Resources for forest workers
The following resources were created to help forest workers learn more about their legal work rights, safety in the workplace, and the services available to support them. They were made in collaboration with Lomakatsi-Northwest Forest Worker Center and Oregon State University Extension.
Brochures
These brochures were developed based on questions and concerns that forest workers frequently voiced to Lomakatsi's promotoras de salud. They are distributed to workers outside of work hours, usually on the weekend, in places that workers frequent in their communities.
Providing workers with these brochures outside of their workplace offers them the opportunity to access information about their legal rights on their own time and without fear of retaliation from their employer.
Videos
These videos complement the topics covered in the brochures and can be shared over social media platforms, such as WhatsApp. Many forest workers use WhatsApp to communicate with their families abroad and are familiar with the user interface of the application. These videos create an opportunity to share informational materials through a digital medium and reach workers that may not work in southern Oregon's Rogue Valley.
Work injuries and workers' compensation
Additional resources
AgriStress Helpline for Oregon
The AgriStress Helpline is here for the agricultural community, dedicated to serving farming, ranching, fisheries and forestry communities.
Deferred action for workers in labor disputes
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has created a new process for workers involved in a labor dispute at their workplace to request temporary protection from deportation and a work permit.
For example, if an employer is not paying overtime, not providing the right number of breaks, or is not providing adequate safety equipment, the employees might complain to the employer and might also report the violation to a local, state, or federal labor agency. In this case, workers may also apply to receive deferred action and become eligible to receive a work permit valid for two years.
Trabajador Migrante
This all-Spanish website developed by the US Department of Labor (DOL) provides visa workers with information and resources about their rights in the US.
PestiSeguro/PestiSafe
This smartphone application was developed by the Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (PNASH) for forest and agricultural workers who work with herbicides and pesticides. The app provides an English to Spanish translation of commonly used pesticide labels in the Pacific Northwest.
How to file a complaint
If you require help filing any type of complaint, please contact our Promotora de Salud, Martha Valle Hernandez, at 541-821-3377. When filing a claim, you may use a third-party complainant to contact these agencies on your behalf and protect your identity.
Wage theft
Wage theft can take many forms, for example:
- Visa recruitment fees
- Deductions for work tools and safety equipment
- Unpaid overtime
- Misclassification of prevailing hourly wage
If you believe your employer is not paying you what you are owed, you can file a claim online or on the phone. Filing a claim is confidential, however, investigations may require you to disclose your name to your employer so that you may receive unpaid wages. Remember, an employer cannot retaliate against a worker for exercising their rights, filing a complaint, or cooperating with an investigation.
In the state of Oregon, contact the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) or call 971-673-0761.
In other states (i.e., California, Washington, Idaho), contact the Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) or call 1-866-487-9243.
Safety and health violations
You have a right to receive required safety equipment, receive safety training in a language you understand, report an injury or illness, and to speak up about hazards without fear of retaliation.
If you believe there is a serious workplace hazard or if you think your employer is not following Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) standards, you (or your representative) have the right to file a confidential safety and health complaint and request an OSHA inspection of your workplace.
In the state of Oregon, contact Oregon's Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OR-OSHA) or call 541-776-6030 (Medford office).
In other states (i.e., California, Washington, Idaho), contact the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) or call 1-800-321-6742.