WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor, in cooperation with state and local partners, is setting aside funding and will be making grants to assess workforce needs in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Florida, and other states in response to Hurricane Irma. The Department will continue to work cooperatively with states and territories to assess needs as they develop and respond accordingly. U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta has directed the Department to assist the residents and businesses in affected areas.

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division is conducting a statewide survey of wages paid to workers in Tennessee on all active building construction projects to establish prevailing wage rates required under the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts.

EL PASO, TX – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the David L. Carrasco Job Corps Center have renewed an alliance to provide young workers in El Paso with information, guidance, and training to enhance the center’s health and safety culture.

EL PASO, TX – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the El Paso Community College – Risk Management Institute have signed an alliance to provide workers, students, and employers in El Paso with information, guidance, and access to OSHA training classes.

BALTIMORE, MD – A Virginia company that provided human resources and other services to federal agencies nationwide paid more than $3 million in back wages and fringe benefits to resolve the findings of a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation.

MEDLEY, FL – Hometown Foods USA – a commercial bakery doing business as Bagelmania Inc. – faces $129,145 in proposed penalties from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) after investigators found workers at its Medley facility exposed to amputation, fire, and noise hazards.

OSHA cited the employer for 16 serious and other-than-serious safety and health violations after receiving a complaint alleging machine-guarding, forklift, and noise hazards.

In the week ending September 2, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 298,000, an increase of 62,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 236,000. This is the highest level for initial claims since April 18, 2015 when it was 298,000. The 4-week moving average was 250,250, an increase of 13,500 from the previous week's unrevised average of 236,750.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta released the following statement to commemorate Labor Day:

“Labor Day is the one day a year that we set aside to honor the men and women who work every day to make this nation great. At the Department of Labor, we have the great privilege of engaging with the greatest workforce in the world, the American workforce.

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

“This month’s jobs report reflects the continued economic strength and optimism spreading across the United States. Since January, 1.2 million jobs have been added to the economy.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta joined U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, and other cabinet officials, in Texas to survey the affected areas, consult with state and local officials, and offer support and gratitude to first responders.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a proposed 18-month extension from January 1, 2018, to July 1, 2019, of the special transition period for the Fiduciary Rule’s Best Interest Contract (BIC) Exemption and the Principal Transactions Exemption, and certain amendments to Prohibited Transaction Exemption 84-24.

In the week ending August 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 236,000, an increase of 1,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 234,000 to 235,000. The 4-week moving average was 236,750, a decrease of 1,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 237,750 to 238,000.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced an update on employee benefit plan compliance for those impacted by Hurricane Harvey.

“Our deepest and most immediate concern is for those who are in harm’s way, and for the first responders who will work tirelessly to help those affected,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. “We also realize that employers and employees impacted by Hurricane Harvey will need assistance in dealing with employee benefits issues arising from disruptions in banking and payroll processing.”

WASHINGTON, DC — As part of its commitment to state and local partners impacted by Hurricane Harvey, the U.S. Department of Labor has approved an initial $10 million National Dislocated Worker Grant to assist with cleanup and recovery efforts in Texas.

MARSHFIELD, WI – A Wisconsin manufacturer of steel pipes and tubes faces $110,458 in proposed penalties after U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspectors responded to a complaint and found 13 serious safety and health violations at the company’s Marshfield facility.

NEW YORK, NY – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Skanska Walsh Joint Venture have entered into a strategic partnership to enhance workplace safety and health for approximately 1,600 employees working on the LaGuardia Airport Central Terminal Building Redevelopment Project.

ST. LOUIS, MO – A successful partnership to reduce safety incidents, injuries, and lost work time for St. Louis area masons has been renewed for a new three-year term by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Mason Contractors’ Association of St. Louis (MCA).

EMERY, SD – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited First Dakota Enterprises Inc., for failing to protect its workers from trench collapse hazards.  The Fort Pierre-based company faces proposed penalties of $95,064.

On May 23, 2017, a 34-year-old worker was completely buried when the walls of a 14-foot trench collapsed around him. Co-workers quickly freed the victim’s head, which allowed him to breathe while emergency personnel worked for more than 30 minutes to free him.

SIMI VALLEY, CA – Today, during remarks at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta announced that U.S. President Ronald Reagan will be inducted into the U.S. Department of Labor Hall of Honor.

In the week ending August 19, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 234,000, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 232,000. The 4-week moving average was 237,750, a decrease of 2,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 240,500.