Do You Work in the Forest? Forest Workers' Rights
by: Columbia Legal Services
Forestry workers have certain rights.
Most forestry workers have rights as "employees" of the employer. If you are an "employee", you have these rights:
Worker's Compensation
If you are hurt at work, you have the right to receive worker's compensation, which pays medical costs and compensation for work time lost due to the injury.
Terms of Employment in Writing
When you are offered work, you have the right to receive a paper explaining the terms of your pay, how long the work will last, the bonuses that you will receive and the deductions that are going to be made from your pay.
Unemployment Insurance
The employer has to pay into the unemployment compensation fund for when you are without work.
Pay Stubs
The employer has to give you a wage stub that shows how much work you have done, the deductions from your wages and why they were made, and the hours that you worked.
Minimum Wage
If you are an adult, the employer has to pay you at least $8.07 per hour, even if you are working by piece rate. There are some exceptions to this law.
Protection from Discrimination
It is illegal that you be fired becuase you exercise your rights under these laws.
Sometimes, employers or contractors treat their workers like "independent contractors" or "partners" even though they are considered "employees" under the law. If you are being treated like an independent contractor or a partner, you might not receive any of the benefits listed here even though you may have the right to them.
YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS ARE DETERMINED BY THE WAY IN WHICH YOU WORK, NOT BY WHAT YOUR EMPLOYER CALLS YOU.
If you have questions about whether you are an "employee" or an "independent contractor", you may call:
COLUMBIA LEGAL SERVICES
Wenatchee Office
300 Okanogan Avenue, Suite 2-A
Wenatchee, WA 98801
(509) 662-9681
1-800-572-9615 (toll free)
Yakima Office
600 Larson Building
6 South Second Street
Yakima, WA 98901
(509) 575-5593
1-800-631-1323 (toll free)
Kennewick Office
418 - F North Kellogg
Kennewick, WA 99336
(509) 374-9855
1-888-201-9735
NORTHWEST JUSTICE PROJECT
Wenatchee Office
300 Okanogan Avenue, Suite 3-A
Wenatchee, WA 98801
(509) 664-5101
1-888-201-1021 (toll free)
Yakima Office
510 Larson Building
6 South Second Street
Yakima, WA 98901
(509) 574-4234
1-888-201-1018 (toll free)
© 2008 Northwest Justice Project.
1-888-201-1014, TTY 1-888-201-9737
(Permission for copying and distribution granted to the Alliance for Equal Justice and individuals for non-commercial use only.)
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