NEWS RELEASE: Major wage enforcement settlement directs $144K to workers, includes lifetime debarment for contractor

[Burr, Charlie]

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For Immediate Release
September 28, 2016
CONTACT:           Charlie Burr, BOLI, (971) 673-0788

Major wage enforcement settlement directs $144K to workers, includes lifetime debarment for contractor
Agency previously collected nearly $200,000 in unpaid wages for Cornerstone Janitorial workers

PORTLAND, OR-A major wage enforcement settlement will direct $144,000 in liquidated damages to 46 underpaid workers while making Cornerstone Janitorial Services permanently ineligible to receive public works contracts in the state, the Bureau of Labor and Industries announced today.

The settlement represents only the second time in the agency's history that BOLI has secured such a lifetime ban. BOLI launched the investigation after receiving a complaint from Hoffman Construction.

Previously, the agency directed nearly $200,000 to Cornerstone workers not paid wages to which they were entitled on a series of 16 taxpayer-funded education and health care projects in Portland, Eugene, Stayton, Junction City, Salem, Keizer, Philomath, Vernonia, Corvallis, Monmouth and Wilsonville.

Cornerstone Janitorial Investigation Project List

CASANOVA EXPANSION AND SOCCER/LACROSSE RELOCATION (University of Oregon)

NEW VERNONIA K-12 SCHOOL PROJECT

PRINGLE AND SALEM HEIGHTS ES REPAIR AND RENOVATION 2014 (Salem Keizer Public Schools)

CASCADE CAMPUS BOND PROJECT UNDERGROUND PARKING GARAGE (Portland Community College)

PHILOMATH HIGH SCHOOL FACILITY ADDITION/RENOVATION

CLEAR LAKE ES/KEIZER ES REPAIR AND RENOVATION (Salem Keizer Public Schools)

OREGON STATE HOSPITAL REPLACEMENT PROJECT-JUNCTION CITY SITE

LOWRIE PRIMARY SCHOOL (West Linn Wilsonville School District)

WEST POWELLHURST ES - ADDITION/RENOVATION 2014 (David Douglas Public Schools)

OREGON STATE HOSPITAL REPLACEMENT PROJECT-SALEM

KEIZER ES REPAIR AND RENOVATION (Salem Keizer Public Schools)

JAMES JOHN and HOSFORD SCHOOL - IP2014 PROJECTS (Portland Public Schools)

STAYTON HIGH SCHOOL ADDITION/RENOVATION CMGC

CALLAHAN HALL RESTROOM AND LOUNGE RENOVATION (Oregon State University)

CALLAHAN HALL WINDOW REPLACEMENT (Oregon State University)

HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER PROJECT (Western Oregon University)



NOTE: Some employees performed work on multiple projects.)



"Our agency is committed to holding businesses accountable so that workers receive every dollar they've earned," said Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian. "It's especially important that taxpayer-funded projects fulfill the basic promise of fair wages for a fair day's work. This settlement is a win for vulnerable workers and other businesses that deserve a level playing field."

Copies of the settlement agreement and Final Order can be found online here<http://www.oregon.gov/boli/SiteAssets/pages/press/Cornerstone%20FOID%20with%20Settlement%20Agrmt.pdf>.

Labor and Industries Commissioner Brad Avakian praised Hoffman Construction for contacting the Prevailing Wage Rate Unit and urged other workers and contractors to contact BOLI if they believe that workers are being denied wages to which they are entitled.

Currently, the agency has 56 businesses, contractors and individuals on the debarment list<http://www.oregon.gov/boli/whd/pwr/docs/debar_list.pdf>.

Employees with prevailing wage issues may contact the Prevailing Wage Rate Unit by calling (971) 673-0839 or emailing pwremail at boli.state.or.us<mailto:pwremail at boli.state.or.us>.

###

Charlie Burr
Communications Director
Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries
800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 1045
Portland, Oregon  97232
Tel:  971-673-0788

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