WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $430,417 grant to assist approximately 65 workers affected by May 2009 layoffs at two locations of the Standard Insurance Co. in Portland and South Portland, Maine.

"The economic downturn has had a disproportionate impact on the financial services industry," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Today's grant will help affected workers retool their skills to successfully obtain employment in new careers or in similar occupations within other industries."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,066,981 grant to assist approximately 300 workers affected by 2009 layoffs from RR Donnelley in Wells, Maine.

"The loss of a job is never easy, and these workers deserve our support as they seek re-employment," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Today's grant will help individuals by providing the skills, retraining and job search assistance they need to obtain new jobs in high-growth and high-demand industries in the area."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced three National Emergency Grants totaling $38,033,600 to assist workers affected by documented layoffs from multiple companies in three defined regional economies throughout Michigan. These grants will provide flexibility to serve 2,161 workers currently displaced and those affected by future layoffs occurring within these regions during the grants' 12-month period of performance. Based on state of Michigan estimates, about 13,291 total workers ultimately will be served.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Department of Labor Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs Sandra Polaski spoke at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Labor and Employment Ministerial taking place this week in Paris on the topic of "The Jobs Crisis: the Labor Market and Social Policy Response."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $164.5 million to 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to make technology upgrades that will improve the operation and security of unemployment insurance systems.

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced nearly $59 million in grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor in fiscal year 2009 to combat exploitive child labor in 19 countries. The grants will help rescue more than 85,000 children from exploitive labor, and offer them hope for the future through education and training. The grants will also help improve collection and analysis of child labor data and support the development and implementation of national action plans to address the problem.

Atlanta – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has obtained a consent judgment allowing Abby Paschal to continue as a fiduciary in order to terminate the ZNET Financial Services’ 401(k) plan and distribute its assets to participants.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that workers from General Motors in Wilmington, Del., are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

"I know that so many Delaware families are hurting because of the auto layoffs throughout our state," said Vice President Joe Biden. "This announcement is a step forward and an opportunity for many Delawareans who lost their jobs at General Motors in Wilmington to re-enter the workforce in promising, regional industries."

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Sept. 19, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 530,000, a decrease of 21,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 551,000. The 4-week moving average was 553,500, a decrease of 11,000 from the previous week's revised average of 564,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.6 percent for the week ending Sept. 12, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.7 percent.

Training funds total more than $8.3 million in fiscal year 2009

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) today announced it has allocated more than $8.3 million in health and safety training grants for fiscal year 2009, up from last year's distribution of $8.2 million.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the success of the Summer Youth Employment Program for the nation's youth:

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today awarded more than $6.8 million in Susan Harwood Training Grants to 30 recipients, encompassing labor unions, employer associations, colleges and universities, and other nonprofit organizations. The training grants cover a two-year period.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $323,565 grant to assist workers affected by layoffs at NewPage Corp.'s Rumford Paper Mill in Rumford, Maine.

"Today's grant will provide employment-related services that are crucial to finding new jobs in burgeoning areas of the economy," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "These workers deserve our support as they seek to upgrade existing skills, or prepare for new careers in promising regional industries."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 4,700 workers from companies in 13 states – Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wisconsin – are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Sept. 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 545,000, a decrease of 12,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 557,000. The 4-week moving average was 563,000, a decrease of 8,750 from the previous week's revised average of 571,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.7 percent for the week ending Sept. 5, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.6 percent.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has awarded cooperative agreements to The Workplace Inc. in Bridgeport, Conn., and the SkillSource Group Inc. in Vienna, Va., to lead consortia to develop innovative models of providing inclusive registered apprenticeship training to youth and young adults with disabilities.

Boston – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued the former chief executive officer of defunct F & F Industries Inc., formerly of Centerbrook, Connecticut, for alleged misuse of approximately $63,800 of assets of the company’s 401(k) plan and for failure to collect more than $81,000 in employer contributions for employees who worked on jobs covered by the Connecticut state prevailing wage laws.

Appalachian region is recipient of 3 of 6 grants

Atlanta – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Floyd Seibert for violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, the complaint alleges that the defendant violated his fiduciary responsibilities when he failed to discharge his duties with respect to the Central Home Care Services 401(k) pension plan by engaging in prohibited transactions.

Washington – The Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans (known as the ERISA Advisory Council) will convene by teleconference September 29 to discuss reports and recommendations on topics to be submitted to the secretary of labor.