April 6, 2021

US Department of Labor cites Waterville auto body manufacturing plant for numerous willful, serious violations

AUGUSTA, ME – Employees at a Waterville auto body manufacturing plant repeatedly informed management of fall and noise hazards but these reports went ignored until the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration opened an inspection on Oct. 1, 2020, in response to a complaint.

April 5, 2021

Pennsylvania nonprofit pays nearly $45K in back wages to 80 employees after US Department of Labor finds overtime violations

GREENVILLE, PA – Every two weeks, supervisors and behavior specialists gathered at Keystone Adolescent Center Inc.’s five Greenville facilities where they discussed policy changes, completed required training and reviewed safety procedures – all to be prepared to help at-risk youth they serve.

April 5, 2021

US Department of Labor to host two-day virtual forum for construction industry employers, workers, other stakeholders

DALLAS – U.S. Department of Labor agencies in the Southwest will host a two-day virtual event April 7-8, 2021, to provide guidance on federal requirements governing construction employment to construction employers, contractors and workers in the region. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development  and U.S. Small Business Administration representatives will also participate.

April 5, 2021

Statement by Secretary Marty Walsh on the anniversary of the Upper Big Branch explosion

WASHINGTON, DC – On the 11th anniversary of the explosion at West Virginia’s Upper Big Branch mine, U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh today issued the following statement:

April 5, 2021

US Department of Labor obtains court order prohibiting Connecticut restaurants, owners from employee retaliation

HARTFORD, CT – Two Fairfield County restaurants and their owners were required to pay $137,465 in back wages and liquidated damages to workers after U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigations found that the employers violated the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

April 2, 2021

OSHA continúa investigando el incidente mortal ocurrido en enero en Foundation Food Group Services en Gainesville

ATLANTA – La Administración de Seguridad y Salud Ocupacional del Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU. está activamente investigando el incidente en Foundation Food Group Services en Gainesville donde un escape de nitrógeno liquido mató a seis trabajadores el 28 de enero de 2021.  

April 2, 2021

OSHA continues investigation into January fatal incident at Foundation Food Group Services in Gainesville

ATLANTA –  The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is actively investigating an incident at Foundation Food Group Services in Gainesville where a liquid nitrogen leak killed six workers on Jan. 28, 2021. 

April 2, 2021

Statement from U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh on the March 2021 Employment Situation Report

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh issued the following statement on the March 2021 Employment Situation Report:

April 2, 2021

US Department of Labor publishes Request for Information for determining prevailing wages for certain immigrants, non-immigrants

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today published a Request for Information soliciting public input on the sources and methods for determining prevailing wage levels for the employment of certain immigrants and non-immigrant workers.

April 1, 2021

US Department of Labor awards initial $3.1M grant to support cleanup, employment, training services after Texas’ severe winter storms

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an initial award of $3,120,612 to the Texas Workforce Commission to provide employment and training services to communities affected by severe winter storms in February 2021. High winds, heavy snow and historically low temperatures knocked out power for millions of residents, and state officials estimate the storms led to nearly 60 deaths.    

April 1, 2021

El Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU. lanza la traducción al español de Worker.gov para ampliar la conciencia sobre los derechos de los trabajadores

WASHINGTON, DC El Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU., anunció hoy el lanzamiento de su traducción al español de Worker.gov, su sitio web dedicado a informar a los trabajadores sobre sus derechos y las protecciones federales en el lugar de trabajo.

April 1, 2021

US Department of Labor launches Employment Navigator and Partnership Pilot for transitioning service members, spouses

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today the launch by its Veterans’ Employment and Training Service of a pilot program to enhance its ability to provide transitioning service members and their spouses with the assistance needed to be successful in the civilian workforce.

April 1, 2021

US Department of Labor launches Spanish translation of Worker.gov to expand awareness of workers’ rights

WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. Department of Labor announced today the launch of its Spanish-language translation of Worker.gov, a website dedicated to informing workers of their rights and federal workplace protections.

April 1, 2021

OSHA, Austin Power Partners Construction, labor unions sign partnership to promote construction safety on O’Hare Airport Terminal 5 expansion project

CHICAGO – Major construction projects require continued coordination between the general contractor, subcontractors, tradesmen and others working on-site to complete the build on time and on budget. Getting the work done while protecting the safety and health of those on the job takes similar coordination, and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration stands ready to assist.

April 1, 2021

New York-based petroleum carrier pays $375K to seaman fired for cooperating with barge explosion investigation

NEW YORK – A Long Island-based petroleum barge company and three former and current management officials have paid $375,000 in restitution to the brother of one of two seamen killed in a barge explosion off the coast of Texas. The seaman alleged the company fired him for cooperating with investigators and reporting safety concerns to the U.S. Coast Guard. The explosion occurred on Oct. 20, 2017, off Port Aransas aboard the Buster Bouchard/B. No. 255.

April 1, 2021

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending March 27, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 719,000, an increase of 61,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 26,000 from 684,000 to 658,000. The 4-week moving average was 719,000, a decrease of 10,500 from the previous week's revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since March 14, 2020 when it was 225,500. The previous week's average was revised down by 6,500 from 736,000 to 729,500.

March 31, 2021

Statement by Secretary Marty Walsh on President Biden’s announcement of the American Jobs Plan

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh issued the following statement after President Biden announced the American Jobs Plan, a comprehensive infrastructure package that will create millions of good-paying jobs and make America more competitive:

“President Biden’s American Jobs Plan is a historic investment in the working people of America. It will create millions of good paying, family sustaining jobs that rebuild the middle class by empowering our workers to build America’s future.

March 31, 2021

Zeigler Auto Group pays $85K in back wages to 214 workers after US Department of Labor investigation

KALAMAZOO, MI – Zeigler Auto Group’s sales may place it among the leading auto dealerships nationwide, but a recent federal investigation found sales consultants’ commissions often failed to meet minimum wage requirements at 13 Michigan, Indiana and Illinois locations.

March 31, 2021

New York contractor agrees to cease digging excavations, pay $135K in penalties, after 2020 fatal Long Island trench collapse

NEW YORK – A Long Island superstructure, foundation and concrete company will pay $135,612 in penalties stemming from the collapse of an approximately 30-foot deep trench in Oyster Bay that led to the deaths of two workers.

March 30, 2021

Maine tomato grower pays $337K in back wages, penalties after US Department of Labor investigation

MANCHESTER, NH The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $245,351 in back wages for 117 employees of a greenhouse tomato grower in Madison, Maine, that failed to comply with federal laws governing wages and working conditions for agricultural temporary guest workers, U.S. workers and workers in corresponding employment.