ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced the publication of comprehensive data regarding safety and health records of the nation's mines.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced more than $8 million in grants to 22 states to make automation and technology upgrades within unemployment insurance systems.

"Increased workloads have put a strain on many state unemployment insurance systems," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "We must work to ensure that technology is up to par to guarantee quality service for all unemployment claimants regardless of volume or demands on state programs."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $10 million in grant funds to 22 states to make technology improvements leading to more accurate unemployment insurance benefit payments.

"We must constantly strive to improve the systems that prevent improper payments within unemployment insurance systems," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Technology improvements can save money both by preventing overpayments and in staff time that otherwise would be dedicated to recovering improperly paid benefits."

CLINTON, Md. — The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment ordering Walton Mechanical Service Inc. and its president, David A. Walton Jr., to restore $17,378 to the company’s SIMPLE IRA Plan.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration has launched a Web portal to help job seekers match their current skills to new careers and find out what training is needed to transition from one job to another. This new online tool is called "mySkillsmyFuture" and can be accessed at http://www.myskillsmyfuture.org. Users will be able to view local job postings and locate training and education providers.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the addition of the Career Videos for America's Job Seekers to a new federal government-wide site, http://www.challenge.gov.

PHENIX CITY, Ala. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited MDLG, doing business as Phenix Lumber Co., for 53 safety and health violations following the death of one worker and the critical injury of a second at its Phenix City facility. Proposed penalties total $439,400.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the August 2010 Employment Situation report released today:

"This past August, the economy gained 67,000 jobs in the private sector, and the unemployment rate increased to 9.6 percent. Total nonfarm employment declined by 54,000 over the month, as 114,000 temporary census jobs wrapped up between July and August and more than offset the private sector job gains.

Turlock, California – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued D. L. Silva Inc., Daniel Silva, Dennette Dores and the estate of Dennis Silva for allegedly failing to remit or collect $104,513 in employee and employer contributions owed to the company's plan in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. The plan provides health and pension benefits to as many as 19 company employees.

Mining community urged to focus on safe work practices

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today issued a safety alert and fatality update to the mining industry to draw renewed attention to deaths that have occurred this year in mines throughout the country.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the appointment of Dusti Gurule as her regional representative in Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska. Gurule is based in Denver, Colo.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been petitioned by Public Citizen, a national advocacy organization, as well as other groups and individuals, to issue regulations that would limit the work hours of resident physicians. In response to the request, the assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health, Dr. David Michaels, today issued the following statement:

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Aug. 28, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 472,000, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 478,000. The 4-week moving average was 485,500, a decrease of 2,500 from the previous week's revised average of 488,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.5 percent for the week ending Aug. 21, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.5 percent.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the appointment of Robert Asaro-Angelo as her representative in the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Asaro-Angelo will be based in New York City.

ARLINGTON, Va. The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced the release of two new program information bulletins pertaining to the rights of miners who make hazardous condition complaints and request inspections, as well as miners' protections against discrimination.

BLANDON, Pa. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued citations to Kief Industries Inc., doing business as Excelsior Brass Works. The citations allege the company knowingly exposed workers to lead hazards and violated federal workplace safety and health standards at its Blandon facility. Proposed penalties total $550,400.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has published interim final rules that will help protect workers who voice safety, health and security concerns. The regulations, which establish procedures for handling worker retaliation complaints, allow filing by phone as well as in writing and filing in languages other than English.

HOUSTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued Goodman Manufacturing Co. LP 83 willful citations for failing to record and improperly recording work-related injuries and illnesses at the company's Houston air conditioning cooling facility. Proposed penalties total $1,215,000.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today posted online its first-ever Labor Day video. This year, instead of giving the traditional "State of the American Worker" Labor Day speech in front of a small group, Secretary Solis has recorded a video both in English and Spanish highlighting the department's support of and commitment to the American worker. By harnessing the power of technology, she is able to speak directly to all American workers.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today fined Whitesell Corp. $3,071,500 and cited the company with 72 safety and health violations for exposing workers to amputation hazards and other problems at its manufacturing plants in Tuscumbia and Muscle Shoals, Ala.