WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has announced the availability of up to $29.2 million in demonstration grant funds to expand the impact of workforce development initiatives in the Appalachian and Delta regions through the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) grant initiative. 

BURLESON, TX – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Rice Drywall Inc. – based in Burleson, Texas – has paid $354,763 in back wages to 558 employees to resolve overtime violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

AUSTIN, TX – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) will offer a compliance seminar for contractors, unions, workers and other interested parties to provide information on the rules governing federal prevailing wage requirements. The event in Austin, Texas, will offer training on labor standards for federally funded construction and federal service contracts.

ANCHORAGE, AK – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) will offer a compliance seminar for contractors, unions, workers and other interested parties to provide information on the rules governing federal prevailing wage requirements. The event in Anchorage, Alaska, will offer training on labor standards for federally funded construction and federal service contracts.

LUBBOCK, TX – After investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Shiprock Enterprise LTD and Junior Senior Inc. - operator of two Subway franchises in Lubbock, Texas - has paid $79,999 in back wages and liquidated damages to 52 employees for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) overtime requirements.

RALEIGH, NC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Demetrio Inc. – operating as El Pollo Rico Restaurant in Raleigh, North Carolina – has paid $48,248 in back wages and liquidated damages to 32 employees for violating the overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

JACKSONVILLE, FL – After an investigation by the U.S Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Gulf Breeze Landscaping LLC – based in Gautier, Mississippi – has paid $44,832 in back wages and liquidated damages to 11 employees for violating overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

PHOENIX, AZ – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited ASARCO – a metal smelting company – for electrical hazards after an arc flash caused three workers to suffer severe burns at its facility in Hayden, Arizona. The company faces $278,456 in penalties for two willful violations and one serious violation.

ATHENS, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has signed a strategic partnership with the Associated General Contractors of Georgia Inc. and Mortenson Construction to promote worker safety and health during the construction of the U.S. National Poultry Research Center, Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory in Athens, Georgia.

In the week ending June 1, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 218,000, unchanged from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 3,000 from 215,000 to 218,000. The 4-week moving average was 215,000, a decrease of 2,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 750 from 216,750 to 217,500.

SAN DIEGO, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), JEM Unlimited Iron Inc. – a welding company based in Anaheim, California – will pay $529,186 to 145 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

LOS ANGELES, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), ESS Apparel Inc. – a garment sewing contractor based in Los Angeles, California – will pay $53,876 to 21 employees for violating the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

PHOENIX, AZ – The U.S. District Court in Arizona has banned one local farm labor contractor from doing business as a contractor permanently and ordered another to comply with all applicable laws in the future after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation revealed systemic violations of the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA) and the labor provisions of the H-2A foreign guest worker program.

CORNELIUS, NC - After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Cowboy LKN LLC – a restaurant based in Cornelius, North Carolina – has paid a $12,085 civil money penalty for violating the child labor requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

MIAMI, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), AWA Security Inc. – a security company based in Miami, Florida – will pay $66,412 in back wages and liquidated damages to 23 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

SAIPAN, CNMI – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Saint Trading Co. Inc. – a hotel staffing agency based in Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands – will pay $163,327 in back wages and liquidated damages to 73 employees for violating the minimum wage and overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Additionally, WHD assessed $40,150 in penalties because of the repeat nature of the violations.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an opioid-crisis Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services for up to up to $11,000,000, with $3,666,667 released initially. This grant will provide disaster-relief jobs and employment services to eligible individuals in Ohio impacted by the health and economic effects of widespread opioid use, addiction, and overdose.

BELLE GLADE, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Duda Farm Fresh Foods Inc. – based in Belle Glade, Florida – for exposing employees to workplace safety hazards after a worker required medical treatment due to an anhydrous ammonia leak in the farm's packaging house. The company faces $95,472 in penalties.

PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), By The Sea Resorts Inc. – based in Panama City Beach, Florida – will pay $38,513 in back wages to 78 guest workers for violating overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and labor provisions of the H-2B visa program. In total, $7,304 in back wages were found as a result of FLSA violations, while $31,209 in back wages were found for H-2B violations.By The Sea Resorts Inc. also paid a civil penalty of $12,695.

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is currently engaged in an education and enforcement initiative to boost compliance in the Southeast's agricultural industry, educate stakeholders, employers, and employees about federal wage laws, and to provide employers with compliance assistance.