Washington — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the appeal process individuals can use if they are denied a premium subsidy for their group health plan continuation coverage. The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) requires many group health plans to temporarily continue health coverage for employees and their families following termination of employment at the employee’s own expense.

Washington – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced publication of a notice further extending the applicability and effective dates of the final rule on investment advice under the Pension Protection Act to November 18, 2009. The notice is expected to be published in the May 22 edition of the Federal Register.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in an effort to crack down on fraudulent trainers, is strengthening the integrity of its 36-year-old Outreach Training Program by improving how trainers become authorized to teach and ensuring these trainers are in compliance with OSHA program guidelines.

Fargo, North Dakota – A free health law compliance assistance seminar for employers, plan fiduciaries and plan services providers, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) and the North Dakota Department of Insurance, will take place June 3 and 4 at the Fargo Doublewood Inn & Conference Center at 3333-13th Ave. S.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,320,100 grant to assist approximately 307 workers across the state of Minnesota affected by layoffs from 27 companies in the retail, service and manufacturing sectors of the declining automotive industry.

Highwall failure at Maryland surface mine in 2007 killed 2 miners

Kansas City, Missouri — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa in Davenport seeking the appointment of an independent fiduciary to oversee the abandoned 401(k) plan of defunct MagnaTech Inc., formerly of Brooklyn, Iowa.

Frankfort, Illinois – A federal district court in Chicago has granted a consent judgment to the U.S. Department of Labor barring John Patrizi, owner of J&L Electronic Service Inc. at 633 Johnson Ave. in Frankfort, from serving as a fiduciary for any retirement plan covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), and appointing an independent fiduciary to oversee the company’s 401(k) plan.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $462,096 grant to assist approximately 100 workers affected by layoffs at True Textiles Inc. located in Guilford and Newport, Maine.

"This grant will allow affected workers in Maine to access training and services that will aid them in obtaining re-employment in growing regional industries," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $62,817,683 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the commonwealth of Virginia. Virginia qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to be eligible for benefits. Virginia's approved application will be posted at the department's Employment and Training Administration Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/recovery/.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $10,175,575 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Hawaii. Hawaii qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to be eligible for benefits. Hawaii's approved application will be posted at the department's Employment and Training Administration Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/recovery/.

Atlanta – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained court judgments restoring $97,317.49 to the Triangle Laboratories Inc. Retirement Fund in Durham, North Carolina.

A lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, alleged that Joseph Morales and four other defendants failed to discharge their fiduciary duties to the 401(k) plan in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $137,580,702 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of New York. New York qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to be eligible for benefits. New York's approved application will be posted at the department's Employment and Training Administration Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/recovery/.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending May 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 637,000, an increase of 32,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 605,000. The 4-week moving average was 630,500, an increase of 6,000 from the previous week's revised average of 624,500.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $725,075 grant increment to help Illinois officials with continued cleanup and recovery following the state's June 2008 severe storms and flooding.

"Last June, a series of severe storms resulted in widespread flooding in Illinois," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "This grant increment will continue to fund temporary jobs for dislocated workers in the affected area."

New Haven, Connecticut – The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered nearly $32,000 owed to the Image Graphics Inc. Employee 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan. The plan is sponsored and administered by Image Graphics Inc. of Shelton, Connecticut, which was sued by the department for alleged violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

National Emergency Grant provided during 1st Michigan trip for Secretary Solis

TROY, Mich. – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the release of $4,125,000 in National Emergency Grant funds to continue helping approximately 1,500 workers affected by permanent closures and mass layoffs in Michigan's automotive industry.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that it has paid more than $400 million in compensation and medical benefits to Colorado residents under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). The act was created to assist those individuals who became ill as a result of working in the atomic weapons industry. Survivors of such individuals may also be eligible for benefits.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the April 2009 Employment Situation report released today:

"This past April, our economy lost 539,000 jobs, bringing the total number of jobs lost since this recession began to 5.7 million. The overall unemployment rate has increased to 8.9 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today released $101 million to help states provide career training, job search and relocation assistance to U.S. workers who lose their jobs for trade-related reasons.

"A revitalized Trade Adjustment Assistance program is an important element of our nation's economic recovery," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.