Date of Action: July 20, 2012

Type of Action: Consent order and judgment

Names of Defendants: James H. Trotter, Sr.; Sylvia Trotter; Trotter Construction Company, Inc.; Trotter Development Group NC, LLC, and The Trotter Construction Company, Inc. 401(K) Plan, located in Indianapolis, Ind.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $256,953 National Emergency Grant to assist with cleanup and recovery efforts in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Debby, which made landfall in Florida June 23.

"Tropical Storm Debby brought flash floods, tornadoes and coastal erosion to Florida," said Jane Oates, assistant secretary of labor for employment and training. "The department's funding is part of the federal government's commitment to help Floridians rebuild their communities and put their lives back on track."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2 million grant to assist about 450 workers who will be affected by the closure of the General Motors assembly plant in Shreveport, La. Layoffs at General Motors and by three of its suppliers – Android Industries LLC, Johnson Controls and Voith Industrial Services Inc. – will begin in August and continue through December.

WASHINGTON – The states of Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina and Texas will receive grants totaling $3 million to develop strategies aimed at helping returning Army veterans find employment more quickly through the public workforce system, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced today. This funding represents an initiative of the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Army under the Unemployment Compensation for Ex-service Members program.

OSHA proposes more than $34,000 in fines for exposing workers to hazards; Wage and Hour Division seeks nearly $214,000 in back wages and penalties

CLIFFWOOD BEACH, N.J. ‒ The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit seeking to recover losses suffered by participants in the SJP Group Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan. The department’s suit is based on an investigation conducted by its Employee Benefits Security Administration that found violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded a $420,518 grant to assist about 100 Connecticut workers affected by layoffs at the businesses of Klingberg Family Centers in New Britain, Moore Wallace North America Inc. (known as RR Donnelley) in Windsor and Raytel Cardiac Services Inc. (which also operated as Philips Remote Cardiac Services) in Windsor.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced six new appointments and 21 reappointments of members to the Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship. The committee is charged with expanding apprenticeships into all sectors of the economy and building partnerships that increase apprenticeship opportunities for Americans.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending July 14, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 386,000, an increase of 34,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 352,000. The 4-week moving average was 375,500, a decrease of 1,500 from the previous week's revised average of 377,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending July 7, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Labor has ordered two railroad companies to pay three workers a total of $650,729.14 in back wages and damages for retaliating against them for reporting workplace injuries and safety concerns. The orders resulted from investigations conducted by the Chicago office of the department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which were initiated upon receiving complaints from the employees.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today released a midyear summary of mining deaths across the country. During the first half of 2012, 19 miners died in work-related accidents at the nation's mines.

Agreement includes $550,000 in compensation for more than 250 job applicants who are African-American, of Asian or Hispanic descent

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy today announced the availability of a $1.1 million grant to fund a cooperative agreement to manage and operate the National Technical Assistance and Demonstration Center on Preparing Youth with Disabilities for Employment. The center will build capacity within and across youth service delivery systems to improve employment and postsecondary education outcomes for youth with disabilities.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration will hold a free women’s retirement savings forum on Saturday, July 28, 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. CDT, at the University of Illinois-Chicago, Student Center East Building, Illinois Room A, 750 S. Halsted St., Chicago, Ill. 60607. “What Every Woman Should Know About Retirement Savings and How to Make It Last” will be open to the public and the media.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – In a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Labor that followed an investigation by its Employee Benefits Security Administration, a federal judge has ordered the president of Columbus-based Clark Graphics, Mary Clark, to restore $505,551.46 to the company’s two employee retirement plans. Additionally, Marcia Dowdell, the president of Pension Retirement Planning who served as administrator for the plans, has been ordered to restore funds to both plans.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration has announced improved procedures for plan sponsors who wish to obtain fiduciary relief for a service provider’s failure to comply with the department’s plan-level fee disclosure rule. http://webapps.dol.gov/FederalRegister/HtmlDisplay.aspx?DocId=26218&AgencyId=8&DocumentType=2

Partnership aims to increase employment of individuals with disabilities

SAN FRANCISCO ‒ The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration and the Montana Office of the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance will host a two-day health benefits laws compliance seminar in Billings, Mont., for small and mid-size employers, third-party administrators and insurers July 25 and 26. The seminar is designed to provide practical information, helpful tips and clarification regarding federal as well as state laws. The event is free, and interested parties are encouraged to register early.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad Administration have signed a memorandum of agreement to facilitate coordination and cooperation between agencies regarding the enforcement of the Federal Railroad Safety Act's whistleblower provision. The act protects railroad employees from retaliation when they report safety violations, or work-related personal injuries or illnesses.

FLORENCE, Ky. – In remarks today in Florence before representatives of several Midwest state aggregate associations, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Joseph A. Main outlined a number of important initiatives and reforms his agency has undertaken over the last two years.