April 22, 2010

Statement of Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on introduction of legislation regarding issue of misclassification

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the introduction of legislation regarding the issue of misclassification:

April 22, 2010

U.S. Department of Labor agency heads to host live Web chats on regulatory agendas on April 26, 27 and 28

Washington – The heads of five agencies of the U.S. Department of Labor will host live Web chats —open to the public and members of the press — to discuss their respective regulatory agendas. The Labor Department’s entire regulatory agenda is scheduled for publication in the April 26 issue of the Federal Register.

Who: Heads of U.S. Department of Labor agencies

What: Individual Web chats on agencies’ regulatory agendas

When:

Monday, April 26

April 21, 2010

US Department of Labor announces more than $3.5 million to continue to aid Indiana workers impacted by recreational vehicle industry layoffs

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $3,531,000 National Emergency Grant increment to Indiana to provide services to about 1,040 workers affected by mass layoffs in the recreational vehicle industry across the state.

April 21, 2010

MSHA launches inspection blitz in nations coalfields

ARLINGTON, Va.The Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that the agency launched an inspection blitz over the past weekend at 57 coal mines whose history of underground conditions indicated a significant number of violations and/or conditions that may include problems relating to methane accumulations, ventilation practices, rock dust applications and inadequate mine examinations.

April 21, 2010

G20 labor and employment ministers present recommendations to President Obama

WASHINGTONU.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis and her fellow G20 labor and employment ministers today met with President Obama and presented him with their recommendations to meet the challenges that the economic crisis is posing for workers and their families worldwide.

A two-day meeting hosted by Secretary Solis, representing the first time that the ministers responsible for labor markets in the 20 largest economies in the world convened to help their nations' leaders coordinate labor market policy, concluded today.

April 20, 2010

Statement by US Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on Equal Pay Day

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on Equal Pay Day:

"Nearly a half century after the Equal Pay Act was enacted to ensure equal pay for equal work, this form of discrimination continues to impinge upon women's rights in the workplace. As women hold nearly half of this nation's jobs, their earnings have become even more central to families' economic well-being.

April 20, 2010

US Department of Labor secures nearly $4 million in back wages for gas station employees in Central and Southern NJ

PISCATAWAY, N.J.The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a judgment against Raceway Petroleum and Nicholas Kambitsis to pay $3.9 million in unpaid overtime wages and liquidated damages to more than 700 of their former and current employees, predominantly gas attendants. Raceway Petroleum Inc., a Piscataway company with gas stations located throughout Central and Southern N.J., along with its owner Nicholas Kambitsis, will also pay $100,000 in civil money penalties.

April 19, 2010

US Labor Department and Secretary Hilda L. Solis to host G20 Labor and Employment Ministers Meeting on April 20 and 21

WASHINGTONOn April 20 and 21, U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis will host the first ever meeting of the G20 labor and employment ministers. Ministers of countries that account for more than 85 percent of the global economy will gather at the U.S. Department of Labor to assess how the global economic crisis has affected employment worldwide. The ministers will compare experiences and policy responses, and offer recommendations for putting quality jobs at the heart of the global economic recovery.

April 19, 2010

Defunct Oklahoma business and owner sued by U.S. Department of Labor over misuse of 401(k) contributions and loan repayments

Tulsa, Oklahoma – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued defunct Aircraft Fueling Systems Inc. of Tulsa and its owner for improperly using for the benefit of the company employee contributions and loan repayments owed to the plan.

“The Labor Department will hold employers and their executives accountable when they misuse the hard-earned retirement assets of America’s workers and retirees,” said Roger Hilburn, director of the Dallas Regional Office of the department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration.

April 19, 2010

Statement of Assistant Secretary of Labor Phyllis C. Borzi regarding legislation to strengthen defined benefit pension plans

Washington – Assistant Secretary of the Employee Benefits Security Administration Phyllis C. Borzi today issued the following statement regarding the Administration’s support of legislation to strengthen private single-employer defined benefit pension plans:

April 16, 2010

Independent team of occupational safety experts to examine MSHAs internal review following explosion at Upper Big Branch Mine

WASHINGTON – At the U.S. Department of Labor's request, an independent team of occupational safety experts will examine the process and outcomes of the Mine Safety and Health Administration's internal review in the wake of the explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine. Both the MSHA internal review and the independent analysis of that review will be made public. This independent assessment is aimed at assuring transparency and accountability, and will evaluate the policy, process and outcomes of MSHA's internal review.

April 16, 2010

Statement of Assistant Secretary Phyllis C. Borzi on extension of COBRA subsidy eligibility to May 31, 2010

Washington – Assistant Secretary of Labor Phyllis C. Borzi today issued the following statement regarding the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) and the premium reduction under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA):

April 15, 2010

Ken Bennett named regional representative of US Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis has announced the appointment of Ken Bennett as her representative in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin. Bennett is based in Chicago, Ill.

April 15, 2010

US Department of Labor announces grant exceeding $465,000 to assist workers in Oregon affected by lumber industry layoffs

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $465,204 grant to assist about 79 workers affected by layoffs at the Weyerhaeuser Co.'s Warrenton Sawmill in Warrenton, Ore.

April 15, 2010

US Department of Labor announces $50 million in grants to assist re-employment activities in 33 states and District of Columbia

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $50 million in funding for 33 states and the District of Columbia to implement re-employment and eligibility assessments for beneficiaries of unemployment insurance.

Six states are receiving grants for the first time, while 27 states and the District of Columbia are being awarded additional funds to continue their initiatives. The funds will be used to conduct in-person assessments in One-Stop Career Centers.

April 15, 2010

US Department of Labor certifies approximately 3,000 workers in 9 states as eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 3,000 workers from companies in nine states – Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin – are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance.

April 15, 2010

ETA Press Release: Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending April 10, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 484,000, an increase of 24,000 from the previous week's unrevised figure of 460,000. The 4-week moving average was 457,750, an increase of 7,500 from the previous week's unrevised average of 450,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.6 percent for the week ending April 3, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.5 percent.

April 15, 2010

Statement by US Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis regarding meeting with President Obama on West Virginia mine disaster

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement regarding her meeting today with President Obama on the West Virginia mine disaster:

"Over the past week, I have spent time with the families of the mine workers who were killed at the Upper Big Branch mine.

"The miners who perished were husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, uncles, nephews or a friend to someone.

April 14, 2010

US Labor Departments OSHA, Mexican consulate form alliance in Houston

Agreement, signed at National Latino action summit, aims to promote safety and health for Mexican and other Spanish-speaking workers in construction industry

April 14, 2010

US Labor Departments OSHA joins Morristown, NJ, organization to continue vital effort to protect area Latino workers

Alliance renewed during national Latino worker safety and health summit in Houston

HOUSTON In an effort to continue to improve workplace safety and health for area Latino workers, the U.S. Department of Labor s Occupational Safety and Health Administration renewed its alliance with the Wind of the Spirit Immigrant Resource Center in Morristown, N.J., today at the National Action Summit for Latino Worker Health and Safety in Houston.