KENNEWICK, WA – The U.S. Department of Labor has debarred a Kennewick farm labor contractor from participating in the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program for three years after finding the employer provided workers with unhealthy living conditions; transported them in unsafe vehicles driven by people without licenses or proper permits; withheld wages and made illegal pay deductions; told workers to falsify documents to mask violations of federal regulations; and denied U.S. workers access to jobs.

Employers:    Wholestone Farms Cooperative Inc.

                             900 South Platte Ave.

                             Fremont, NE 

Empleador:                               La Flor de Mexico Inc.

Lugar de investigación:            5121 Commerce Drive

Employer:                                 La Flor de Mexico Inc.

Investigation site:                      5121 Commerce Drive

ROME, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced Ball Container LLC, a subsidiary of Ball Corp., has entered into a conciliation agreement in which the employer will pay $309,000 in back wages and interest to resolve alleged race-based hiring discrimination at the company’s beverage manufacturing facility in Rome. 

WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su issued the following statement on the September 2024 Employment Situation report: 

“Today’s jobs report shows that our economy continues to thrive, adding 254,000 jobs in September, with the unemployment rate falling to 4.1 percent. With an average of 186,000 jobs added over the past three months, it’s clear that people who need a job are finding a job. That’s how strong our economy is. 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the approval of up to $5 million in initial emergency grant funding to Florida to support disaster-relief jobs and training services in 31 counties to help respond to Hurricane Helene.

WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su issued the following statement on the agreement reached between the International Longshoremen's Association and the United States Maritime Alliance.

ATLANTA – As states across the Southeast address Hurricane Helene’s impacts, the U.S. Department of Labor reminds employers in disaster recovery and their workers that even when disaster strikes, worker protections apply.

NEWARK, DE – The U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs has entered into a conciliation agreement with Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc. to resolve alleged pay discrimination against female employees at its manufacturing facility in Newark. 

TAMPA, FL – Rather than address the 15 existing safety and health hazards cited by federal workplace safety inspectors in July 2023, a Pinellas Park boat manufacturer continues to jeopardize the safety and health of its workers, according to a follow-up inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor.

HEMINGFORD, NE ‒ Federal investigators found life-threatening hazards at a Nebraska grain cooperative, where workers faced risks of fire and explosions due to the company allowing a buildup of combustible dust and failing to maintain effective dust collection systems, leading to more than $500,000 in proposed penalties. 

In the week ending September 28, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 225,000, an increase of 6,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 218,000 to 219,000. The 4-week moving average was 224,250, a decrease of 750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 224,750 to 225,000.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $6 million in funding to help recruit, train and retain more women in quality pre-apprenticeship and Registered Apprenticeship programs, as well as in nontraditional occupations. 

The Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations grants will enable organizations in eight states and the District of Columbia to provide training programs in skilled building trades, advanced manufacturing and information technology. 

KANSAS CITY, MO – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration launched a regional emphasis program to address worker safety in the highly hazardous grain handling industry as preventable injuries and unchecked hazards continue to be a serious concern for workers in the region. The program in Missouri is identical to programs already in place in Kansas and Nebraska.

ENDERLIN, ND – A federal whistleblower investigation has found a North Dakota railroad company illegally retaliated against and terminated a claims representative who reported an injury, discussed safety concerns with their supervisor and filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor. 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $1 million in grants to seven organizations in five states to support education and training initiatives that will help identify and prevent unsafe working conditions in and around the nation’s mines.

WAUKEGAN, IL – Chemical products manufacturer AB Specialty Silicones LLC will pay $1.3 million in penalties after an explosion and fire at its Waukegan plant in May 2019 claimed the lives of four workers. 

ATLANTA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has completed changes to restructure its regional operations and created a new region to better protect workers and educate employers as businesses expand and workforces grow in communities in several southeastern states.

Among the changes is the creation of a new region based in Birmingham to serve Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and the Florida Panhandle.

WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su issued the following statement on negotiations between USMX and the International Longshoremen’s Association: