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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><img width="229" height="74" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D0A372.05674E80" alt="cid:image001.png@01D0A372.05674E80"><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><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>June 10, 2015<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:13.0pt">Avakian praises legislature’s effort to modernize protections for working parents<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i>Paid sick days bill will strengthen Oregon’s workforce, says Commissioner Avakian<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">PORTLAND—</span></b><span style="color:black">Labor and Industries Commissioner Brad Avakian today praised the Oregon Legislature for its passage of statewide sick days legislation (SB 454).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">"Paid sick days legislation represents a significant step forward in the effort to modernize workplaces and strengthen the health of tens of thousands of workers around the state. That’s good for working parents
and the vast majority of low-wage workers who do not have access to any paid sick days on the job.”
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Oregon Council on Civil Rights, whose 2014 report <i><a href="http://www.oregon.gov/boli/docs/Pay%20Inequality%20Oregon%20012314-Final.pdf">Pay Inequality in Oregon</a></i> called for statewide sick days legislation, issued a statement
applauding the bill’s passage. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">“Congress has debated this issue for more than a decade, but with today’s vote, it’s Oregon that’s getting it done. We greatly appreciate the legislative leaders and advocates who fought to make this a reality.
This is important legislation that will help put women and people of color on stronger economic footing.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Last week, the Oregon Legislature also passed the Oregon Paycheck Fairness Act (HB 2007), another measure called for in the Oregon Council on Civil Rights’ report on the wage gap between women, people of color
and their male counterparts. The measure protects workers from retaliation for discussing salaries – removing a significant barrier to determining whether potential pay discrimination exists.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="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">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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