JANESVILLE, Wis. – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment and court order requiring Janesville-based Premier Vending Inc. and David R. Biggerstaff, the president and former owner of the company, to restore a total of $31,204.46 in voluntary employee contributions plus lost interest to the company’s 401(k) plan. The judgment, entered in U.S. district court in Madison, resolves a lawsuit filed by the department for violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an $808,316 National Emergency Grant to assist about 128 workers affected by multiple small dislocations at 77 companies throughout eastern Kentucky. The companies from which workers have been laid off represent a variety of industries, including construction, mining, auto parts, computer/IT services, trucking, manufacturing, tax services, education, health, law, banking, retail and pharmacy, among others.

HWA provided services in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Missouri and New York

BOSTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued David Sisti, the named trustee of the Equity Concepts Inc. Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plan of Cranston, R.I., for failure to remit employee contributions to the plan, in violation of the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

Equity Concepts Inc. ceased operations in early 2008 and is the subject of a voluntary receivership in Rhode Island superior court.  The retirement plan was funded solely by employee contributions.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding Equal Pay Day, which will be tomorrow, April 12:

"As a growing segment of America's workforce, women now hold nearly half of today's jobs. Their earnings account for a significant portion of the household income that sustains the financial well-being of their families.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is issuing a hazard alert to hair salon owners and workers about potential formaldehyde exposure from working with some hair smoothing and straightening products.

Date of Action:  March 31, 2011
Type of Action:  Default Judgment and Order
Name(s) of Defendant:  Metro Mechanical Systems, Inc. and William R. Tucker
Allegations:  The defendants failed to respond to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Complaint

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $3,972,529 National Emergency Grant incremental award to continue re-employment services for about 2,580 workers affected by layoffs and plant closures at 80 companies throughout Wisconsin, predominantly in the manufacturing sector.

ATLANTA – The U.S. Department of Labor is suing CSG Group, and the company’s owner, Thomas Wimberly, for violating the Employee Retirement Income Security Act and to restore losses suffered by participants and beneficiaries of the company’s 401(k) profit sharing plan.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending April 2, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 382,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 392,000. The 4-week moving average was 389,500, a decrease of 5,750 from the previous week's revised average of 395,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.0 percent for the week ending March 26, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.0 percent.

Company also facing fines for repeated and willful violations of Fair Labor Standards Act

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced it is soliciting public comments to assist in determining whether and possibly how to expand or modify current rules regarding the electronic distribution of employee benefit plan information. Plan information, such as quarterly account statements, is required to be disclosed under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, which is enforced by the department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration.

DOVER, Del. – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment from the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware ordering David Owen, the former president of defunct Owen Printing Dover Inc., to pay $4,640 in restitution and interest to the company’s 401(k) plan.

First meeting to be held April 19-20, open to public

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the appointment of 15 new members to the Maritime Advisory Committee for Occupational Safety and Health, which will hold an open meeting on April 19 and 20 at the U.S. Department of Labor's headquarters in Washington.

BISMARCK, N.D. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited North Central Farmers Elevator in Ipswich, S.D., with six willful violations for exposing workers to being engulfed by grain. Proposed penalties total $378,000.

INGLESIDE, Texas The U.S. Department of Labor s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has recognized the employees and management of Basic Industries Ltd. at Kiewit Offshore Services in Ingleside for achieving three years of excellence in the company s employee safety and health program. The Basic Industries facility has been designated as a star site in OSHA s Voluntary Protection Programs. Basic Industries is to be commended for demonstrating excellence in effective safety and health management, said William A.

US Department of Labor orders $4.2 million in back wages be paid to 1,044 teachers, fines school system $1.7 million in civil money penalties

COLUMBUS, Ind. – A federal district court in Indianapolis has ordered Hoosier Foot & Ankle LLC, a non-surgical foot and ankle care business in Columbus, and owner Patrick DeHeer to repay $18,000 in employee contributions and lost opportunity costs to the participants and beneficiaries of the company’s 401(k) profit-sharing plan. The order and a consent judgment were obtained by the U.S. Department of Labor, resolving a lawsuit it filed alleging violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

WASHINGTON – Joseph A. Main assistant secretary of labor for the Mine Safety and Health Administration today issued the following statement:

"We have been in communication with Sen. Jay Rockefeller's office to make clear that the issuance of MSHA's final report into the explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine will not be delayed due to the concurrent investigation by the Department of Justice into potential criminal wrongdoing. We apologized for any misunderstanding.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the death of Sidney Harman:

"I extend my deepest sympathies to my dear friend and former colleague Jane Harman. I was heartbroken to hear of Sidney's death. She and their children and grandchildren are in my thoughts.

"Sidney Harman was 'quintessential LA' and 'quintessential DC.' That's what made him so special... he could navigate various worlds with ease, grace and humor.