Portland observer., September 16, 1998, Page 2, Image 2

Page A2
SEPT. 16, 1998
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FALL SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY
An A sso ciatio n o f contractors
w ithin the A ssociated G eneral C on­
tractors (A G C ). O regon, is offering
a generous sc h o larsh ip opportunity
to an A frican A m erican high school
graduate.
The student m ust be interested
in pursuing a B a ch e lo r’s o f Science
degree in C o n stru ctio n s E ngineer­
ing M anagem ent (C E M ) at O regon
State U niversity.
The scholarship w as estab lish ed
in an effort to address the disparity
o f A frican A m ericans in the field o f
C onstruction E ngineering M anage­
ment.
The student m ust be academ i-
cally pre-
mg corn-
a v a ila b le
sc o re s,
pared hav-
p e te d an d
S A T
highschool
scripts with
2 .8 G P A ,
in g c o m -
and passed
s c ie n c e
s c h o la r -
w i I 1
i
cover tuition, books, fees in stru c­
tional m aterials, and o th erex p en ses
necessary for com pletion.
The A ssociation w ill also seek to
provide non traditional assistance
such as: assistan ce w ith O S U ad ­
m ittance process, gu idan ce c o u n ­
seling, fam ily and exten d ed fam ily
orientation. M entor relatio n sh ip s
and em ploym ent opportunités in the
field during sum m ers and an o th er
vacations are also available.
S cholarships are aw arded for 1
year and may be renew ed annually
based on perform ance for additional
years (up to 5).
Y ou need not be a 1998 grad u ate
to apply but you m ust m eet all o th er
elig ib ility requirem ents.
I f you m eet this criteria p lease
contact FM Burch and A sso ciates
at 503-735-9455 fo ra n application.
Construction Contractors to Receive
Wage Survey
The annual prevailing wage
rate survey is in the mail today
and should reach employers in
the construction industry dur­
ing the second week o f Sep­
tember. State law requires the
payment o f prevailing wages
to workers on public works
projects that cost $25,000 or
more.
The purpose of the survey is
to determ ine the prevailing
wages o f non-residential con­
struction workers in various
trades and in various locations
throughout Oregon. Wages in
some trades can differ widely
from company to company,
from region to region. The
survey covers wages on all non-
re s id e n tia l
c o n stru c tio n
projects, giving the bureau the
data necessary to set a wage
that fraily reflects the “prevail­
in g ” w ag e in an a re a , th e p r e ­
v a ilin g w a g e ca n b e c o m p a re d to
a “ m in im u m w a g e ” fo r c o n s tru c ­
tio n w o rk e rs o n p u b lic w o rk s
p ro je c ts. W o rk e rs m a y n o t be
p a id le s s th a n th e p r e v a ilin g
w a g e , b u t e m p lo y e rs c a n o p t to
p ay th e m m o re.
O re g o n law re q u ire s th e b u ­
re a u to c o n d u c t th e a n n u a l s u r ­
vey.
T h e law a lso re q u ire s e m p lo y ­
ers to re sp o n d .
T h e su rv e y a sk s e m p lo y e rs to
s e le c t a p e a k w e e k o f e m p lo y ­
m e n t b e tw e e n Ju n e 21 a n d A u ­
g u st 15 a n d to re c o rd th e lo c a ­
tio n .ty p e o f c o n s tru c tio n , c a t­
e g o rie s o f c o n s tru c tio n w o rk e rs ,
a n d th e ir w ag e s an d frin g e b e n ­
e fits o n b o th p re v a ilin g w ag e a n d
n o n - p r e v a ilin g w a g e p r o je c ts .
E m p lo y e rs sh o u ld re tu rn s u rv e y s
w ith in tw o w ee k s o f re c e iv in g
th em in th e m ail.
This is the third year that the
bureau has surveyed Oregon
employers. Results from the
last two surveys have differed
from previous federal surveys,
effecting the prevailing wages
of many trades. BOLI adjusted
the prevailing wages only after
examining and comparing the
data from both years, confirm­
ing industry trends. Results
form this year’s survey assist
the labor commissioner is set­
ting the prevailing wages for
1999, effective January 1.
BOLI is contracting with the
Oregon Employment Depart­
ment to collect the data. Em­
ployers should send their com­
pleted surveys to the Employ­
ment Department, 875 Union
S treet NE, Salem , O regon
97311.
NECA an d IBEW Local 48 O pen Theic
D oots at Open House
T o c e le b ra te th e ir n ew 1BEW
L o cal 48 U n io n H all an d N E C A -
IB E W E le c tric a l T ra in in g C e n ­
ter, th e O re g o n -C o lu m b ia C h a p ­
te r o f th e N a tio n a l e le c tric a l C o n ­
tra c to rs A s s o c ia tio n , an d th e I n ­
te rn a tio n a l B r o th e rh o o d o f E le c ­
tric a l W o rk e rs, L o c a l 48 h e ld a
g a la O p e n H o u se in Ju n e f e a tu r ­
ing to u rs, sp e a k e rs, re fre sh m e n ts,
an d a p p la u s e fro m e v e ry o n e w h o
a tte n d e d .
T h e e v e n a t tr a c t e d N E C A /
IB E W c o n tra c to r s a n d e le c tri-
c ia n s - b o th c u r r e n t a n d r e tir e d
m e m b e rs-a s w ell as a v is it fo rm
N a tio n a l J o in t A p p r e n tic e s h ip
an d T ra in in g C o m m itte e D ir e c ­
to r A .J. P e a rso n , w h o d e liv e re d
th e o p e n in g sp e e c h an d p ra is e d
th e te a m w o r k o f N E C A a n d
IB E W L o ca l 48 s h o u ld b e p ro u d
o f w h a t h a s b e e n b u ilt h e r e ,”
s ta te d P e a rso n .
“ B ut you s h o u ld be m u ch m o re
p ro u d o f th e fa c t th a t y o u w e re
a b le to b u ild h e re b e c a u s e o f a ll
th a t y o u ’v e d o n e to g e th e r to g et
to th is p o in t.”
Minority Business Coaching Offered
The Oregon Business Network is
accepting applications for minority
business coaching.
This six-month program, under a
special pilot project funded through
the Oregon Economic Development
Department (OEDD), will select 10
minority businesses or individuals that
are or want to be in business. This is
special up-close and personal consult­
ing.
A team o f experienced business
owners has been assembled for this
Bureau Proposes to Fine Taco Bell
T h e B u re a u o f L a b o r a n d In ­
d u s trie s W ag e an d H o u r D iv i­
sio n h as n o tifie d T a c o B ell h e a d ­
q u a rte rs in Irv in e , C a lifo rn ia th a t
th e la b o r c o m m is s io n e r in te n d s
to fin d th e c o m p a n y $ 3 2 ,0 0 0 fo r
m eal an d b rea k v io la tio n s in v o lv ­
ing 1 6 m in o rs . T h e 32 v io la tio n s
o c c u rre d th r o u g h o u t 1997 at th e
T ac o B e ll r e s ta u r a n t at 16300 SE
M c L o u g h lin in M ilw a u k ie , an d
are in v io la tio n o f a C o n s e n t O r­
d e r th e c o m p a n y sig n e d in 1995
in w h ic h it a g re e d to a b id e by
s ta te w a g e an d h o u r la w s r e g a rd ­
ing e m p lo y m e n t to m in o rs.
In 1994 an d 1995, the B u reau
o f L a b o r c o n d u c te d a c o m p li­
an c e re v ie w o f T ac o B e ll w h en
se v e ra l m in o rs file d w ag e c laim s
a n d c o m p la in ts c o n c e rn in g
b re a k s a n d m e al p e rio d s a g a in st
its re s ta u ra n ts . A fte r an in v e s ti­
g a tio n , th e b u re a u p ro p o se d fin ­
in g T a c o B e ll fo r fa ilin g to file
e m p lo y m e n t c e r tif ic a te s , failin g
to m a in ta in a d e q u a te an d a c c u ­
ra te tim e re c o rd s , an d fa ilin g to
m a k e th e se re c o rd s a v a ila b le to
th e b u re a u . T h e b u re a u so u g h t
$ 18,000 in p e n a ltie s . In a s e ttle ­
m e n t a g r e e m e n t , T a c o B e ll
a g re e d to p a y $ 1 0 ,0 0 0 w ith o u t
a d m is s io n , an d sig n e d a C o n s e n t
O rd e r, p ro m is in g to c o m p ly w ith
th e s t a t e 's w ag e an d h o u r law s in
th e fu tu re an d to p ro v id e tra in in g
in th e s e la w s— e s p e c ia lly th o se
p e rta in in g to th e e m p lo y m e n t o f
m in o r s —-for its m a n a g e rs an d
m a n a g e rs in tra in in g in O re g o n .
In Ju ly , 1997, th e b u re a u r e ­
c e iv e d an a n o n y m o u s c o m p la in t
a lle g in g th a t m in o r e m p lo y e e s at
th e T a c o B e ll r e s t a u r a n t on
M c L o u g h lin B lv d . in M ilw a u k ie
w ere n o t re c e iv in g re st an d m eal
p e rio d s. A n in v e s tig a tio n , w h ich
in c lu d e d in te rv ie w s w ith se v e ra l
m in o r e m p l o y e e s w h o h a d
w o rk ed at the re sta u ra n t, rev ealed
th a t T a c o B e ll d id n o t c o n s is ­
te n tly p ro v id e re s t p e rio d s to its
m in o r e m p lo y e e s, o fte n d id n o t
p ro v id e th e se re st p e rio d s w ith in
th e re q u ire d p e rio d s o f tim e , an d
d id n o t a lw a y s p e rm it its m in o r
e m p lo y e e s to ta k e a m eal p e rio d
w h en th e y w o rk e d six o r m o re
h o u rs d u rin g a sh ift. U n d e r O r ­
e g o n law , m in o r e m p lo y e e s m u st
re c e iv e a re s t p e rio d o f at le a s t
15 m in u tes d u rin g ev e ry fo u r h o u r
p e rio d o f w ork.
M eal p e rio d s o f at le a st 30
m in u te s m u st b e p ro v id e d to m i­
n o rs no la te r th an fiv e h o u rs a fte r
th e y b e g in to w o rk . F o u rte e n
an d 15 y e a r o ld s m u st b e fu lly
re lie v e d fro m d u ty ; six te e n a n d
17 y e a r o ld s m u st b e p a id fo r th is
tim e i f th e y a re re q u ire d to w o rk
d u rin g th e m eal p e rio d , th e c u r ­
re n t a c tio n in v o lv es rest an d m eal
p e rio d s o n ly , n o t th e p a y m e n t o f
w ag es.
Adjustments to Tax Payments
Necessary for Federal Retirees
Retired U S. governm ent em ploy­
ees w ho reside in O regon m ay need
to adjust their quarterly estim ated
tax paym ents before sending them to
the O regon D epartm ent o f Revenue
by the Septem ber 15 deadline.
D ue to a recent O regon Supreme
C ourt ruling, eligible federal retirees
no longer have to pay O regon tax on
their federal pension. Those who
w orked for and retired form the U S.
Governm ent prior to October 1,1991,
will not need to m ake quarterly esti­
m ated tax paym ents to O regon on
their federal pension.
“If, how ever, they receive income
from other sources such as interest,
dividends, or pensions not paid by
the federal governm ent, they may
need to continue m aking estim ated
tax paym ents on these sources o f
incom e.” advises Jim Bucholz o f the
O regon D epartm ent o f Revenue
F e d e ra l r e tir e e s w h o
w orked for the federal governm ent
prior to O ctober 1,1991, but who did
not retire until after that date, must
continue to pay taxes on that portion
o f their federal pension attributable
to federal service after O ctober 1,
1991. Bucholz explains that the de­
partm ent has devised a calculation
for federal retirees to use when figur­
ing their estim ated tax paym ent.
The calculation is best de­
scribed as an exam ple: Joe began
w orking for the U.S. Postal Service
February 5, 1965 and retired N o­
vem ber 16, 1995. He w orked 320
m o n th s before 10-1-91, and 50
m onths after that date for a total o f
370 months. In 1998, he received
federal pension income o f $35,000.
He can subtract 86.5% (320 divided
by 3 7 0 ), o r $ 3 0 ,2 7 5 (8 6 .5 % x
$35,000) o fh is federal pension form
O regon income. In future years, he
will continue to subtract from O r­
egon income 86.5% o f his federal
pension. He then will calculate his
estim ated tax paym ent on the differ­
ence betw een $30,275 and $35,000
w hich is $4,725, plus taxable income
from all other sources.
Bucholz cautions that this
advice is for O regon income taxes
only. “ For federal income tax pur­
poses, we highly recom m end retir­
ees contact their tax practitioner, or
the IRS.” The IR S ’s tax information
num ber is 1-800-829-1040.
The changes to federal re­
tirees’ pension incom e com es from
the June O regon Suprem e Court rul­
ing on Fog/ v. O regon Department
o f Revenue, stating that Oregon must
tax federal, state, and local govern­
m ent retirees equally.
The case is now before the
O regon Tax C ourt w hich m ust ap­
prove a rem edy to federal retirees.
That rem edy likely will be a refund
based on variables such as years o f
service, application o f interest, and
eligibility o f federal retirees.
The O regon D epartm ent o f
Revenue continues w ork on a pro­
cess that will lead to efficiently issu­
ing refunds to federal retirees, and
aw aits further direction from the O r­
egon Tax Court. The departm ent is
w orking to identify affected retirees
and develop criteria to determ ine
individual refunds.
For additional inform ation,
taxpayers may contact Tax H elp at
503-378-4988. Spanish speakers
m ay call 503-945-8618. For TTY
(hearing or speech im paired only),
the y ear-ro u n d to ll-free n u m b er
within O regon is 1-800-866-7204.
In Salem the num ber is 503-945-
8617. These num bers are answ ered
by m achine only and are not for voice
use.
Interested individuals also
can check the departm ent’s w eb site
at w w w .dor.state.or.us. The site has
the latest updates and background on
this topic.
project.
The members are Roger Crabbs,
President Host Publications, Inc.: Roy
Jay, Executive Director o f Oregon
Business Network; Peggy C. Ross,
President o f Ross Business Develop­
ment Group; Harold W illiams Presi­
dent o f CH2A & Assoc.; and Alan J.
Zell, Ambassador o f Selling.
For an application call Oregon Busi­
ness Network at 503-244-5794 ext.
6601. Applications will be received
through September 15, 1998. Selec­
tions will be made by September 30,
1998.
To qualify for acceptance into the
program:
*The applicant must com plete and
return application postm arked by Sep­
tember 15, 1998.
*Be A frican A m erican, N ative
American. Latin American or Asian/
Pacific American.
*Be willing to com plete the pro­
gram prescribed following assessment
by the counselors.
CANNON’S
= R !B EXPRESS
Chicken • Pork Ribs • Beef Ribs
C aterin g & T ak e-O u t
Wayne & Juanita Cannon
(Proprietors)
Our Specialty: Real Hickory Smoked Bar-B-Q
Mon-thur 11:30am-9:00pm • FRI-SAT11:30am-11:00pm» Sun 1:00pm-7:00pm
3328 N.E. KILLINGSWORTH
288-3836