An Important Step Forward for Oregon Workers

Statement of Northwest Workers’ Justice Project Executive Director Michael Dale on legislature’s enactment of HB 2977

Salem-News.com

(PORTLAND, OR) - The Oregon legislature today voted to make it harder for unscrupulous construction labor contractors to cheat workers out of the wages they’ve earned. This constitutes an important step in the broader effort to ensure that all Oregon’s workers get paid in full for their labor.

House Bill 2977, which now heads to the Governor for signature, is common sense legislation that will discourage wage theft in a particularly problematic sector. Far too often labor brokers in the construction industry have stiffed workers of their wages. Among other things, HB 2977 requires most construction labor brokers — those whose only job is to supply workers — to obtain a license with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries. It also makes construction businesses that intentionally use unlicensed brokers jointly liable for unpaid wages.

Today’s bipartisan Senate vote in favor of HB 2977 acknowledges the great harm that wage theft does to Oregon communities. Most directly it harms the workers whose wages are stolen and the families that depend on their hard-earned income. Honest businesses suffer too, as they’re forced to compete with businesses that cheat workers. And local economies feel the pain when workers’ wages go unpaid.

On behalf of Oregon’s working people, I want to recognize the tremendous efforts of our legislative supporters, members of the Oregon Coalition to Stop Wage Theft and, particularly, the courageous workers who have spoken out about this problem. The desire to see an end to wage theft has united labor, faith, workers’ rights, small business and community organizations from across the state.

While much work remains to end wage theft in our state, Oregonians today can celebrate that we’ve taken an important step in that direction.

Source: NORTHWEST WORKERS’ JUSTICE PROJECT