OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma has ordered Meers Store & Restaurant Inc. and owner Margaret Maranto to pay $335,687 in back wages and liquidated damages to 84 employees for willful violations of the minimum wage and overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

In the week ending May 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 222,000, an increase of 11,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 211,000. The 4-week moving average was 213,250, a decrease of 2,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 216,000. This is the lowest level for this average since December 13, 1969 when it was 210,750.

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BOSTON, MA – Following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Onyx Marble & Granite LLC and owners Jose Moraes and Poliana Moraes will pay a total of $144,199 in back wages and liquidated damages to 20 employees to resolve violations of the overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

SAN DIEGO, CA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) will offer a comprehensive compliance seminar for federal contractors, unions, and employees to provide information on the rules governing federal prevailing wage requirements, wage rules for non-displacement of qualified workers, establishing a minimum wage for contractors, and establishing paid sick leave for federal contractors.

SACRAMENTO, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), residential care home operator of two Sacramento area facilities Golden Berry Inc. will pay $46,295 to six employees to resolve minimum wage and overtime violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

BIRMINGHAM, AL – Following a civil investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama entered a consent judgment between the U.S. Department of Labor and Brandi Box Stephens, a former benefits administrator for the Iron Workers Local Union No. 92 Welfare Plan and the Iron Workers Local Union No.

GRATZ, PA - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has certified MI Windows and Doors’ manufacturing facility in Gratz, Pennsylvania, as a Star worksite, OSHA’s highest level of recognition for workplace safety and health excellence.

MEMPHIS, TN – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, JPO Contractors Inc. will pay $90,904 in back wages and liquidated damages to 43 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). WHD also assessed the contractor a civil penalty of $19,737 for willful and repeat violations.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The U.S. Department of Labor has reached a settlement with Dell EMC that requires the company to pay more than $2.9 million in back wages to remedy alleged pay discrimination violations at four Dell EMC locations in California and North Carolina. Headquartered in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, Dell EMC is a federal contractor providing computing, networking, and data storage solutions.  

HOUSTON TX – Bernie’s Bellaire LLC and Bernie’s Katy LLC - doing business as Bernie’s Burger Bus - will pay $62,754 to settle overtime and recordkeeping violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD). The companies operate three locations in the Houston area.

RALEIGH, NC – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina has ordered Thomas E. Beverly Sr. - former owner of the House of Lights Inc. - to pay restitution totaling $1,639,983 to the company’s profit-sharing plan. In addition to the restoration of funds, which includes lost earnings of $331,121 through mid-September 2018, Beverly will pay a successor fiduciary to handle remittance of this restitution to plan beneficiaries.

ALBANY, NY – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited New Windsor-based Verla International LTD, and proposed fines of $281,220 for failing to protect its employees from dangerous chemicals, and other hazards.

HUNTSVILLE, AL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited All Power Construction Corp. and staffing agency Labor Finders of Tennessee Inc. after a temporary employee installing sewer lines suffered a fatal injury in a trench collapse. All Power Construction Corp. faces $139,684 in proposed penalties and Labor Finders of Tennessee Inc. faces the maximum allowed $12,934 in proposed penalties.

WASHINGTON, DC – President Donald J. Trump’s Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion today submitted a report to the President providing a strategy to create more apprenticeships in the United States through an Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship model.

Members of the Task Force – representing business, labor, trade and industry groups, educational institutions, and public officials – approved the report during their fifth and final full meeting.

COOKEVILLE, TN – The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Northeastern Division, has ordered eastern Tennessee eye care company Eye Centers of Tennessee LLC, its owner Dr. Larry E. Patterson, and its office administrator Raymond K. Mays to pay $971,622 in restitution to the company’s 401(k) profit-sharing plan after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) found violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

STANTONSBURG, NC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has revoked the farm labor contractor certificate of registration for Marisa Garcia-Pineda and has debarred the contractor for three years because of violations of federal laws related to wages and worker protections. WHD found that Garcia-Pineda owed $195,735 in back wages to 287 employees while working at Ham Farms in Snow Hill, North Carolina. In addition to the farm labor registration revocation and H-2A debarment, WHD also assessed the company a civil money penalty of $321,400.

ST. LOUIS, MO – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the PARIC Corp. have formed a partnership to promote employee safety and health during construction of the 550,000-square foot Ballpark Village Projects. The project includes residential, office, retail, restaurant, and entertainment space near the St. Louis Cardinals’ Busch Stadium.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has again cited Hua Da Construction in Philadelphia for exposing employees to dangerous workplace safety hazards. OSHA proposed penalties of $222,152.

SHOEMAKERSVILLE, PA - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has certified Glen-Gery Brick’s Mid-Atlantic Plant as a “Star” worksite in the Agency’s Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP), the highest level of recognition for workplace safety and health excellence.

Over the past three years, the Shoemakersville brick manufacturer recorded an injury and illness rate 21 percent below the industry’s national average.

PLAINS, PA - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Midvale Paper Box Co. after inspectors found employees exposed to safety hazards during a follow-up investigation at the Luzerne County employer. OSHA has proposed penalties of $201,212.