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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>July 8, 2013, 2013<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">CONTACT:  Charlie Burr, (971) 673-0788<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">                                                <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Avakian praises legislature’s commitment to workforce competitiveness<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">PORTLAND—</span></b><span style="color:black">Oregon Labor and Industries Commissioner Brad Avakian today praised the 2013 Oregon Legislature for its efforts to strengthen the state’s workforce and protect Oregon
 workers.<b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">“What we saw in this legislature is a bipartisan group of lawmakers willing to make smart investments in our state’s competitiveness,” said Commissioner Avakian. “This legislature demonstrated an ability to come
 together to prioritize a well-trained, highly skilled workforce. They created new protections for vulnerable workers and support for Oregon businesses so that we can a stronger, more prosperous state.”<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">Key legislation passed this session includes<b>:<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">  
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Smart, targeted investment for<b> 21<sup>st</sup> Century shop classes
</b>(SB 498)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">  
</span></span></span><![endif]><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Closing the intern loophole
</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">so that unpaid interns have civil rights protection in the workplace<b>
</b>(HB 2669)<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">  
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Creating new<b> protections against discrimination in public places</b>, including giving BOLI new tools to crack down on hate groups that try to intimidate
 the public (HB 2668)<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">  
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Taking a meaningful step toward<b>
</b>pay equity by studying the<b> wage gap that hurts Oregon workers</b> (SB 7438)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="color:black">###<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoFooter"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoFooter"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">About BOLI<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoFooter"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">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.<o:p></o:p></span></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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