April 1, 2021

US Department of Labor launches Spanish translation of Worker.gov to expand awareness of workers’ rights

WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. Department of Labor announced today the launch of its Spanish-language translation of Worker.gov, a website dedicated to informing workers of their rights and federal workplace protections.

April 1, 2021

OSHA, Austin Power Partners Construction, labor unions sign partnership to promote construction safety on O’Hare Airport Terminal 5 expansion project

CHICAGO – Major construction projects require continued coordination between the general contractor, subcontractors, tradesmen and others working on-site to complete the build on time and on budget. Getting the work done while protecting the safety and health of those on the job takes similar coordination, and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration stands ready to assist.

April 1, 2021

New York-based petroleum carrier pays $375K to seaman fired for cooperating with barge explosion investigation

NEW YORK – A Long Island-based petroleum barge company and three former and current management officials have paid $375,000 in restitution to the brother of one of two seamen killed in a barge explosion off the coast of Texas. The seaman alleged the company fired him for cooperating with investigators and reporting safety concerns to the U.S. Coast Guard. The explosion occurred on Oct. 20, 2017, off Port Aransas aboard the Buster Bouchard/B. No. 255.

April 1, 2021

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending March 27, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 719,000, an increase of 61,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 26,000 from 684,000 to 658,000. The 4-week moving average was 719,000, a decrease of 10,500 from the previous week's revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since March 14, 2020 when it was 225,500. The previous week's average was revised down by 6,500 from 736,000 to 729,500.

March 31, 2021

Statement by Secretary Marty Walsh on President Biden’s announcement of the American Jobs Plan

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh issued the following statement after President Biden announced the American Jobs Plan, a comprehensive infrastructure package that will create millions of good-paying jobs and make America more competitive:

“President Biden’s American Jobs Plan is a historic investment in the working people of America. It will create millions of good paying, family sustaining jobs that rebuild the middle class by empowering our workers to build America’s future.

March 31, 2021

Zeigler Auto Group pays $85K in back wages to 214 workers after US Department of Labor investigation

KALAMAZOO, MI – Zeigler Auto Group’s sales may place it among the leading auto dealerships nationwide, but a recent federal investigation found sales consultants’ commissions often failed to meet minimum wage requirements at 13 Michigan, Indiana and Illinois locations.

March 31, 2021

New York contractor agrees to cease digging excavations, pay $135K in penalties, after 2020 fatal Long Island trench collapse

NEW YORK – A Long Island superstructure, foundation and concrete company will pay $135,612 in penalties stemming from the collapse of an approximately 30-foot deep trench in Oyster Bay that led to the deaths of two workers.

March 30, 2021

Maine tomato grower pays $337K in back wages, penalties after US Department of Labor investigation

MANCHESTER, NH The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $245,351 in back wages for 117 employees of a greenhouse tomato grower in Madison, Maine, that failed to comply with federal laws governing wages and working conditions for agricultural temporary guest workers, U.S. workers and workers in corresponding employment.

March 29, 2021

US Department of Labor announces availability of $10.5 million for mine safety training grants

ARLINGTON, VA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced the availability of $10,537,000 in state grant funding to provide training and retraining of miners and mine operators working at surface and underground coal and metal and nonmetal mines. The training is federally mandated.

March 29, 2021

US Department of Labor announces Brookwood-Sago grants’ availability of up to $1M for mine safety education, training

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration announced today the availability of up to $1 million to fund grants to support education and training to help mine workers identify, avoid and prevent unsafe working conditions.

March 29, 2021

US Department of Labor announces non-enforcement of Final Rule on Form T-1 Trust Annual Report filing

WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that its Office of Labor-Management Standards will not enforce its final rule on “Labor Organization Annual Financial Reports For Trusts In Which A Labor Organization Is Interested, Form T-1” until one year after the date a labor organization’s first Form T-1 is due.

March 29, 2021

OSHA cites Ohio production facility for exposing employees to dangerous confined space, machine, other hazards

OXFORD, OH – Without proper safety measures taken, gases and or vapors in a confined space may overcome a worker or a lack of oxygen may suffocate them. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that from 2011-2018, there were 1,030 confined space-related workers deaths.

March 26, 2021

US Department of Labor files lawsuit alleging Texas hotel operator illegally fired worker who sought medical care for carbon monoxide exposure

HOUSTON – In January 2019, a worker at a Holiday Inn Express & Suites hotel in Waller alerted their employer that exposure to carbon monoxide made them ill and asked the employer to call an ambulance. In addition to refusing the worker’s request, the employer allegedly threatened to terminate the employee. After going to the hospital, the worker was terminated.

March 26, 2021

OSHA cites Seneca Foods after worker suffers serious injuries after being struck by forklift at Wisconsin facility

RIPON, WI – A forklift struck and seriously injured a 60-year-old seasonal employee as she walked toward a pallet to label products for shipping at a Ripon facility where vegetables are canned for Libby’s and several other brands.

March 25, 2021

El Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU. lanza una iniciativa centrada en la educación, difusion y la aplicación de la ley en la industria agrícola del país

WASHINGTON, DC – A lo largo de la pandemia, los trabajadores agrícolas se han mantenido en el trabajo en todo el país a pesar de las exposiciones potenciales, para alimentar a los estadounidenses y apoyar las exportaciones estadounidenses. Mientras el Departamento de Trabajo de los EE.

March 25, 2021

US Department of Labor launches initiative focused on education, outreach, enforcement in nation’s agricultural industry

WASHINGTON, DC Throughout the pandemic, farmworkers have remained on the job throughout the nation despite potential exposures to feed Americans and support U.S. exports. As the U.S.

March 25, 2021

US Department of Labor files federal complaint seeking damages for whistleblower fired for reporting unsafe conditions at Missouri plant

BRIDGETON, MO – After a production operator at a carbon fiber manufacturer brought various safety concerns to management, he approached a third-party auditor reviewing operations at the company’s St. Peters facility with his concerns. The next day, his employer suspended him.

March 25, 2021

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending March 20, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 684,000, a decrease of 97,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 11,000 from 770,000 to 781,000. The 4-week moving average was 736,000, a decrease of 13,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 2,750 from 746,250 to 749,000.

March 24, 2021

Worker’s injury at Fargo grain bin yields employer’s commitment to improve workplace safety, protect employees

FARGO, ND – A North Dakota seed production company has committed to changing its safety procedures and training following a worker’s severe and life-altering injury in 2020.

March 24, 2021

US Department of Labor recovers $19K for 24 employees of Gulf Breeze restaurant after investigation uncovers minimum wage, overtime violations

GULF BREEZE, FL For low-wage earners, every minute spent working equals much-needed income. When employers fail to account for all the hours employees work, as was the case with a Gulf Breeze restaurant, these workers find it more difficult to provide for themselves and their families.