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<b><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><img width="251" height="81" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image003.png@01CE1E4A.70179550"></span></b><b><span style="font-size:15.0pt;mso-fareast-language:AR-SA"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Commissioner Brad Avakian</span></b><b><span style="font-size:15.0pt;mso-fareast-language:AR-SA"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Bureau of Labor & Industries</span><span style="font-size:15.0pt;mso-fareast-language:AR-SA"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;mso-fareast-language:AR-SA"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Press Release<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For Immediate Release<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>March 11, 2013<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">CONTACT: Charlie Burr, (971) 673-0788 office, (503) 913-5407 cell.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Avakian Will Serve As Leadoff Witness At Minimum Wage Hearing</span></b><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<i><span style="color:black">“American workers deserve a raise,” says Oregon Labor Commissioner Avakian</span></i><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><i><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">PORTLAND–</span></b><span style="color:black">Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian will serve as leadoff witness this Thursday, March 14<sup>th</sup>, during a hearing of the U.S. Senate’s Health, Education,
Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee to examine how an indexed minimum wage will help protect the purchasing power of American workers.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">The hearing – convened by Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) – will be the first discussion of minimum wage indexing at the federal level in several decades. Last week, Sen.
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Harkin and Rep. George Miller (D-CA)
<a href="http://harkin-press.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=2100100676.10373.49&gen=1&mailing_linkid=80879">
introduced</a> the <em><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013,
</span></em>which would raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour and provide for automatic annual increases linked to changes in the cost of living.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">“<b>We can build a stronger economy and middle class by making sure that workers have the purchasing power they need to buy local goods and services</b>,” said Labor Commissioner Avakian. “<b>Oregon’s experience
shows how an indexed minimum wage can help workers keep pace with inflation and the rising cost of household essentials. American workers deserve a raise – and I appreciate the leadership of Chairman Harkin for raising this important issue.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">HEARING: “Keeping up with a Changing Economy: Indexing the Minimum Wage”</span></strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:.5in"><strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">DATE:</span></strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""> Thursday, March 14, 2013<br>
<strong><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">TIME:</span></strong> 7:00 a.m. PST, 10:00 a.m. EST
<br>
<strong><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">PLACE:</span></strong> 430 Dirksen Senate Office Building</span><strong><span style="font-weight:normal"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">A broad coalition of senior, labor, religious and hunger security organizations helped pass Oregon’s voter-enacted minimum wage law in 2002. As Labor Commissioner, Avakian oversees implementation of the law and
its cost of living annual adjustment. For the past ten years, the Oregon minimum wage has seen steady – and modest – increases, providing businesses with greater certainty and predictability for payroll expenses over time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">The hearing will be livestreamed at help.senate.gov.
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">###<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>BOLI protects all Oregonians from unlawful discrimination, investigating allegations of civil rights violations in workplaces, career schools, housing and public accommodations, and enforces compliance with state laws relating to wages,
hours, and terms and conditions of employment. <span style="color:black">For more information about BOLI’s efforts to protect workplaces and the civil rights of all Oregonians, visit
<a href="http://www.oregon.gov/BOLI">http://www.oregon.gov/BOLI</a>.</span><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Charlie Burr<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Communications Director<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bureau of Labor and Industries<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">800 NE Oregon St., Ste. 1045<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Portland, OR 97232-2180<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(971) 673-0788 wk.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(503) 913-5407 cell.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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