June 27, 2016

Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez’s statement on Supreme Court denying challenge to minimum wage, overtime protections for home care workers

WASHINGTONU.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez today issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision not to hear a challenge to the department’s Home Care Final Rule:

“The U.S. Department of Labor’s Home Care Final Rule is vital to the nearly two million workers who provide home care services to our loved ones who wish to remain in their homes and communities.

June 24, 2016

US Labor Department announces $64.5M in grants as part of Obama administration’s efforts to break cycle of poverty, crime and incarceration

WASHINGTON – What’s next for the 600,000 people released from federal and state prisons annually, millions more leaving county and local jails, and others in danger of falling into the cycle of poverty, crime and incarceration? With the help of $64.5 million in grants announced today by the U.S. Department of Labor, the answer for some will soon be in-demand skills, access to good jobs and a stronger foundation of support within their communities.

June 23, 2016

Job Corps launches ready-to-work pilot program

WASHINGTON – A pilot program developed by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration on how best to provide integrated academic and technical training to economically disadvantaged youth through the Job Corps program will begin operations this fall.

June 23, 2016

Indiana watermelon packer/shipper pays more than $58K in back wages, damages to 14 workers after failing to pay overtime

Type of Action: Fair Labor Standards Act Consent Judgment

Defendant(s): Indian Hills Produce Inc. and John Toth

June 23, 2016

Silicon Valley residential care facilities violated overtime, minimum wage laws; 32 workers to receive $718K in back wages, damages

Employers: Lorraine Cerezo Lim doing business as LQC Care Home and Richlee Care Home
Luzviminda Cerezo doing business as White Oaks Manor, Cerezo Residential Care Home and Ross Senior Care Home

Sites: 427 Richlee Drive, Campbell, California
2064 Cherry Ave., San Jose, California
2991 Faircliff Court, San Jose, California
1573 Willow Oaks Drive, San Jose, California
2858 Ross Ave., San Jose, California
1680 White Oaks Ave., Campbell, California
2934 Jessie Court, San Jose, California

June 23, 2016

Virginia company to pay $1.5M in back wages, fringe benefits to 140 IT professionals to resolve US Labor Department lawsuit

WASHINGTON – A Chantilly-based technology company contracted to install audio-visual equipment at government installations nationwide will pay $1.53 million in back wages and benefits to 140 information technology professionals in federal consent findings.

June 23, 2016

OSHA announces Safety Stand-Down at worksites throughout Southeast to emphasize response to, prevention of heat-related illnesses, injuries

ATLANTA – In 2014, 2,630 workers suffered from heat illness while 18 died from heat stroke and related causes on the job – all of which was preventable.

To raise awareness about these dangers, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, employers and trade associations will conduct a one-hour Safety Stand-Down at construction sites and workplaces in eight Southern states from June 27 to July 1, 2016.

June 23, 2016

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending June 18, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 259,000, a decrease of 18,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 277,000. The 4-week moving average was 267,000, a decrease of 2,250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 269,250.

June 22, 2016

Despite extensive violation history, OSHA finds Dollar General continues to expose workers to safety hazards at Shamokin, Pennsylvania, store

Employer name: DOLGENCORP LLC, doing business as Dollar General Store #398

Inspection site: 30 East Independence St., Shamokin, Pennsylvania

June 22, 2016

Inspection finds Ohio foundry continues to expose workers to hazards

FRANKLIN, Ohio – A federal workplace safety and health inspection found workers exposed to the risks of amputation, hearing loss and respiratory damage at A&B Foundry & Machining Inc. due to same hazards identified by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration at the Franklin foundry in 2012.

June 22, 2016

More than $50K in OSHA fines for Fort Worth steel fabricator

Employer name: K-T Galvanizing Company Inc.

Inspection site: 2500 Chambers Street, Venus, TX 76084

Citations issued: June 17, 2016

June 22, 2016

Labor Department announces availability of $50.5M to help states expand, diversify registered apprenticeship opportunities

WASHINGTON – States across the nation have the opportunity to expand registered apprenticeship programs that provide pathways for American workers from all backgrounds to acquire the skills and knowledge needed for good-paying jobs in fields such as information technology, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, building trades, cybersecurity and business services, through a new U.S. Department of Labor grant competition announced today.

June 22, 2016

Historic Oklahoma City restaurant pays workers $52K in back wages, damages after Labor Department investigation

Employer: Junior’s Inc., doing business as Junior’s Supper Club

Site: 2601 NW Expressway, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

June 22, 2016

OSHA issues willful, serious citations for MillerCoors Fort Worth brewery

Employer name: MillerCoors Fort Worth brewery

Inspection site: 7001 South Freeway, Fort Worth, Texas 76134

Citations issued: June 17, 2016

June 22, 2016

Towing parts manufacturer continues to expose workers to machine, electrical hazards at Mentor manufacturing facility

Employer name: Trailer Component Manufacturing Inc., operating as Buyers Product Company
Mentor, Ohio

Citations issued: June 20, 2016

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued three repeated and eight serious violations to Trailer Components Manufacturing, which operates as Buyers Product Company. 

June 21, 2016

OSHA fines grain elevator company for willfully, repeatedly exposing workers to potentially fatal grain engulfment hazards

Employer name: High Country Elevators Inc.

Worksites: 62784 US-491, Dove Creek, CO 81324

Citations issued: June 10, 2016

June 21, 2016

OSHA finds cold storage company lacked proper procedures for use of potentially dangerous ammonia

Employer name: Americold Logistics
Carthage, Missouri

Citations received: June 16, 2016

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration

June 21, 2016

Union City contractor allowed dangerous hazards that led to worker’s fatal fall while removing siding at Bayonne home

Employer name: Bolivar Enterprises LLC, 902 Central Ave., Union City, New Jersey

Citations issued: On June 3, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations for nine serious violations.

June 21, 2016

Jennie-O Turkey Store to pay $492K in back wages to 339 female applicants after US Labor Department investigation found hiring discrimination

WILLMAR, Minn. – Jennie-O Turkey Store Inc. has agreed to hire 53 women and pay $491,861 in back wages to 339 female job applicants denied entry-level jobs at its Willmar turkey-processing facility. The company’s action resolves a U.S. Department of Labor lawsuit alleging the global turkey products producer discriminated in its hiring practices.