PORTLAND — Oregon factory and mill workers may see a significant pay increase after the state’s Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) issued new guidelines on how regulators will interpret and enforce overtime laws for workers in certain industries. The announcement is welcome news for hundreds of thousands of workers across Oregon who, up until this point, were being shorted by their employers of all their hard earned wages.
Under Oregon wage and labor laws, factory and mill workers are entitled to one and a half times their regular hourly rate of pay when they work more than 10 hours in a day, more than 40 hours in a week, or both. Previously, state labor regulators interpreted the statute to apply to either 10 hours a day or 40 hours per week, whichever is greater, but not both.
All of this changed in response to a lawsuit filed by a group of bakers at Portland Specialty Baking accusing their employer of failing to pay overtime wages, telling workers not to use their accrued sick time, and illegally busting up their attempts to unionize. While the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) continues to investigate the defendant’s anti-union activity, the company ultimately settled the unpaid overtime wage lawsuit with over 100 workers at the facility.
Oregon Overtime Laws Protect Worker’s Wages, Occupational Health and Safety
Through their courage and determination to be paid for all their hard work, the plaintiffs in that suit helped bring their plight, and that of so many others, to the attention of Oregon regulators. From now until the foreseeable future, factory and mill workers will earn both daily and weekly overtime to help provide for their families.
Furthermore, the enforcement of this law helps in occupational health and safety by limiting how long employers keep workers on shift in potentially hazardous industrial jobs. As it stands, employees cannot be forced to work more than 13 hours in a single shift, no matter how much overtime an employer may pay out.
Oregon Factory Worker Unpaid Overtime Lawsuits
Call (855) 754-2795 or complete the Free Unpaid Overtime Case Review form on the top right of this page if you believe that your wage rights are being violated under the FLSA. Our top-rated team of unpaid wage lawyers will evaluate your situation to determine your best course of action to help you seek justice.
Our office will also determine if it is in your best interest to file a lawsuit against your employer. Because strict time limitations apply for filing these types of claims, we advise you contact our experienced unpaid overtime wage attorneys at your earliest convenience and preserve your legal rights.