Public Schools CTE and Career Pathways in Portland Public Schools $343,357.00 Redmond SD Manufacturing the Future of Redmond $474,955.00 Reedsport SD Junior Apprenticeship $250,000.00 Salem-Keizer SD Getting Ready for Oregon's Workforce: Construction/Design and Restaurant Management $495,222.00 Salem-Keizer SD Steps to Oregon and America Revitalization: Public Safety and Restaurant Management $475,518.00 Sherwood SD Digital Design and Fabrication: Collaborative FabLab Training Facility with a Mobile STEM FabLab $494,510.00 Sutherlin SD Industry Partners + 21st Century Facilities = Student Success $309,533.00 Vernonia SD Vernonia HS Career and Technical Education Program $249,905.00 Wallowa School District Connecting Agriculture to Industry Careers $480,328.00 Grant funding to begin programs will be available this month. The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) jointly appoint the Career and Technical Education Revitalization Advisory Committee. Additional information on grant criteria and summaries of the projects selected for this round of funding can be found at: http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=4050. ### 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: image005.png Type: image/png Size: 6794 bytes Desc: image005.png URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image006.png Type: image/png Size: 13878 bytes Desc: image006.png URL: From charlie.burr at state.or.us Thu Jan 16 11:46:06 2014 From: charlie.burr at state.or.us (Burr, Charlie) Date: Thu, 16 Jan 2014 19:46:06 +0000 Subject: =?Windows-1252?Q?NEWS_RELEASE:_BOLI_prevails_in_Oregon_Supreme_Court_=93s?= =?Windows-1252?Q?uccessor_in_interest=94_case?= Message-ID: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA4072612AE2EB26@D5DAG1B.D5.USA.NET> [cid:image003.png at 01CF12B0.97AEE7C0] Press Release For Immediate Release January, 16, 2014 CONTACT: Charlie Burr, (971) 673-0788 BOLI prevails in Oregon Supreme Court ?successor in interest? case Avakian praises Blachana decision as a major victory for taxpayers, employees Portland, OR?Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian today praised an Oregon Supreme Court?s decision in Blachana v. BOLI, a significant victory for the agency?s ability to collect wages owed from a successor to a closed business that has registered with the state under a new name. Today?s Blachana decision ? reversing an earlier Oregon Court of Appeals ruling ? can be found here. The Oregon Department of Justice represented BOLI in the case, with the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association submitting an amicus brief on the agency?s behalf. In 2006, NW Sportsbar, LLC of North Portland went out of business, failing to pay four employees wages to which they were entitled. After the employees filed wages claims with BOLI, investigators determined that the employees were owed $7,047 for the last 60 days of work. BOLI paid the claims through the agency?s Wage Security Fund and then notified the newly formed business entity, Blachana, that it was responsible for the wages given that it was doing essentially the same business as its predecessor. The ruling affirmed BOLI?s interpretation of the ?successor in interest? test under ORS 652.310(1) and that the agency correctly applied its evaluation to the facts of the case. ?Today?s decision is a major victory for our ability to protect workers and ensure that employers, not taxpayers, are responsible for unpaid wages,? said Labor Commissioner Avakian. ?When a business fails to pay its employees, it cannot avoid responsibility by simply re-registering with the state under a new name when, in fact, it?s essentially the same operation. This ruling supports our efforts to hold employers responsible while providing a level playing field for the vast majority of employers that play by the rules.? Oregon?s Wage Security Fund helps employees qualify for payments of wages earned during the 60 days preceding a business closure in which the employer is financially unable to pay all wages due. BOLI may pay a maximum of $4,000 to an individual worker. The fund is financed through a diversion of three cents per $100 of the state?s employment tax paid for one quarter (three months) every odd-numbered year. After BOLI distributes payments from the Wage Security Fund, the agency seeks to recover the wages owed from the business or its successor. Today?s ruling will help the agency collect wages when an employer has re-registered the business under a new name. This Oregon Supreme Court decision is unrelated to a separate BOLI investigation that found that the same North Portland bar violated the Oregon Equality Act of 2007 when it discriminated against its patrons based on gender identity. In that case, bar owner Chris Penner left a voicemail asking a group of transgender patrons to stop visiting the establishment because he didn?t want the P Club known as a ?tranny bar? or ?gay bar.? For more information about BOLI?s efforts to protect Oregon employees and support Oregon employers, please visit http://www.oregon.gov/BOLI. A copy of the original Blachana Final Order is available upon request. ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image003.png Type: image/png Size: 7699 bytes Desc: image003.png URL: From charlie.burr at state.or.us Fri Jan 17 15:50:02 2014 From: charlie.burr at state.or.us (Burr, Charlie) Date: Fri, 17 Jan 2014 23:50:02 +0000 Subject: NEWS RELEASE: BOLI finds substantial evidence of unlawful discrimination in bakery civil rights complaint Message-ID: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA4072612AE2F1F5@D5DAG1B.D5.USA.NET> [cid:image001.gif at 01CF1372.4E4F8EF0] Press Release For Immediate Release January 17, 2014 CONTACT: Charlie Burr, (971) 673-0788 BOLI finds substantial evidence of unlawful discrimination in bakery civil rights complaint Sweet Cakes complaint will now move into conciliation to determine whether settlement can be reached Portland, OR-A Gresham bakery violated the civil rights of a same-sex couple when it denied service based on sexual orientation, a Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) investigation has found. The couple filed the complaint against Sweet Cakes by Melissa under the Oregon Equality Act of 2007, a law that protects the rights of gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender Oregonians in employment, housing and public places. Under Oregon law, Oregonians may not be denied service based on sexual orientation or gender identity. 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 investigation concludes that the bakery is not a religious institution under law and that the business' policy of refusing to make same-sex wedding cakes represents unlawful discrimination based on sexual orientation. With the substantial evidence determination, the complaint now moves into conciliation to see if the parties can reach a settlement. If the parties cannot reach an agreement, the bureau may bring formal charges and move the issue to BOLI's Administrative Prosecution Unit, responsible for processing contested civil rights division cases pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) and BOLI contested case hearing rules. Oregon businesses seeking guidance on the equality act's religious exemptions or other provisions of the law can contact BOLI's technical assistance for employers program at (971) 673-0824. Public accommodations complaints under the equality act are rare. In every year since the law's passage, public accommodations complaints based on sexual orientation and gender identity have represented less than one percent of all discrimination complaints received by the agency. BOLI protects all Oregonians from unlawful discrimination, investigating allegations of civil rights violations in workplaces, career schools, housing and public accommodations. 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. ### -------------- 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 Mon Jan 20 11:05:28 2014 From: charlie.burr at state.or.us (Burr, Charlie) Date: Mon, 20 Jan 2014 19:05:28 +0000 Subject: =?Windows-1252?Q?NEWS_RELEASE:_MLK_Day_statement:_Let=92s_honor_King=92s_?= =?Windows-1252?Q?legacy_by_building_a_foundation_of_true_equality_?= Message-ID: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA4072612AE2F459@D5DAG1B.D5.USA.NET> [cid:image001.png at 01CF15CD.06D057F0] For Immediate Release January 20, 2014 CONTACT: Charlie Burr, (971) 673-0788 Avakian: Let?s honor King?s legacy by building a foundation of true equality Portland, OR?Labor and Industries Commissioner Brad Avakian today issued the following statement honoring the celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.: ?Today, we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the towering figures of American history. It?s a time to honor not just his fight against the most insidious forms of discrimination, but his struggle against inequality and economic injustice. In April 1968, Dr. King arrived in Memphis during an intense and bitter sanitation strike over wages and the right to organize. As part of the ?Poor People?s Campaign?, Dr. King gave voice to the urgency of honoring the dignity of all labor. Dr. King?s call to break the cycle of poverty and build a foundation of true equality is just as potent nearly 50 years later. Today, more Oregonians live in poverty than live in the city of Portland. And the gap between the wealthiest 1 percent and the rest of us is still too wide. On this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, let?s rededicate ourselves to rebuilding our middle class and providing economic opportunity to all citizens. Let?s work to ensure that we?re providing students and workers with the skills they need to compete. And let?s work to lift up communities in every corner of the state for a more equitable and prosperous future.? ### 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: 3872 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From charlie.burr at state.or.us Mon Jan 27 10:45:48 2014 From: charlie.burr at state.or.us (Burr, Charlie) Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2014 18:45:48 +0000 Subject: NEWS RELEASE: Oregon Council on Civil Rights report highlights recommendations to end wage gap in Oregon Message-ID: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA4072612AE31395@D5DAG1B.D5.USA.NET> [cid:image001.png at 01CF1B4A.10559DD0] For Immediate Release January 27, 2014 CONTACT: Charlie Burr, BOLI, (971) 673-0788 or (503) 913-5407 mobile Sunny Petit, Oregon Council on Civil Rights, (503) 347-8754 Oregon Council on Civil Rights: Report on Pay Inequality in Oregon New report highlights policy recommendations to end wage gap Eugene, OR-The pay gap between women, people of color and their male counterparts negatively impacts short-term earnings, long-term savings, housing security, health care and educational opportunities, a new report from the Oregon Council on Civil Rights finds. The Council's report to Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian looks at contributing factors and policy recommendations to achieve equal pay for equal work. The Council will present findings to the Oregon Legislature as a result of Oregon SB 744 (2013), authored and sponsored by Senator Chris Edwards (D-Eugene). "Oregon's wage gap doesn't just hurt women and people of color, it hurts everyone," said Sunny Petit, chair of the Oregon Council on Civil Rights. "Our workforce is changing - with women serving as the breadwinners or co-breadwinners for nearly two-thirds of families across the country. This report highlights new tools and recommendations for policymakers so that we can end the pay gap and put Oregon families on stable economic footing." In Oregon, women fare only slightly better than the national average, earning 79 cents for every dollar that male workers earn in the state. The disparity among women of color is wider still: Hispanic and Latina women working full time earned only 59 percent of the income of their white male counterparts. "There's no one, overarching driver of the pay gap," said Labor Commissioner Avakian. "And no single policy recommendation alone will eliminate the disparity. What it will take is focused, ongoing attention - and commitment to building a stronger, more equitable economy. Oregon does not have to accept economic insecurity and inequality - nor should we wait for Congress to act." Commissioner Avakian will use the recommendations to inform the agency's development of an action plan to end Oregon's wage gap. "It's wrong that equally qualified women and men with similar life experiences bring home very different paychecks for the same work," said Sen. Edwards. "When we close the pay gap - and strengthen the buying power of millions of Oregonians - that benefits families, communities, and our economy as a whole." The report shows that in many of the top paying fields in Oregon - such as engineering, computer and mathematics, and law enforcement - males comprise more than 70 percent of the field. However, in the only high-earning category in which women hold a majority of positions - professional health diagnosing and treating practitioners, where women account for 70 percent of job holders - Oregon women still earn only 64 cents to every dollar of their male counterparts. Pay Inequality in Oregon highlights major contributors to pay inequality, including work-life barriers, educational factors including disparities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related study, and workplace bias and discrimination. Expensive and inadequate child care, the difficulty of caring for a sick child or family member, or the inability to take time off for a student's school-related activity all contribute to barriers for women and working families. The report notes that more than 60 percent of minimum wage workers in Oregon are women, disproportionately women of color. The report's policy recommendations include: * Public outreach and awareness: Invest in technical assistance for employers * Educational and occupational initiatives: Increase access to career training for women and people of color; encourage more diverse representation in STEM fields * Workplace best practices: Create a toolkit for employers to use to achieve equal pay; develop an award program for employers that are leading their sectors * Legislative: Implement family-friendly policies that support working parents and caregivers; create new protections against retaliation and discrimination; expand child tax care credits The Council's work comes as national attention from The Shriver Report, released earlier this month, underscores the need for the nation "to modernize its relationship with women." The Shriver Report estimates that closing the wage gap between men and women would cut poverty in half and add nearly half a trillion dollars to the national economy. "Closing the wage gap will be good for Oregon's economy," said Cheryl Collins, Vice President of Organizational Development at Ninkasi Brewing Company. "The companies that are leading the way on equal pay for equal work understand that flexible and fair workplaces help attract and retain top talent." The Oregon Council on Civil Rights will present its findings at a forum co-hosted by Labor Commissioner Avakian and Senator Chris Edwards tonight in Eugene. Copies of the report are 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.png Type: image/png Size: 3872 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From charlie.burr at state.or.us Thu Jan 30 13:18:39 2014 From: charlie.burr at state.or.us (Burr, Charlie) Date: Thu, 30 Jan 2014 21:18:39 +0000 Subject: NEWS RELEASE: Upcoming Eastern Oregon seminars will help employers navigate civil rights, wage and hour laws Message-ID: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA4072612AE3328D@D5DAG1B.D5.USA.NET> [cid:image001.gif at 01CF1DBD.D6571750] For Immediate Release January 30, 2014 CONTACT: Charlie Burr, (971) 673-0788 Upcoming Eastern Oregon seminars will help employers navigate civil rights, wage and hour laws "We want to help employers so that they can focus on growing their operations," says Avakian Portland, OR-Five upcoming seminars in Ontario, Baker City and Enterprise will help eastern Oregon businesses and organizations navigate often complex state and federal law. Attendance at the seminars - conducted by the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) and sponsored by the Oregon Economic Council - will be limited, so employers are strongly encouraged to pre-register with the contacts listed below. "We want to be a resource for businesses and organizations," said Oregon Labor and Industries Commissioner Brad Avakian. "Experts from our technical assistance program will answer people's questions and provide important tools for employers so that they can concentrate on growing their operations." Each year, the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) fields more than 20,000 calls from employers seeking guidance on regulatory issues. The seminars will feature subject matter experts ready to answer questions and provide insight on topics of frequent interest to employers large and small. Seminar 1: Civil Rights Overview: What Employers Need to Know The first seminar in Ontario will focus on civil rights law, including harassment, discrimination, documentation, discipline and discharge. Where: Treasure Valley Community College, Ontario When: Monday, Feb. 3rd (8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.) RSVP: carlos.j.soriano at state.or.us or call (541) 889-5394 x 239 Registration: $80 Among the most frequently litigated workplace disputes are those that arise out of disciplinary actions and employee terminations. The Ontario session will provide employers with the knowledge and tools to properly document employee performance, keep employees on track, and fairly and swiftly handle a termination. Seminar 2: Legal Hiring Practices This seminar will include an overview of at-will employment and its exceptions, job interviews and legal hiring laws, and starting new employees on solid footing as they begin their new positions. Where: City of Baker City Council Chambers, 1655 First St Baker City When: Tuesday, February 4 (8:30 a.m. to noon) RSVP: Candace.l.roberts at state.or.us or call (541) 523-6331 x 224 Registration: $50 in advance, $60 at the door Seminar 3: Wage and Hour Laws A BOLI expert will discuss meal and break periods, timekeeping, overtime, deductions, minimum wage, final paychecks, payroll, child labor, the proper use of interns, and a host of other wage and hour issues that affect employers and Oregon businesses. Where: TEC Classroom, Prairie Creek Center, 104 S. Litch St., Enterprise When: Wednesday, Feb 5th (8 a.m. to noon) RSVP: Courtney at viridianmgt.com or (541) 426-4972 x 362 Registration: $50 Seminar 4: Documentation, Discipline and Discharge This seminar will help employers understand what they need to know about disciplining and discharging employees while steering clear of potential workplace violations. Where: La Grande Public Library When: Thursday, Feb 6th (8 a.m. to noon) RSVP: teri.k.berry at state.or.us or (541) 963-7111 x 230 Registration: $50 Seminar 5: Civil Rights Overview: What Employers Need to Know About Harassment This Pendleton seminar will focus on civil rights law, including harassment, discrimination, documentation, discipline and discharge. Where: Pendleton City Hall When: Friday, Feb 7th (8:30 a.m. to noon) RSVP: scott.a.odman at state.or.us or (541) 276-9050 Registration: $50 "We expect strong demand for these seminars, so if you are an employer seeking information to help your business and organization, please sign up soon to secure your attendance," said BOLI Program Coordinator Joseph Tam. "We want Oregon employers to be successful so that they can support local jobs and communities. For more information about BOLI's efforts to support Oregon employers and protect Oregon's workforce, 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: