WASHINGTON — Today the U.S. Senate voted (46-47) to cut funding for the U.S. Department of Labor agency that ensures organized labor financial transparency and protects union members dues. The following comments were made on behalf of the U.S. Department of Labor in response to the vote:

"Today's Senate action hurts rank and file union members by cutting the budget of the enforcement agency that ensures they know how their hard earned dues are being spent and that protects them from election fraud, embezzlement of union dues and other financial abuses."

115 convictions obtained, $31.5 million in restitution in fiscal year 2007 alone

Nearly $269,000 in civil penalties also assessed

HOUSTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has filed a lawsuit in Houston against the Hong Kong Group Inc., and Hai Du Duong, Ha Duong and Tommy Vo, for allegedly failing to properly pay 391 employees more than $2 million in back wages in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Civil money penalties totaling $268,812 also have been assessed.

PITTSBURG, Texas — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) today announced that Pilgrim's Pride Corp., headquartered in Pittsburg, has entered into two consent decrees to settle the department's allegations that the company engaged in hiring discrimination based on gender and ethnicity over a two-year period against some 5,300 applicants.

two subcontractors agree to compensate 382 current and former workers

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) today announced its criminal enforcement data for August 2007. During August, OLMS obtained 11 indictments and eight convictions, for a total of 84 indictments and 108 convictions during fiscal year 2007 to date. These indictments and convictions primarily involve union officers and employees who have embezzled union funds.

Payments to benefit 385 low-wage domestic workers who cleaned homes and carpets

SAN FRANCISCO — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the filing of an administrative complaint against Woodland Hills, Calif.-based Alan Berman Trucking to recover $1,369,870 in back wages for 80 current and former employees. The complaint also seeks debarment of the company and its principals, which would prohibit them from receiving government contracts for a period of three years.

"Federal contractors have a responsibility to pay workers in accordance with federal law," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.

DALLAS — The U.S. Department of Labor today filed a lawsuit against Pilgrim's Pride Corp. in Dallas to recover back wages estimated to exceed $3 million for more than 500 former and current workers engaged in poultry processing work. The complaint was filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division.

Rule expands veteran coverage and changes mandatory listing requirement

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) today published regulations that implement changes to the nondiscrimination and affirmative action obligations of federal contractors and subcontractors with respect to protected veterans.

Court-ordered restitution from enforcement actions exceeds $101 million since 2001

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) today announced its criminal enforcement data for July 2007. During July, OLMS obtained four indictments and six convictions, for a total of 73 indictments and 100 convictions during fiscal year 2007 to date. These indictments and convictions primarily involve union officers and employees who have embezzled union funds.

WESTBURY, N.Y. — Five commonly operated restaurants located throughout Long Island, N.Y., and seven officers of the companies have been ordered to pay 192 employees a total of $966,046 in overtime back wages, and to pay the U.S. Department of Labor civil money penalties totaling $14,773 to resolve lawsuits filed by the department alleging violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

$3 billion to 32,000 workers and survivors

WASHINGTON — Today marks the sixth anniversary of the U.S. Department of Labor's administration of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program. The department has administered Part B of the program since its inception in July 2001 and was charged with implementation of Part E in October 2004 as part of an amendment to the energy program.

Includes facilities in Colorado, New Mexico, Ohio, Georgia and D.C.

DENVER — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an agreement with Ball Aerospace and Technologies Inc., a Broomfield, Colo.-based aerospace defense contractor, to pay $976,327 in back wages to 904 employees at Ball facilities in Colorado, New Mexico, Ohio, Georgia and the District of Columbia.

U.S. Department of Labors Wage and Hour Division posts compliance materials on Web site

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor reminds employers and employees that the federal minimum wage will increase to $5.85 on July 24. With this change, workers covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) will be entitled to be paid no less than $5.85 per hour. The law also requires that workers be paid on their regular paydays for all hours worked during a pay period.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao issued the following statement:

"Last night's House action cutting the budget of the Office of Labor Management Standards will impede effective enforcement of the law that protects union democracy and financial integrity for rank and file members."

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Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

SAN FRANCISCO — Desert Plastering, a Las Vegas plastering and masonry company, has agreed to pay $1,147,921 in back wages to 1,060 current and former employees following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division. Investigators found that the lathers, finishers, plasterers and estimators who worked as many as 58 hours a week did not receive overtime pay. Desert Plastering also failed to properly record the hours of work for these employees, who will receive back wage payments for work performed between April 2005 and March 2007.

NORTH STONINGTON, Conn. — Stonington Behavioral Health Inc. in North Stonington, doing business as Stonington Institute, and Pennsylvania-based parent companies Universal Health Services Inc. and UHS of Delaware Inc. have been ordered to pay 143 employees more than $1 million in back wages to resolve a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Labor alleging violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Revised Form LM-30 improves disclosure and increases transparency

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today released Family and Medical Leave Act Regulations: A Report on the Department of Labors Request for Information, a comprehensive review of the thousands of public comments received in response to the departments December 1, 2006, Request for Information about the Family and Medical Leave Act regulations and their impact in the workplace.