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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.gif@01D04CF6.1D15FB30" alt="cid:image001.gif@01D04C64.F575C100"></span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>For Immediate Release<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">February 20, 2015<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">CONTACT: Charlie Burr, (971) 673-0788 wk. or (503) 913-5407 mobile
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="color:black">Labor Commissioner Avakian Statement on School Activities Legislation<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Portland, OR—Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian today issued the following statement in support of
<a href="HB%202646">HB 2646</a>, a measure that </span><span class="apple-style-span">provides up to eight hours of unpaid leave for parents to attend children’s school activities and protection from retaliation for taking such time off.</span><span style="color:black">
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“Too many parents struggle to balance the demands of work and raising a child. Oregon can help women and families succeed by protecting employees who take time off from work for school activities. According to a
<a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CCQQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.oregon.gov%2Fboli%2Fdocs%2FPay%2520Inequality%2520Oregon%2520012314-Final.pdf&ei=r3HmVLrMNMjsoATd8oKADw&usg=AFQjCNHlrxmL3RKFMLNE1dDZufi8eW7_2A&sig2=H8Qp-hOsxEhTzwZ6y6_JWg&bvm=bv.86475890,d.cGU">
recent study by the Oregon Council on Civil Rights</a>, work-life conflict is a major driver behind the gender pay pap in Oregon. This bill supports families and provides protections for parents who take time off to get involved in their child’s academic success.”
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span">The House Committee on Business and Labor heard the legislation earlier today in Hearing Room E.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">For more information about BOLI’s efforts to support Oregon employers and protect Oregon’s workforce, visit
</span><a href="http://www.oregon.gov/BOLI">http://www.oregon.gov/BOLI</a><span style="color:black">.
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<p class="MsoNormal"><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"><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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