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Commissioner Brad Avakian
As a young Eagle Scout, Brad Avakian learned that hard work and commitment could lead to positive changes in the lives of others, principles that have guided him throughout his life. These principles have led him to stand up for worker’s rights as a civil rights attorney and to advocate for our children and our environment as a state legislator. As Oregon’s Labor Commissioner, Avakian has pledged to take the fight for working families to the next level by promoting workforce development and apprenticeship training.
To learn more about Commissioner Avakian, please click here.
Our Mission
The mission of the Bureau of Labor and Industries is to protect employment rights, advance employment opportunities, and protect access to housing and public accommodations free from discrimination.
BOLI promotes the development of a highly-skilled, competitive workforce in Oregon through its Apprenticeship and Training Divisions and partnerships with government, labor, business, and educational institutions. It protects the rights of workers and citizens to equal, non-discriminatory treatment; encourages and enforces compliance with state laws relating to wages, hours, terms and conditions of employment; and advocates policies that balance the demands of the workplace and employers with the protections of workers and their families.
Oregonians who feel they have been discriminated against or who have not received their proper wages can call BOLI or visit our web site for information and for help filing a civil rights complaint or a wage claim. BOLI also promotes development of a skilled work force through its apprenticeship and training programs and provides education to the state's employers through its technical assistance services.
BOLI: 100 Years of Service
BOLI was created by the 1903 Legislature. The first Labor Commissioner, O.P. Hoff, was also the Bureau's first and only employee, responsible for enforcing child labor laws, the 10-hour working day for women and the factory inspection law. Today the Bureau's Civil Rights Division, Wage and Hour Division, Apprenticeship Division and Technical Assistance for Employers Program serve Oregonians in a variety of ways. BOLI has offices in Portland, Salem, Eugene, Bend, Medford and Pendleton, employs 106 people and has a total, two-year budget of approximately $20 million.
Messages from Commissioner Avakian
September 14, 2009
August 19, 2009
August 3, 2009
July 21, 2009
June 30, 2009
June 22, 2009
June 8, 2009
May 26, 2009
May 11, 2009
April 27, 2009
April 13, 2009
March 30, 2009
March 16, 2009
Recent BOLI Press Releases
9.21.09 -- BOLI Commissioner Awards $127,713 in Sex Harassment Case
9.16.09 -- Labor Commissioner Announces No Change in 2010 Minimum Wage
8.27.09 -- Avakian to Latino Workers: BOLI Can Help
7.23.09 -- Avakian Reaches out to Coastal Communities
6.16.09 -- Employer-Supported Wage Security Fund Protects Displaced Oregon Workers
6.15.09 -- Brad Avakian on Oregon's May Unemployment Numbers
6.11.09 -- Employer Sentenced to 90 Days in Jail for Repeated Failure to Pay Wages
5.22.09 -- In Tough Times, Wage Security Fund Protects Displaced Oregon Workers
5.11.09 - Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian Appoints Oregon Council on Civil Rights
4.29.09 - BOLI Legislative Agenda Wins Bipartisan Support
4.20.09 - Labor Commissioner Expresses Concern over HB 2430
4.20.09 - April 2009 Declared Oregon Fair Housing Month; State Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian, Oregon Fair Housing Council, Eugene city leaders kick off observance by celebrating the proclamation (To view a copy of the proclamation, please click here)
4.16.09 - BOLI Working to Help Oregon Veterans Survive Record Unemployment
4.7.09 – Ron Wyden, Brad Avakian and Major General Rees to Discuss Employment Resources and Opportunities for Returning Veterans
4.3.09 - Brad Avakian and Local Leaders Praise New Corvallis High-School Pre-Apprenticeship Program; Join Students at Training
3.24.09 - Prevailing Wage Advisory Committee to Meet, Review Annual Prevailing Wage Rate Survey
3.16.09 - Brad Avakian on Latest Oregon Unemployment Numbers: Labor Commissioner comments on unemployment rate, BOLI’s challenges, opportunities
2.5.09 - Avakian Announces Forums on Family Leave Rules: Major changes in federal regulations prompt State Labor Commissioner to seek public input
1.16.09 - New Federal Family Leave Regulations Effective Today, Avakian Wants Public Comment on Conforming Rules
BOLI – Recently In the News
New group will help address civil rights
Salem Statesman-Journal, 7.8.09
Former Eatery Owner Penalized
Eugene Register-Guard, 6.11.09
Regulators seek reimbursement for state funds from restaurateur
Eugene Register-Guard, 5.19.09
BOLI Braces for Staff Cuts
Daily Journal of Commerce, 5.19.09
A new civil rights council
Eugene Register-Guard, 5.13.09
Oregon Tradeswomen head to co-chair civil rights group
Daily Journal of Commerce, 5.13.09
Oregon Bureau of Labor Establishes Civil Rights Board
The Skanner, 5.11.09
Swine flu may raise questions from employers, workers
Eugene Register-Guard, 5.7.09
Seven labor bills are headed to state House floor
Daily Journal of Commerce, 5.4.09
Employers get legal help from Bureau
Salem Statesman-Journal, 5.3.09
Immigrant Workers Face Extremes of Economic Crisis (Page 10)
Street Roots, 5.1.09
Oregon Legislature to debate bill on family leave for employees
Catholic Sentinel, 4.30.09
Suggestions Made to Change Prevailing Wage Rate Survey
Daily Journal of Commerce, 4.27.09
BOLI head has harsh words for prevailing wage bill
Daily Journal of Commerce, 4.22.09
Labor Commissioner Avakian Expresses Concern over HB 2430
Salem-News.com, 4.20.09
Housing Fairness More than Discrimination
KLCC Eugene, 4.20.09
Editorial: Demand for skilled labor rebounds fast
Gazette Times, 4.15.09
BOLI: How to File a Discrimination Complaint
The Skanner News (Portland), 4.9.09
Proponents of Paid Family Leave Seek Support in Oregon Legislature
The Oregonian, 4.9.09
Veterans Make Great Workers
Daily Journal of Commerce, 4.8.09
Program Shakes Up Lessons
Gazette Times, 4.4.09
Press Releases and News -- Archived
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