From charlie.burr at state.or.us Fri Apr 1 11:57:21 2016 From: charlie.burr at state.or.us (Burr, Charlie) Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2016 18:57:21 +0000 Subject: NEWS RELEASE: BOLI will host Pacific Northwest Apprenticeship Education Conference Message-ID: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA4072616E015548@D5DAG1B.D5.USA.NET> [cid:image001.gif at 01D18C0C.C8A6DD10] For Immediate Release April 1, 2016 CONTACT: Charlie Burr, (971) 673-0788 BOLI will host Pacific Northwest Apprenticeship Education Conference Apprenticeship experts to meet in Portland to discuss expanding economic opportunity PORTLAND, OR-The Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) will host the 2016 Pacific Northwest Apprenticeship Education Conference in Portland as educators, industry associations, and apprenticeship sponsors from the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia meet and discuss how best to strengthen registered apprenticeship programs. Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. and the Oregon Building Congress will co-host the event. Organizers expect more than 300 attendees. "A skilled workforce is central to our region's ability to attract and retain well-paying jobs," said Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian. "I'm pleased that Oregon will host this gathering of apprenticeship experts so that we can expand economic opportunity to more workers around the Northwest." Other conference speakers will include Alaska Labor Commissioner Heidi Drygas and Matt Miller, author of "Ditch That Textbook". KGW's Drew Carney will emcee the event. What: Pacific Northwest Apprenticeship Education Conference 2016 Date: Tuesday, May 24th through Wednesday, May 25th Location: DoubleTree Hilton Hotel and Conference Center 1000 NE Multnomah St. Portland, OR The conference will focus on four areas involving the skilled trades: * Non-traditional apprenticeship * Education (K-12, career and technical education, community colleges) * Government (Mandatory utilization, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) * Construction trades apprenticeship Workshop sessions will cover topics such as supporting advanced manufacturing, career and technical education expansion, and attracting under-represented populations to the trades. In late 2014, the Institute for Women's Policy Research and Jobs for the Future recognized Oregon's efforts to attract more women and people of color into apprenticeships focused on the heavy highway construction workforce. Visit: www.apprenticeshipconferences.com for registration, call for proposals, event agenda and sponsorship information. ### 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 Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries 800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 1045 Portland, Oregon 97232 Tel: 971-673-0788 -------------- 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 Apr 4 11:41:50 2016 From: charlie.burr at state.or.us (Burr, Charlie) Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2016 18:41:50 +0000 Subject: NEWS RELEASE: US Department of Labor, Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries sign agreement to protect workers from misclassification Message-ID: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA4072616E015754@D5DAG1B.D5.USA.NET> [cid:image001.gif at 01D18E66.F94852D0] For Immediate Release April 4, 2016 US Department of Labor, Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries sign agreement to protect workers from misclassification PORTLAND - Officials of the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division and the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries today signed a memorandum of understanding to protect the rights of employees by preventing their misclassification as independent contractors. Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian joined Thomas Silva, regional director of the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, in signing the agreement for an effort that will provide clear, accurate, and easy-to-access outreach to employers, employees, and other stakeholders, share resources, and enhance enforcement by conducting joint investigations and sharing information consistent with applicable law. Background: The Wage and Hour Division is working with the IRS and 27 other states to combat employee misclassification and to ensure that workers get the wages, benefits, and protections to which they are entitled. Labeling employees as something they are not, such as independent contractors, can deny them of basic rights such as minimum wage, overtime, and a host of other benefits. Misclassification also generates substantial losses to the federal government and state governments in the form of lower tax revenues, as well as to state unemployment insurance and workers' compensation funds. More information on misclassification is available at http://www.dol.gov/misclassification/. Quotes: "The Wage and Hour Division continues to attack this problem head on through a combination of a robust education and outreach campaign, and nationwide, data-driven strategic enforcement across industries," said David Weil, administrator of the Wage and Hour Division. "Our goal is always to strive toward workplaces with decreased misclassification, increased compliance, and more workers receiving a fair day's pay for a fair day's work." --David Weil, U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division Administrator Quote: "When corporations misclassify their workforce, they make it much more difficult for workers facing wage theft, civil rights abuse or other unfair treatment on the job," said Labor Commissioner Avakian. "This agreement will create a new tool to help protect the rights of Oregon workers cheated on the job." --Brad Avakian, Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries Commissioner Photos from the signing available upon request. # # # Media Contacts: Charlie Burr, 971-673-0788, charlie.burr at state.or.us (BOLI) Leo Kay, 415-625-2630, kay.leo.f at dol.gov or Joe Versen, 202-693-4696, versen.joseph.h at dol.gov (DOL) Charlie Burr Communications Director Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries 800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 1045 Portland, Oregon 97232 Tel: 971-673-0788 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.gif Type: image/gif Size: 5083 bytes Desc: image001.gif URL: From charlie.burr at state.or.us Tue Apr 5 13:54:54 2016 From: charlie.burr at state.or.us (Burr, Charlie) Date: Tue, 5 Apr 2016 20:54:54 +0000 Subject: NEWS RELEASE: More than 100 workers to receive $924,000 from SOU wage settlement Message-ID: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA4072616E015A6C@D5DAG1B.D5.USA.NET> [cid:image001.gif at 01D18F42.78C672E0] For Immediate Release April 5, 2016 CONTACT: Charlie Burr, BOLI, (971) 673-0788 More than 100 workers to receive $924,000 from SOU wage settlement BOLI receives final payment from SOU for record $2.5 million settlement agreement PORTLAND, OR-The Bureau of Labor and Industries has directed an additional $924,000 to 116 employees who worked on a public works project for Southern Oregon University (SOU) comprised of a dining hall and two student residences, the agency announced today. A late December wage settlement agreement of $2.5 million represented the largest in the agency's history. Under terms of the agreement, the university made an initial $1,508,542.88 payment to BOLI on behalf of 179 workers in December. Last week, BOLI received the remaining settlement payment from SOU for $1,008,918.91.BOLI has since mailed payments to all workers who've signed individual releases of claims and for whom SOU has social security numbers. An additional twenty nine workers will be sent $84,360.02 after the agency receives signed releases. "I'm very happy to see these additional workers receive full wages to which they're entitled," said Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian. "Any public agency or contractor that has questions about Oregon's prevailing wage law can contact us about whether a project requires payment of prevailing wage rates." A copy of the wage settlement agreement can be found here. The agreement releases SOU and other parties from future wage claims stemming from the project while admitting no wrongdoing or liability on the disputed wages. Starting in late 2013, BOLI's Wage and Hour Division initiated a series of prevailing wage audits after questions arose about the SOU project during a separate investigation. The prevailing wage inquiry - comprised of 80 audits - found that 44 contractors and subcontractors could owe $2,569,387 to workers on the project. Prior to the settlement, the agency secured about $52,000 in wage payments. Construction of the residence halls and dining hall began in 2012, with all three buildings completed in the first week of September 2013. The buildings replace the Cascade Complex, a single structure with residence halls and a common dining area. The same architect and general contractor performed work on the project, with most first-tier subcontractors working on all three buildings. ### Charlie Burr Communications Director Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries 800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 1045 Portland, Oregon 97232 Tel: 971-673-0788 Cell: 503-913-5407 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.gif Type: image/gif Size: 5083 bytes Desc: image001.gif URL: From charlie.burr at state.or.us Wed Apr 6 09:24:27 2016 From: charlie.burr at state.or.us (Burr, Charlie) Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2016 16:24:27 +0000 Subject: NEWS RELEASE: Avakian files formal charges of unlawful discrimination and harassment of minors against Stars Cabaret Message-ID: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA4072616E015B7B@D5DAG1B.D5.USA.NET> [cid:image001.png at 01D18C14.5CEAEEB0] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 6, 2016 CONTACT: Charlie Burr, BOLI, (971) 673-0788 Avakian files formal charges of unlawful discrimination and harassment of minors against Stars Cabaret Commissioner's Complaint will seek emotional distress damages and civil penalties PORTLAND, OR-Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian has filed formal civil rights charges against Stars Cabaret for unlawful sexual harassment of minors, the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) announced today. Respondents may now request a contested case hearing before an administrative law judge. BOLI investigators had previously found that Stars Cabaret unlawfully discriminated against two employees, 13 and 15 years of age. The investigation determined that Stars knew or should have known about repeated sexual harassment. "A commissioner's complaint can shield the identity of victims who've suffered extreme workplace abuse and harassment," said Commissioner Avakian. "Today's charges reflect the severity of conditions faced by these vulnerable minors." During the period from August to September 2014-after police had arrested one of Stars' Beaverton managers on charges of sexual abuse and compelling prostitution of a 13 year old minor-the club employed another female 15 years of age to work as an adult entertainer. The charges also note that Stars Cabaret failed to adequately vet forms of identification, keep adequate records, and discourage sexual harassment. Witnesses described dancers being groped by managers and mangers giving dancers better shifts and benefits in exchange for sex acts. Stars Cabaret chose not to implement uniform precautionary measures to protect minors outside of the Beaverton location because, as owner Randy Kaiser stated to BOLI, they were "not obligated to." Civil rights investigators previously determined that the 13 year old and 15 year old minors were employees, not independent contractors who entered into an enforceable contract. The Administrative Prosecution Unit will seek at least $4 million per victim with specific amounts to be proven at hearing for emotional distress damages. The unit will also pursue civil penalties for violations of child labor laws. Copies of the commissioner's complaint and formal charges are public documents available on the agency's website here. Workers can start the civil rights complaint process by contacting the Civil Rights Division at crdemail at boli.state.or.us or by calling 971-673-0764. A new live entertainment hotline at 1-844-304-2654 also can provide workers information about retaliation, sex discrimination, harassment, unlawful wage practices and a host of other workplace protections. Callers to the toll-free hotline may request confidentiality. A previous commissioner's complaint against Daimler Trucks North America resulted in a record $2.4 million civil rights settlement last year, the largest in the agency's history. The agency is also investigating a commissioner's complaint against contractor Evan Williams and related companies alleging retaliation, threats of violence, and other unlawful practices against employees who filed wage complaints. Visit www.oregon.gov/BOLI for more information about all of BOLI's work to protect employment rights, advance employment opportunities, and protect access to housing and public accommodations free from discrimination. ### Charlie Burr Communications Director Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries 800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 1045 Portland, Oregon 97232 Tel: 971-673-0788 Cell: 503-913-5407 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 7699 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From charlie.burr at state.or.us Wed Apr 13 09:34:18 2016 From: charlie.burr at state.or.us (Burr, Charlie) Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2016 16:34:18 +0000 Subject: NEWS RELEASE: Avakian on Court of Appeals ruling: Veterans deserve fair treatment and opportunity for economic advancement Message-ID: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA4072616E0167BF@D5DAG1B.D5.USA.NET> [cid:image002.png at 01D19567.A655DC70] For Immediate Release April 13, 2016 CONTACT: Charlie Burr, (971) 673-0788 Avakian on Court of Appeals ruling: Veterans deserve fair treatment and opportunity for economic advancement Ruling affirms BOLI Final Order in veterans' preference case against Multnomah County PORTLAND, OR-The Oregon Court of Appeals today upheld a BOLI civil rights decision that found that the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office failed to properly credit a disabled veteran's military service under the state's veterans' hiring preference law. Sgt. Rod Edwards filed the civil rights complaint against the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office in 2013 after unsuccessfully applying for a promotion to lieutenant. Under Oregon's veterans' preference law, public agencies hiring for civil service positions must give special consideration to veterans who meet the minimum qualifications and any special qualifications for a position. An earlier BOLI investigation determined that the county did not have a method of ranking applicants with numeric scoring, nor did it have a written policy describing how it would apply the legal hiring requirements. BOLI rejected the county's argument that the veterans' preference law applies only during the initial screening, not throughout the hiring process. The agency awarded Edwards $50,000 in damages. The Court of Appeals affirmed the BOLI Final Order. In response to the ruling, Commissioner Avakian issued the following statement: We're committed to ensuring that Oregon veterans have access to economic opportunity and career advancement. Today's ruling helps provide veterans with a level playing field so that they can continue to contribute and serve communities around the state. BOLI's Civil Rights Division has opened a separate investigation of the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office to determine whether Lt. Brent Richie faced unlawful retaliation for protected whistleblowing activities. For more information about BOLI's efforts to protect workplaces and the civil rights of all Oregonians, visit http://www.oregon.gov/BOLI. Oregon employers, public agencies and local governments can contact the BOLI's Technical Assistance for Employers Program at (971) 673-0824. ### Charlie Burr Communications Director Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries 800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 1045 Portland, Oregon 97232 Tel: 971-673-0788 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.png Type: image/png Size: 7699 bytes Desc: image002.png URL: From charlie.burr at state.or.us Fri Apr 15 14:31:31 2016 From: charlie.burr at state.or.us (Burr, Charlie) Date: Fri, 15 Apr 2016 21:31:31 +0000 Subject: NEWS RELEASE: BOLI announces public hearing on minimum wage rules Message-ID: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA4072616E016D83@D5DAG1B.D5.USA.NET> [cid:image001.gif at 01D19719.887D61B0] For Immediate Release April 15, 2016 CONTACT: Charlie Burr, (971) 673-0788 or Paloma Sparks at (971) 673-0841 BOLI announces public hearing on minimum wage rules Agency developing rules regarding determining an employer's location PORTLAND, OR-The Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) will hold a public meeting Monday, April 25th on rules regarding Oregon's new minimum wage law (SB 1532) in preparation for a July minimum wage increase, the agency announced today. What: Public hearing and comment on proposed rules for the new minimum wage law When: Monday, April 25 at 2 p.m. Where: Portland State Office Building, Room 1B 800 NE Oregon St. Portland, OR 97232 Passed during the 2016 session, the new law directs BOLI to make rules relating to employer location. Additionally, BOLI will update existing minimum wage rules to reflect the new law. Copies of the proposed rules can be found online here. Additional public comments can be directed to paloma.sparks at state.or.us until May 22nd. A committee advising BOLI on the rules includes members of the NW Grocery Associations, Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association, Oregon Farm Bureau, Oregon Association of Nurseries, Association of Oregon Industries, Oregon Business Association, PCUN, AFL-CIO, Family Forward, SEIU, CAUSA and Oregon Center for Public Policy. In addition, representatives from the offices of Senator Michael Dembrow and Representative Paul Holvey serve on the committee. Employers that want to keep up to date about minimum wage rules and other workplace topics may sign up for the Technical Assistance for Employer's email list here. The agency also intends to develop one poster for the state that will satisfy employers' posting requirements. ### 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 Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries 800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 1045 Portland, Oregon 97232 Tel: 971-673-0788 -------------- 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 Apr 21 09:09:11 2016 From: charlie.burr at state.or.us (Burr, Charlie) Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2016 16:09:11 +0000 Subject: NEWS RELEASE: New apprenticeship initiative will promote respectful, harassment-free workplaces Message-ID: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA4072616E01ABEB@D5DAG1B.D5.USA.NET> [cid:image001.gif at 01D19BAD.3456B440] [cid:image002.jpg at 01D19BAD.3456B440] For Immediate Release April 21, 2016 CONTACT: Charlie Burr, (971) 673-0788, BOLI Mary Ann Naylor, OTI, (503) 335-8200 X 26 or (503) 819-9201 New apprenticeship initiative will promote respectful, harassment-free workplaces BOLI and ODOT seek to further boost retention rates of apprentices, remove barriers PORTLAND, OR-A new pilot program will seek to improve apprenticeship retention rates among women and people of color in the highway construction trades, the Bureau of Labor and Industries announced today. Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. (OTI), a local non-profit organization offering a state-certified pre-apprenticeship training program for women, will develop the program as part of a two-year, $200,000 contract to improve workplace culture. Funding for program comes from the Federal Highway Administration through the Oregon Department of Transportation's Workforce Development program. The project will target managers, supervisors, foremen, journey workers, and apprentices to increase on-the-job-site awareness of the expectations of respectful workplaces through improved communication and behavior change. In addition, project leaders will develop trainings for bystander intervention and other avenues for addressing disrespectful or discriminatory treatment on the job. "Oregon is committed to attracting more women and people of color into high-demand careers in construction and other trades," said Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian. "This pilot project will help drive behavior change and harassment-free workplaces so that we can boost completion rates among apprentices. Removing barriers has to be an ongoing focus, not a one-time event." A 2014 report found that Oregon is one of only a handful of states that takes advantage of federal highway funding to draw more women and people of color into the highway construction trades. Although Oregon's efforts have helped attract women into these apprenticeships at twice the national average, unfair treatment and discrimination are still significant barriers - especially for women and people of color - according to an ODOT/BOLI-commissioned study conducted by Portland State University Sociology professors Maura Kelly and Lindsey Wilkinson. The PSU study also found that women and people of color were less likely to complete their highway construction apprenticeships, with completion rates of 32 percent by men of color, 26 percent by white women, and 19 percent by women of color, compared to 41 percent for their white male counterparts. The pilot project will focus on the Dundee Bypass Project, an infrastructure enhancement project to reduce traffic congestion along the Oregon 99W corridor in the Newberg and Dundee area. Both prime contractor Hamilton Construction Company and PSU will donate staff time to support the effort. Jobs in the highway, street, and bridge construction industry - jobs that typically provide family-supporting wages with good benefits and little college debt -are projected to grow by more than 20 percent until 2022. "This pilot project will help further our goal of building a workforce that reflects Oregon, while providing the next generation of skilled workers for critical projects," said ODOT Director Matt Garrett. "Our partnership with BOLI and Oregon Tradeswomen is making a difference, creating economic opportunity for more Oregonians." ### For more information about BOLI's efforts to support Oregon employers and protect Oregon's workforce, visit http://www.oregon.gov/BOLI. OTI is dedicated to promoting success for women in the trades through education, leadership, and mentorship. OTI is grounded in the principles that women deserve and can attain economic self-sufficiency through pursuing careers in the building, mechanical, electrical, utility, and highway construction trades while helping and encouraging the industry at large to build a diverse workforce. For more information about OTI, please visit tradeswomen.net. Charlie Burr Communications Director Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries 800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 1045 Portland, Oregon 97232 Tel: 971-673-0788 -------------- 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: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 4416 bytes Desc: image002.jpg URL: From charlie.burr at state.or.us Wed Apr 27 11:27:55 2016 From: charlie.burr at state.or.us (Burr, Charlie) Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2016 18:27:55 +0000 Subject: NEWS RELEASE: BOLI directs $60,000 to 25 former employees of GR Roguewood of Grants Pass Message-ID: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA4072616E01B46F@D5DAG1B.D5.USA.NET> [cid:image001.gif at 01D1A077.D7572520] For Immediate Release April 27, 2016 CONTACT: Charlie Burr, (971) 673-0788 BOLI directs $60,000 to 25 former employees of GR Roguewood of Grants Pass "Our agency can help workers make ends meet when a business closes its doors," says Avakian PORTLAND, OR-The Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) has directed $60,680.49 to 25 unpaid workers of GR Roguewood in southern Oregon, Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian announced today. The Grants Pass furniture maker ceased operations in September. The agency directed payments to the former employees through the state's Wage Security Fund, a tool that helps employees receive wages earned during the 60 days preceding a business closure if the employer is financially unable to pay. Investigators determine and verify how much, if any, is owed each worker. BOLI may direct a maximum of $4,000 to an individual worker. "Oregon's Wage Security Fund can help workers make ends meet when a company closes its doors before sending final paychecks to its workforce," said Labor Commissioner Avakian. "Even if a company files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, workers should still contact us if they're not receiving the wages they've earned." 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. Oregon is one of only two states in the county to have a Wage Security Fund. For more information about BOLI's efforts to protect workplaces and support Oregon employers, visit http://www.oregon.gov/BOLI. ### Charlie Burr Communications Director Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries 800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 1045 Portland, Oregon 97232 Tel: 971-673-0788 -------------- 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: