NEW HAVEN, CT – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Connecticut Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Division (CONN-OSHA), New Haven Building Trades, and Dimeo Construction Company, have established a strategic partnership to promote workplace safety and health, and educate employees on construction hazards during construction of a new science building in New Haven.

In the week ending December 16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 245,000, an increase of 20,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 225,000. The 4-week moving average was 236,000, an increase of 1,250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 234,750.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta issued the following statement today in response to Congressional approval of tax reform legislation:

“Passage of tax reform is welcome news for American workers, job seekers, and job creators. We’ve seen strong job growth since President Trump took office, with 1.7 million jobs added since January. Tax reform that makes America more competitive will bolster continued job creation and will help increase wages for American workers.”

ATCHISON, KS – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Bartlett Grain Company LP have signed a comprehensive settlement requiring the company to implement safeguards, training, and audit procedures at its 20 grain handling facilities in six states.

LOUISVILLE, KY – American Security Programs Inc., a security service providing armed guards, will pay $277,306 in back wages to 61 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor investigation found the company violated the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA), the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standard Act (CWHSSA), and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WASHINGTON, DC – The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Census of 2016 Fatal Occupational Injuries reports there were 5,190 workplace fatalities in 2016, a 7-percent increase from 2015. The fatal injury rate also increased from 3.4 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers in 2015 to 3.6 in 2016.

LOGANVILLE, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited R.A.W. Construction LLC for exposing its employees to trench collapse hazards. The Tallahassee-based company faces proposed penalties of $148,845.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta visited Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands this past weekend to meet with senior officials managing the recovery efforts and to inspect Job Corps centers damaged during hurricanes Irma and Maria.

“My visit to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands allowed me to see firsthand the resilience of our fellow Americans who are recovering from the devastation of this year’s hurricanes,” said Secretary Acosta.  “We will continue to support the workforce as local communities continue to rebuild.”

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The owner of six southern New Jersey gas stations has paid $1,471,024 in back wages and damages to 24 gas station attendants to resolve violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

PITTSBURGH, PA – A federal contractor that serves as the prime contractor for repair and renovation projects at federal buildings in West Virginia and Kentucky, has paid $213,282 in back wages to seven employees to resolve violations of federal law found by the U.S. Department of Labor.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta issued the following statement regarding the release of the Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions:

In the week ending December 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 225,000, a decrease of 11,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 236,000. The 4-week moving average was 234,750, a decrease of 6,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 241,500.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta issued the following statement today regarding President Trump’s remarks on tax reform:

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division and New Mexico’s Office of the Attorney General have signed a collaboration agreement to combat human trafficking in New Mexico. The anti-human trafficking agreement is the first of its kind in the Department.

BIRMINGHAM, AL – The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Southern Division, has sentenced a former fund manager in Birmingham to make restitution in the amount of $45,896 and serve five years of probation, including six months of home confinement, for violating the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. In addition, she has been barred from acting as a fiduciary for five years.

WASHINGTON, DC – As retailers and other businesses temporarily increase staffing levels to accommodate heightened seasonal consumer demand, the U.S. Department of Labor reminds employers of the necessity of complying with federal labor laws related to safety, pay, and benefits.

SAVANNAH, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Dustcom Limited Inc. for failing to protect its employees from trench collapse hazards. The Garden City construction company faces proposed penalties of $130,552.

JASPER, AL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Carl Cannon Inc., an automobile dealership, for serious safety violations after three employees died and two were injured at its Jasper facility.

BOWMAN, ND – The U.S. Department of Labor has debarred Lambourn Farm, a North Dakota grain and cattle farming operation, from participation in the H-2A temporary visa program after the farm violated program provisions and failed to cooperate with Department investigators.

The H-2a program allows employers to bring non-immigrant, foreign workers to the U.S. to perform agricultural labor.

SYRACUSE, NY – A jury and judge ordered Albany-based asbestos abatement and demolition company Champagne Demolition, LLC and its owner, Joseph A. Champagne, to pay $173,793.84 to a former employee who was fired in June 2010 after reporting improper asbestos removal practices at a school worksite in Gloversville, New York.