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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><img width="185" height="60" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01CFB23E.8EF0DCA0" alt="cid:image001.png@01CF557C.F36B39B0"></span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For Immediate Release<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>August 7, 2014<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">CONTACT: Charlie Burr, BOLI, (971) 673-0788 or (503) 913-5407 mobile
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="color:black">BOLI recovers $20,000 in wages on Pearl District park project<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="color:black">Agency will now determine whether to seek additional fines and debarment for Green Thumb<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">PORTLAND, OR—The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries has secured more than $20,000 for ten workers not paid wages to which they were entitled, the agency announced today.<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 overtime and prevailing wage violations stem from work performed by Salem contractor Green Thumb Landscaping on The Fields Neighborhood Park in Portland’s Pearl District. Green Thumb Landscaping served as a
subcontractor on the public works project.<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">During investigation, Green Thumb initially refused to provide investigators with documents necessary to determine the accuracy of the workers’ claims. In response, the agency compelled Green Thumb to provide BOLI
with the material, including payroll records and contact information for potentially affected employees, through subpoena.<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 wages recovered represent the latest unlawful practice from the contracting firm. In total, BOLI has secured more than $70,000 in unpaid wages from Green Thumb Landscaping and Maintenance, Green Thumb Yard
Maintenance Inc., Green Thumb LLC and Green Thumb and Maintenance Inc. for previous wage and hour violations.<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">Labor and Industries Commissioner Brad Avakian praised the work of agency investigators and urged other potentially affected employees to contact BOLI if they believe they are being denied fair wages.<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">“<b>It’s fundamentally unfair for a contractor to attempt to gain advantage by skirting Oregon law</b>,” said Labor Commissioner Avakian. “<b>Any employee who believes he or she was not paid the wages they’re owed
should contact our agency. We will investigate potential wage violations and ensure that other businesses have an equal shot at bidding on public projects.”
<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Employees can contact BOLI’s Wage and Hour Division by calling (971) 673-0844 or emailing whdscreener@boli.state.or.us.<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 agency will now review the findings and determine whether its Administrative Prosecution Unit will seek additional penalties or debarment, which could make the firm and its successors ineligible for public
works contracts for up to three years. Currently, there are more than 80 businesses on the
</span><a href="http://www.oregon.gov/boli/WHD/PWR/docs/Debar_List.pdf">ineligible list</a><span style="color:black">.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="color:black">###<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoHeader" align="center" style="margin-top:6.0pt;text-align:center"><i>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.</i><o:p></o:p></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">Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 1045<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Portland, Oregon 97232<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tel: 971-673-0788<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cell: 503-913-5407<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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