From charlie.burr at state.or.us Tue Jun 20 08:34:52 2017 From: charlie.burr at state.or.us (Burr, Charlie) Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2017 15:34:52 +0000 Subject: NEWS RELEASE: Avakian announces major $1.25 million settlement in Stars Cabaret civil rights case Message-ID: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA4072616E0D8C37@D5DAG1B.D5.USA.NET> [cid:image001.png at 01D2E686.82AAE650] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 20, 2017 CONTACT: Charlie Burr, BOLI, (971) 673-0788 Avakian announces major $1.25 million settlement in Stars Cabaret civil rights case Agreement represents the largest individual civil rights settlement secured by BOLI PORTLAND, OR-Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian today announced a major civil rights settlement with Stars Cabaret that will direct $1.25 million to a then 13-year old minor who suffered unlawful discrimination, harassment and abuse at the Beaverton club. The agreement represents the largest settlement amount ever secured by the agency for an individual worker. The case regarding a second underage minor employed by Stars remains pending. The agency anticipates issuing a Final Order in that case before Labor Day. The agency initiated an investigation after Commissioner Avakian filed a Commissioner's Complaint in 2015 alleging civil rights violations against two underage employees working as adult entertainers. Following a thorough investigation of Stars' operations, the agency brought formal charges of unlawful discrimination and harassment of minors ages 13 and 15 working at the club. "Our agency is dedicated to protecting the civil rights of all Oregonians," said Labor Commissioner Avakian. "Today's settlement follows an aggressive effort spanning thousands of hours of investigation and prosecution to ensure justice for this aggrieved person. It also sends a strong message that the most vulnerable among us will still receive the same protections and access to justice as everyone else." Oregon law empowers the labor commissioner to file a complaint on behalf of the people of Oregon when the commissioner has reason to believe that an unlawful practice, such as employment discrimination based on sex or national origin, has occurred. The Commissioner's Complaint filed against Stars is the seventh filed by Avakian. A 2014 settlement with Daimler Trucks North America directed $2.4 million to six employees alleging harassment and unlawful discrimination. The Civil Rights Division conducted an extensive investigation across Stars' operations, interviewing current and former staff, owners, managers and other third parties. The agency's investigation also included a look at Stars' ownership structure across the multiple corporate entities that were eventually added to the complaint. Copies of the settlement agreement and civil rights complaints are available upon request. Any worker who believes that they are being harassed or retaliated at work can start the civil rights complaint process by contact the Civil Rights Division at crdemail at boli.state.or.us or by calling 971-673-0764. BOLI's 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. 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 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 7699 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From charlie.burr at state.or.us Tue Jun 20 09:09:22 2017 From: charlie.burr at state.or.us (Burr, Charlie) Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2017 16:09:22 +0000 Subject: NEWS RELEASE: Avakian announces major $1.25 million settlement in Stars Cabaret civil rights case Message-ID: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA4072616E0D8D06@D5DAG1B.D5.USA.NET> [cid:image001.png at 01D2E686.82AAE650] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 20, 2017 CONTACT: Charlie Burr, BOLI, (971) 673-0788 Avakian announces major $1.25 million settlement in Stars Cabaret civil rights case Agreement represents the largest individual civil rights settlement secured by BOLI PORTLAND, OR-Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian today announced a major civil rights settlement with Stars Cabaret that will direct $1.25 million to a then 13-year old minor who suffered unlawful discrimination, harassment and abuse at the Beaverton club. The agreement represents the largest settlement amount ever secured by the agency for an individual worker. The case regarding a second underage minor employed by Stars remains pending. The agency anticipates issuing a Final Order in that case before Labor Day. The agency initiated an investigation after Commissioner Avakian filed a Commissioner's Complaint in 2015 alleging civil rights violations against two underage employees working as adult entertainers. Following a thorough investigation of Stars' operations, the agency brought formal charges of unlawful discrimination and harassment of minors ages 13 and 15 working at the club. "Our agency is dedicated to protecting the civil rights of all Oregonians," said Labor Commissioner Avakian. "Today's settlement follows an aggressive effort spanning thousands of hours of investigation and prosecution to ensure justice for this aggrieved person. It also sends a strong message that the most vulnerable among us will still receive the same protections and access to justice as everyone else." Oregon law empowers the labor commissioner to file a complaint on behalf of the people of Oregon when the commissioner has reason to believe that an unlawful practice, such as employment discrimination based on sex or national origin, has occurred. The Commissioner's Complaint filed against Stars is the seventh filed by Avakian. A 2014 settlement with Daimler Trucks North America directed $2.4 million to six employees alleging harassment and unlawful discrimination. The Civil Rights Division conducted an extensive investigation across Stars' operations, interviewing current and former staff, owners, managers and other third parties. The agency's investigation also included a look at Stars' ownership structure across the multiple corporate entities that were eventually added to the complaint. Copies of the settlement agreement and civil rights complaints are available upon request. Any worker who believes that they are being harassed or retaliated at work can start the civil rights complaint process by contact the Civil Rights Division at crdemail at boli.state.or.us or by calling 971-673-0764. BOLI's 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. 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 -------------- 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 Fri Jun 23 09:00:12 2017 From: charlie.burr at state.or.us (Burr, Charlie) Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2017 16:00:12 +0000 Subject: NEWS RELEASE: BOLI announces settlement in poker room worker misclassification case Message-ID: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA4072616E0DA5FC@D5DAG1B.D5.USA.NET> [cid:image001.gif at 01D2EB77.B1F00B20] For Immediate Release June 23, 2017 CONTACT: Charlie Burr, (971) 673-0788 BOLI announces settlement in poker room worker misclassification case Poker dealers were employees, not volunteers, settlement affirms Portland, OR-A settlement between the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) and representatives of Encore Club, King of Clubs Dealers Group and PDX Poker Club affirms that 59 poker dealers were employees, not volunteers, the agency announced today. The agreement follows a previous finding by the agency's Wage and Hour Division that an employment relationship existed between the poker rooms and the 59 dealers in question. The parties agreed that had the case proceeded to hearing, the forum would have considered the dealers employees. Under Oregon law, to qualify as volunteer work, services must be performed for a religious, charitable, educational, public service, nonprofit or public employer. The settlement also directs the businesses to pay $10,000 in civil penalties for failure to maintain and provide payroll records for the workers. "When workers are misclassified, it makes it much more difficult for them to enjoy basic workplace protections," said Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian. "Our agency is committed to ensuring that Oregon workers have access to the civil rights and wage protections to which they're entitled." The case is part of a larger effort by BOLI to prevent worker misclassification. For example, last year BOLI and the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division signed a Memorandum of Understanding to protect the rights of employees by preventing their misclassification. Employers seeking guidance on Oregon's minimum wage, employment status and record keeping requirements can contact the agency's Technical Assistance for Employers Program at (971) 673-0824. Copies of the Final Order Incorporating Disposition are available upon request. ### 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 Jun 29 13:11:23 2017 From: charlie.burr at state.or.us (Burr, Charlie) Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 20:11:23 +0000 Subject: =?Windows-1252?Q?NEWS_RELEASE:_Avakian_praises_legislature=92s_effort_to_?= =?Windows-1252?Q?modernize_scheduling_requirements?= Message-ID: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA4072616E0DD9DD@D5DAG1B.D5.USA.NET> [cid:image001.png at 01D2F0CF.D4DAEEE0] For Immediate Release June 29, 2017 CONTACT: Charlie Burr, (971) 673-0788 Avakian praises legislature?s effort to modernize scheduling requirements Fair scheduling bill will support working parents, strengthen workforce, says Commissioner Avakian PORTLAND?Labor and Industries Commissioner Brad Avakian today praised the Oregon Legislature for its passage of predictable scheduling protections (SB 828). "Fair scheduling helps give workers greater stability and predictability in planning their everyday lives. For working parents, this change will make it easier to arrange for child care, school activities and all the demands families face each week. I greatly appreciate the hard work that went into this effort and important first step.? The Oregon Council on Civil Rights, whose 2014 report Pay Inequality in Oregon called for predictable scheduling legislation, also issued a statement applauding the bill?s passage. ?We appreciate the legislature?s ability to take on a difficult issue that?s a critically important part of the overall effort to modernize workplace protections in our state. Fair and predictable schedules matter to working Oregonians ? and with the legislature?s efforts, Oregon is on track to become the first state to begin addressing the issue.? ? Roberta Phillip-Robbins Earlier in the session, the Oregon Legislature also passed House Bill 2005, another pay equity measure called for in the council?s report to help address Oregon?s wage gap between women, people of color and their white male counterparts. ### About BOLI The mission of the Bureau of Labor and Industries is to protect employment rights, advance employment opportunities, and provide for equal 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 -------------- 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 Fri Jun 30 12:36:53 2017 From: charlie.burr at state.or.us (Burr, Charlie) Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2017 19:36:53 +0000 Subject: NEWS RELEASE: Wage settlement includes $20K in civil penalties, ten year ban on public projects Message-ID: <6376A41CAD6C3E4F8A65385BDA4072616E0E03F8@D5DAG1B.D5.USA.NET> [cid:image001.gif at 01D2F19B.0C1AE600] For Immediate Release June 30, 2017 CONTACT: Charlie Burr, BOLI, (971) 673-0788 Wage settlement includes $20K in civil penalties, ten year ban on public projects BOLI investigation stems from prevailing wage and recordkeeping violations PORTLAND, OR-A BOLI wage enforcement settlement will make WCI Construction LLC and owner Eugene Graeme ineligible to receive public works contracts in the state for ten years while assessing the firm $20,000 in civil penalties, the Bureau of Labor and Industries announced today. The debarment and civil penalties settlement stems from work performed for Arlington High School in Gilliam County. Previously, the agency recovered $9,257.87 in wages after a worker filed a complaint in December 2015. BOLI wage compliance specialists found prevailing wage violations and failure to maintain timely, accurate and complete payroll records. Copies of the WCI Construction LLC settlement agreement and Final Order are available upon request. "It's critical that contractors on taxpayer-funded projects follow the rules, pay fair wages and keep accurate records for their workforce," said Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian. "Today's settlement bars a repeat offender from public projects for a decade after it once again failed to meet its basic requirements." Notably, BOLI had placed a previous company owned by Eugene Graeme, Wrangler Construction, Inc., on the state's debarment list from May 2012 to May 2015 for other Wage and Hour violations. Currently, the agency has 52 businesses, contractors and individuals on the debarment list of contractors ineligible to receive payment on public contracts. 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. Any public contracting agency, contractor or subcontractor can contact BOLI's Prevailing Wage Rate Unit to request a determination about whether a project is a public works that requires payment of prevailing wage rates. In addition, the bureau offers prevailing wage seminars to help contractors, subcontractors and public contracting agencies understand and comply with Oregon's law. ### The mission of the Bureau of Labor and Industries is to protect employment rights, advance employment opportunities, and protect access to housing and public places 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 -------------- 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: