WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta today welcomed the start of National Apprenticeship Week, a nationwide opportunity for companies, trade and industry groups, nonprofit organizations, unions, labor-management organizations, and educational institutions to highlight how apprenticeship programs can address the nation’s skills gap. President Donald J.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta issued the following statement regarding Veterans Day:

“On Veterans Day, we continue a solemn national commitment to always remember the service and sacrifice of America’s veterans. Veterans are patriotic and selfless, reflecting the very best of our nation.

BOSTON, MA – A Chestnut Hill restaurant and its owner will pay $141,132 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 15 employees in a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor. Café Misono Inc. and owner Kenneth Lee have also amended their pay practices to comply with federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requirements. They will also pay a $7,000 civil money penalty to the Department.

BOSTON, MA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Lynnway Auto Auction Inc. for electrical, struck-by, and other hazards at its auto auction facility in Billerica.

NEW YORK, NY – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has again cited Trade Fair Supermarkets for exposing employees to safety and health hazards at three of its locations in Queens, New York. The company faces $505,929 in proposed penalties.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced its Final Rule for the Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing (HIRE) American Military Veterans Act. The law, signed by President Trump in May, creates the HIRE Vets Medallion Program, which will recognize companies and organizations for their efforts to recruit and retain America’s military service veterans.

The HIRE Vets Medallion Program will launch as a demonstration in 2018 with about 300 participating employers. It will be fully implemented in 2019.

In the week ending November 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 239,000, an increase of 10,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 229,000. The 4-week moving average was 231,250, a decrease of 1,250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 232,500. This is the lowest level for this average since March 31, 1973 when it was 227,750.

BILLINGS, MT – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited a Billings general contractor and a Rock Springs, Wyoming, subcontractor for exposing workers to numerous safety hazards, causing an employee to suffer severe burns. The companies face $249,516 in proposed penalties.

ROLLA, MO – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Anderson Foot and Ankle Clinic for potentially exposing employees to infectious materials, and for violations of the hazard communication standard. The agency proposed penalties totaling $93,074.

RAYMOND, NE – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited a Nebraska grain-handling cooperative for failing to protect workers from grain bin entrapment and engulfment hazards. The company faces $373,911 in proposed penalties.

BELLEVUE, NE – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Bimbo Bakeries USA for exposing workers to multiple hazards at its Bellevue commercial bakery. The company faces $122,625 in proposed penalties.

CHICAGO, IL – The U.S. Department of Labor obtained a temporary restraining order in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against AEU Holdings LLC and AEU Benefits LLC (collectively “AEU”), and Black Wolf Consulting Inc. The defendants failed to pay more than $26 million for participants’ health benefit claims in the AEU Holdings LLC Employee Benefit Plan.

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has resumed normal enforcement throughout most of Florida and Georgia. The agency had ceased most programmed enforcement actions following Hurricane Irma.

BUFORD, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Elringklinger USA Inc. for exposing workers to electrical, fall, and noise hazards. Proposed penalties total $308,906.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta issued the following statement on the October 2017 Employment Situation report:

“October’s jobs report shows a return to strong pre-hurricane employment growth, with 261,000 new jobs created in October and upward revisions of +51,000 jobs for September and +39,000 jobs for August.  Including revisions, this month’s report reflects 351,000 additional jobs.  Since January, the economy has added nearly 1.5 million jobs.

NEWARK, NJ – After a seven-day trial, a jury sitting in U.S. District Court in Newark found Paul Moe Sr., general foreman for a Port Elizabeth terminal operator, guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 13 substantive counts of wire fraud.

In the week ending October 28, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 229,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 233,000 to 234,000. The 4-week moving average was 232,500, a decrease of 7,250 from the previous week's revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since April 7, 1973 when it was 232,250. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 239,500 to 239,750.

BOISE, ID – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Alta Construction, Inc. for one willful and two serious violations after failing to follow safe trenching practices. OSHA proposed $106,000 in fines.

In May, OSHA inspected the company’s jobsite after receiving two complaints of unsafe trenching operations. Inspectors found employees inside a 7-feet deep trench without cave-in protection.

NEW ALBANY, MS – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Custom Nonwoven Inc., a subsidiary of Korea Synthetic Fiber, for willfully exposing its workers to multiple hazards. The New Albany-based company faces penalties of $220,544.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced National Dislocated Worker Grant funding to help assess workforce needs in California after devastating wildfires.