Christina Stephenson— Oregon’s newly elected labor commissioner has decided who will be her deputy: Longtime Oregon AFL-CIO political and legislative director Jessica Giannettino Villatoro. Labor leaders view the pick as a good sign: Giannettino Villatoro has been a fierce fighter in the Oregon Legislature for some of the laws Stephenson will be responsible for enforcing.Â
Oregon’s elected labor commissioner is in charge of the Bureau of Labor and Industries, which enforces wage and hour and civil rights laws, and the law requiring prevailing wage in construction. The labor commissioner also oversees the state-registered apprentice training programs. Â
