Students to benefit from mentoring, employment support, violence prevention activities

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $280,000 National Emergency Grant supplemental award to provide an estimated 263 additional jobless workers in Georgia with partial premium payments for health insurance coverage. An initial award of $297,000 was approved on March 4, 2010, to serve about 280 workers.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending April 30, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 474,000, an increase of 43,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 431,000. The 4-week moving average was 431,250, an increase of 22,250 from the previous week's revised average of 409,000.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced a nationwide photography contest: Picture It! Safe Workplaces for Everyone. OSHA challenges anyone with a passion for photography to capture an image of workplace safety and health and share it with the agency. The goal of the contest is collaborate with the public – relying on the talent, imagination and creativity of participants – to kick off a national effort to raise awareness about workplace safety and health.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $918,702 grant to provide training and job search services to about 175 workers affected by the closure of the NewPage Corp. paper mill in Stevens Point, Wis.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $10 million National Emergency Grant to assist with cleanup and recovery efforts in the wake of the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding that struck Alabama last month.

"The scenes of devastation in Alabama are heartbreaking," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Today's grant will help the people of Alabama get back on their feet. I am pleased that my department has the opportunity to offer assistance to clean up and repair the affected communities."

BATESVILLE, Miss. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued 33 citations to the Parker Hannifin Corp. plant in Batesville, alleging numerous safety and health violations as the result of an inspection that began November 2010. Proposed penalties total $487,700. Cleveland, Ohio-based Parker Hannifin has 170 facilities throughout the U.S. and manufactures machinery for hydraulics, air conditioning, refrigeration and aerospace systems.

BOSTON — The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered nearly $2.9 million in back wages for more than 500 employees of Stanley Associates Inc. and several subcontractors at various locations in St. Albans and Essex Junction, Vt.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor' Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced a final rule to protect the safety and health of shipyard workers, which is published in today' edition of the Federal Register. The rule updates existing requirements to reflect advances in industry practices and technology, and provides new protections from hazards that previously were not addressed, including the control of hazardous energy. It is expected to prevent about 350 serious injuries each year.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $279,373 National Emergency Grant increment to continue to provide re-employment and training services to about 280 workers affected by layoffs at the Cessna Aircraft Co. facility located in Bend, Ore.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the availability of approximately $240 million through the H-1B technical skills training grant competition. The U.S. Department of Labor expects to fund 75-100 grants through a single solicitation. Individual grants will range from $1 million to $5 million and will be distributed through two rounds of funding. The projects to be funded will help workers update current skills or acquire new ones so they can enter career pathways leading to higher-paying jobs.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Financial services company Wall Street Capitol and its president, Richard Siskey, have agreed to restore $242,975.78 to two retirement profit sharing plans as part of a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor. The Charlotte-based company and its president allegedly violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

SPARTA, Wis. – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent order and judgment requiring Quality Tool and Machine Inc. of Sparta and the company's president, Jerry Freimuth, to restore $11,763 in employee contributions and lost opportunity costs to the company's savings incentive match plan for employees individual retirement account. The judgment, entered in U.S. district court in Madison, resolves a lawsuit filed by the department alleging violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announces the award of approximately $7.2 million in funds for 18 third-generation grantees to continue assistance for adult offenders who are returning to communities from incarceration. The purpose of these grants is to provide an employment-centered approach to reintegration that improves long-term labor market prospects for former offenders.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending April 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 429,000, an increase of 25,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 404,000. The 4-week moving average was 408,500, an increase of 9,250 from the previous week's revised average of 399,250.

New policy statements prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and pregnancy

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced protocols to complete the portion of the U visa nonimmigrant status application requiring certification by a law enforcement agency that the applicant is a victim of a qualifying crime and willing to cooperate with law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of that crime. U visas, as they are known, are designed to help victims of qualifying criminal activities who have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy today announced the official theme for October's National Disability Employment Awareness Month: "Profit by Investing in Workers with Disabilities." The theme honors the contributions of workers with disabilities and serves to inform the public that they represent a highly skilled talent pool that can help employers compete in today's global economy.

RACINE, Wis. – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Brian T. Kiernan, owner of Kiernan Heating and Air Conditioning Inc., a defunct Racine company, for allegedly failing to forward $19,811.98 in employee contributions to the company's savings incentive match plan for employees individual retirement account in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

DES MOINES, Iowa — The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a partial summary judgment requiring Hill Country Farms, doing business as Henry's Turkey Service, and president Kenneth Henry to pay more than $1.76 million in back wages and liquidated damages for violating the minimum wage and overtime provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. The judgment partially resolves a lawsuit filed by the Labor Department following an investigation by the Des Moines District Office of its Wage and Hour Division.