WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $771,218 National Emergency Grant to Arkansas following damage caused by the severe weather events that occurred on April 27. These funds are being awarded to the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services to hire temporary workers to assist in cleanup and recovery efforts.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a total of $4,204,401 for two National Emergency Grants to assist approximately 650 workers affected by recent layoffs in Idaho.

"Workers affected by these layoffs will need to be trained in the latest skills in order to be competitive in today's workforce," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. "This funding will provide the resources these workers need to become employed in the region's fastest growing industries and occupations."

Date of Action: April 18, 2014

Type of Action: Consent Judgment and Order

Name(s) of Defendant(s): Robert Mack Durham, Sharon Kaye Durham, Palmetto Family Medical Group Inc.

PHOENIX — The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $198,085 in back wages for 23 workers employed by Glendale-based Tierra Contracting Inc. for willful violations of the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts and the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act. Tierra Contracting and its owner, Richard Juarez Sr., also have been debarred from applying for federally funded contracts for a period of three years because of the egregious nature of the violations found.

SAN ANTONIO — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, Alamo Area Disability Alliance and Workforce Solutions Alamo are sponsoring two events May 29 to encourage diversity in hiring.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of approximately $15 million in grants to state workforce agencies to develop flexible and innovative strategies to increase the participation of people with disabilities in existing career pathways programs in the public workforce system.

"Water. Rest. Shade." and acclimatization are critical in preventing heat illness and fatalities

CHICAGO — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed suit against Omega Restaurant Ltd. and its owner, James Chiampas, seeking $145,000 in unpaid wages and liquidated damages for nine employees. An investigation by the department's Wage and Hour Division found violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act's minimum wage, overtime and record-keeping provisions at the restaurant.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor is notifying all former employees of Joslyn Manufacturing and Supply Co. about a new class of employees added to the Special Exposure Cohort of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. The EEOICPA provides compensation and medical benefits to workers who became ill because of working in the nuclear weapons industry. Survivors of qualified workers also may be entitled to benefits.

NEW YORK — Enviro & Demo Masters Inc. and Gladiators Contracting Corp., along with the companies' owner Jover Naranjo and foreman Luperio Naranjo Sr., have been ordered to pay a total of $656,646 to 37 workers after failing to pay them the required prevailing wage rates and fringe benefits on a federally funded construction project in New York City. Due to the extent and willful nature of the violations, all parties have been ordered to be debarred from seeking and obtaining federal contracts for a three-year period.

HOUSTON— — Outdoor Furniture Refinishing Inc., doing business as Allied Powder Coating, has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 15 serious health and safety violations with a proposed fine of $55,440. OSHA cited the sandblasting and powder coating company for exposing workers to toxic chemicals, including silica, beyond established occupational limits.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Pursuant to a consent judgment entered into by the U.S. Department of Labor, Portland-based Georgetown Realty Inc., the company's owner, John Mahaffy, and the Georgetown Realty Inc. Profit Sharing Plan and Trust, will pay $420,127 to the plan for losses due to imprudent real estate investments directed by Mahaffy.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has determined that McLean, Va.-based The CFP Group Inc. failed to pay $55,186 in prevailing wage rates, fringe benefits, minimum wage and overtime to 11 workers in violation of the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts, the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act.

DANBURY, Conn. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division will offer a comprehensive compliance seminar for employers, community rehabilitation programs and other stakeholders on the rules governing the payment of workers with disabilities under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The seminar will be held June 5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT at the Western Connecticut State University, Midtown Student Center, 181 White St., Danbury, Conn. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. There is no charge to attend.

NEW YORK — A Manhattan-based women's jewelry and accessories maker faces $47,600 in proposed penalties from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for exposing workers to blocked exits, fire and safety hazards at its 254 W. 35th St. location. In response to a complaint alleging unsafe workplace conditions, Natasha Accessories Ltd. was cited for eight serious and three repeat violations, following an inspection by OSHA's Manhattan Area Office that began on Feb. 7.

LOS ANGELES — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a former Cement Masons Southern California Administrative Corp. employee who was allegedly fired for cooperating with an ongoing department investigation. The corporation managed assets for five Cement Masons employee benefits trusts in southern California.

Date of Action:  May 19, 2014

Type of Action:  Consent Order and Judgment

Names of Defendant: Sister Rosalind Gefre Schools and Clinics of Massage Inc., Peter Fahnlander and Larry Hanson, individually, and as fiduciaries to the Sister Rosalind Gefre Employee Retirement Plan.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The health and safety of workers during the construction of Arkansas State University's student activity center in Jonesboro is the goal of a new strategic partnership formed today between the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration and general contractor VCC LLC.

DETROIT — Following the death of a worker who was hit by a forklift , the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Nicholson Terminal & Dock Co. with nine — including two willful and seven serious — safety violations. The incident occurred Nov. 19, 2013, at the Detroit marine terminal when the worker was struck by a 62,000-pound-capacity forklift carrying a 40,000-pound steel coil.

JANESEVILLE, Wis. — Power Coatings LLC, a company that specializes in powder coating metal parts, has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 14 serious safety violations, including failing to protect workers from toxic substances, which can cause cancer, lung impairment and other diseases. OSHA has proposed penalties of $51,800 following a December 2013 complaint inspection of Power Coatings' Janesville facility.