Wage and Hour Division finds systemic labor violations at 21 day care centers in 8 states

Investments will promote job creation and economic growth in local industry clusters in Ariz., Calif., Mich., NY, Okla., Ore., Pa., Tenn. and Wash.

WASHINGTON – The Obama administration today announced that 10 public-private partnerships across America will receive $20 million in total awards to help revitalize American manufacturing and encourage companies to invest in the United States.

Date of Action: Oct. 3, 2012

Type of Action: Consent order and judgment

Names of Defendant: LFAC Inc. Profit Sharing 401(k) Plan

Allegations: LFAC, Inc. was acquired by the General Castings Company in approximately 1996.  Subsequently, General Castings Company served as the plan’s sponsor and administrator.  The plan was abandoned when General Castings Company ceased doing business in 2004.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the September 2012 Employment Situation report released today:

"Our nation's labor market added 114,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in September, while the unemployment rate dropped to 7.8 percent, its lowest level since January 2009. Additionally, 86,000 more Americans found jobs in July and August than had been previously reported.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $450,777 National Emergency Grant increment to provide re-employment services for about 184 workers affected by layoffs at six RG Steel facilities – four in Ohio and two in West Virginia – along with one supplier, Kinder-Morgan, located in Pennsylvania.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending September 29, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 367,000, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 363,000. The 4-week moving average was 375,000, unchanged from the previous week's revised average.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today introduced a new compliance assistance resource to address one of the most commonly cited violations in the metal and nonmetal mining industry: improperly guarded machinery. "Guarding Machinery at Metal & Nonmetal Mines" is a sequel to a compliance guide for guarding conveyor belts published in 2010. In that year, guarding-related violations peaked at 10,877 and accounted for one of every seven violations cited.

Date of Action: Oct. 2, 2012

Type of Action:  Consent order and judgment

Names of Defendant: Joseph A. Seher, Pat Mowery, Cheryl Sloan, Accucast Technology LLC 401(k) Plan and Accucast Technology LLC Health Plan

Allegations: Mowery and Sloan in their capacity as fiduciaries to the Accucast Technology LLC 401(k) Plan and Accucast Technology LLC Health Plan failed to ensure employee contributions were forwarded to the plan.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is launching an alternative dispute resolution pilot program for complaints filed with OSHA's Whistleblower Protection Program. ADR can assist complainants and employers in resolving their disputes in a cooperative and voluntary manner.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that the FBI Laboratory's Evidence Response Team Unit is facilitating a two-week course on conducting accident investigations for 18 of the agency's accident investigators and special investigators. The pilot training program began Sept. 24 and will continue through Oct. 5 at the National Mine Health and Safety Academy in Beaver, W.Va.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against GreatBanc Trust Co. and Sierra Aluminum Co. in the U.S.

WASHINGTON − Following a plea agreement entered in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, William H. Kiser and Mary Sue Kiser, trustees of the Irotas Manufacturing Co. Inc. 401(k) Plan, have been sentenced to 15 months in prison and three years of supervised release for embezzling funds from the plan. The Kisers also have been ordered to pay restitution.

Minnesota-based food distributor to pay back wages to 84 women — and provide job offers — to settle allegations of sex discrimination at North Carolina facility

30 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands receive funding

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the appointment of four new members and re-appointment of two current members to the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health. They will serve two-year terms and represent the interests of the public, employers, employees and government.

The 15-member committee meets at least twice a year. The newly appointed and re-appointed members will join nine other current members serving the remainder of their terms on the committee.

New process will increase ease, accessibility and transparency of filing process

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration today announced that it will introduce electronic processing for H-2A and H-2B foreign labor certification applications filed by U.S. employers or their authorized representatives. A notice about the new process is in the Sept. 28 edition of the Federal Register, which can be viewed at http://s.dol.gov/WT.

Murray Energy Corp. subsidiaries agree to pay $1.15 million, accept 4 contributory and 3 flagrant violations, and settle other cases

Violations found in Johnstown, Ohio, also will benefit employees in Torrington, Conn., Tifton, Ga., and Commerce, Texas

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending September 22, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 359,000, a decrease of 26,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 385,000. The 4-week moving average was 374,000, a decrease of 4,500 from the previous week's revised average of 378,500.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an award of a $950,000 grant to the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America in Arlington, Va., to establish the Office of Disability Employment Policy's Accessible Technology Action Center, a national resource that will facilitate and promote the use of accessible technology in the hiring, employment, retention and career advancement of individuals with disabilities.