WHITAKERS, NC – After a routine compliance evaluation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), Consolidated Diesel Inc. – a federal contractor and subsidiary of Cummins Inc. – has agreed to pay $50,000 in back wages for alleged pay discrimination against African-American managers at the diesel engine manufacturing facility in Whitakers, North Carolina.

In the week ending June 8, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 222,000, an increase of 3,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 218,000 to 219,000. The 4-week moving average was 217,750, an increase of 2,

APOPKA, FL – After investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Rios Rodriguez Enterprises Inc. – owner of five Central Florida restaurants – will pay $83,577 in back wages to 91 employees for violating the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer also paid $21,266 in civil money penalties for repeated violations.

ORANGE BEACH, AL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Bahama Bob's Beachside Café Inc. – a full-service restaurant based in Orange Beach, Alabama – has paid $81,129 in back wages and liquidated damages to 28 employees for violating overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

AUGUSTA, ME – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Shawn D. Purvis, owner of Purvis Home Improvement Co. Inc. for egregious willful, repeat, and serious workplace safety violations. Purvis - a Saco, Maine, roofing contractor - faces a total of $1,792,726 in penalties. The enforcement action follows the death of an employee in Portland, Maine, on December 13, 2018.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has completed a major upgrade to its primary data system – the Mine Data Retrieval System (MDRS) – bringing increased functionality and more intuitive navigation to this widely used feature.

SUWANEE, GA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Granite Masters Inc. – a granite countertop installation company based in Suwanee, Georgia – will pay $105,020 in back wages and liquidated damages to 36 employees for violations of the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

CAMP LEJEUNE, NC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Apex Systems LLC – a staffing agency and government subcontractor at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina – has paid $1,523,137 in back wages to 209 employees for violating provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA).

AURORA, IL ‒ The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited residential homebuilder Florentino Rodriguez of DB Custom Carpentry LLC for exposing employees to falls at a residential site in Wheaton, Illinois. The contractor faces penalties totaling $196,905 for one serious and two willful safety violations.

In November 2018, OSHA inspectors observed employees working without adequate fall protection. The company was also cited for failing to train employees on fall protection and safe forklift operations.

KEY WEST, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Evoqua Water Technologies LLC – based in Thomasville, Georgia – for failing to protect employees working in excessive heat. The company faces $21,311 in penalties, including the maximum penalty allowed by law for the heat-related violation.

HOUSTON, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Energy Transportation LLC and MW Logistics Services LLC for serious safety violations after a fatal fire at a natural gas processing plant in Houston, Pennsylvania.

PADUCAH, KY – The U.S. Department of Labor and the Joint Outreach Task Group will host a town hall meeting in Paducah, Kentucky, on June 20, 2019, to discuss the benefits available to current and former nuclear weapons workers from covered facilities, and their families, under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act.

DALLAS, TX -  After a routine compliance evaluation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), Ben E. Keith Company (BEK) – operating as Fort Worth/Waco Beer & Fleet Main and Ben E. Keith Dallas Fort Worth Foods (BEK Foods) – has agreed to pay $350,000 in back pay and interest to resolve alleged hiring discrimination at its two Fort Worth, Texas, facilities.   

PANAMA CITY, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Coqui Disposal Services LLC – a disposal and janitorial service company and federal contractor at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Florida, an area significantly affected by Hurricane Michael – has paid $22,335 in back wages to 46 employees for violating requirements of the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA).  

NEW CASTLE, DE – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Croda Inc. after a chemical release at the New Castle, Delaware, manufacturing plant exposed workers to ethylene oxide. The company faces $262,548 in penalties.

KANSAS CITY, MO ‒ The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is seeking to raise awareness of hazards in the electrical industry in Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. OSHA wants employers to work to reduce the number of serious injuries, illnesses, and fatalities among engineers, electricians, and other professionals who perform electrical operations including work on overhead lines, cable harnesses, and circuit assemblies.

LAKEWOOD, NJ – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Navy Contractors Inc. for exposing employees to fall hazards at a work site in Lakewood, New Jersey. The company faces $84,183 in penalties for repeat and serious safety violations.

OMAHA, NE ‒ The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited national discount retailer Family Dollar Store for safety violations after the company allowed equipment to block an exit route at an Omaha, Nebraska, store. OSHA proposed penalties of $302,147.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta and Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards today announced a new Job Corps demonstration project to serve at-risk youth with skills instruction through an expansion of the Louisiana National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program. The Louisiana National Guard currently operates three Youth ChalleNGe programs: at Camp Minden, at Camp Beauregard and at the Gillis W. Long Center. The Job ChalleNGe project will be delivered through a repurposed Carville Job Corps Center, which is located adjacent to the Gillis W.

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Benito's Brick Oven Pizza & Pasta – a North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina-based restaurant – has paid $54,355 in back wages and liquidated damages to 12 employees for violating overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).