WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $1,238,564 National Emergency Grant award to assist clean-up and recovery efforts after the October severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that affected much of Arkansas.

"These resources will help Arkansas recover from severe weather events that impacted the state, while helping dislocated workers get jobs as part of the clean-up and recovery efforts," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

34 mining deaths in US is record-setting number

Arlington, Va. – Preliminary data from the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) released today indicate that mine fatalities in 2009 fell to an all-time low for the second straight year. Coal mines recorded 18 mining deaths, and metal/nonmetal mines recorded 16 mining deaths, for a combined total of 34 mining deaths nationwide and a significant drop from last year's total of 52 deaths.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Dec. 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 432,000, a decrease of 22,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 454,000. The 4-week moving average was 460,250, a decrease of 5,500 from the previous week's revised average of 465,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.8 percent for the week ending Dec. 19, unchanged from the prior week's revised rate of 3.8 percent.

Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 paved way for major reforms

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) today commemorated the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 (Mine Act), which instituted the strongest and most comprehensive occupational safety and health protections that had ever been enacted in the country.

Washington – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced the availability of the 2009 Form M-1 annual report for multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs). Plan administrators may use EBSA’s online filing system to expedite processing of the form.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Dec. 19, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 452,000, a decrease of 28,000 from the previous week's unrevised figure of 480,000. The 4-week moving average was 465,250, a decrease of 2,750 from the previous week's revised average of 468,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.9 percent for the week ending Dec. 12, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.9 percent.

ORLANDO, Fla. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Walt Disney World for safety violations following the fatality of a monorail driver in July and issued a recommendation letter concerning the death of an actor during a stage production at the theme park in August.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $945,820 National Emergency Grant increment to Oregon to continue to provide services to about 813 workers affected by layoffs at Hynix Semiconductor Manufacturing America Inc. in Eugene, Ore.

"Today's grant will ensure continued job placement assistance and other re-employment services for these Oregonians, and allow them to better access opportunities in emerging local industries," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

Crystal Lake, Illinois – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed an adversary complaint against Joseph Phelan, former president and fiduciary of Phezer Enterprises Inc. of Crystal Lake, in order to prevent the discharge of $10,470 from his personal bankruptcy, which is owed to the company’s employee health plan.

West Palm Beach, Florida – A federal court in West Palm Beach, Florida, has approved a consent judgment between the U.S. Department of Labor and officers of Bonnie Tile Corp. to restore funds to the company’s savings incentive match plan for employees individual retirement account (SIMPLE IRA) plan.

Englewood Cliffs, N.J. – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit to obtain the appointment of an independent fiduciary to oversee the 401(k) profit-sharing plan of defunct Collective Communications. The company's last known address was 375 Sylvan Ave. in Englewood Cliffs.

Boston – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued defunct Northern Log Homes Inc., formerly based in Bangor, Maine, and former owner Michael Hartt, for allegedly misusing more than $9,000 in assets of the company’s savings incentive match plan for employees individual retirement account (SIMPLE IRA) established for the company’s employees.

New York – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit asking the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York to appoint an independent fiduciary to oversee the abandoned 401(k) plan of defunct Project Solutions Inc. of Rochester, N.Y.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $3,874,594 grant to assist about 725 workers affected by layoffs at seven companies in Massachusetts' financial industry.

"Today's grant will provide the job search and employment services necessary for affected workers in Massachusetts to find new jobs in emerging industries," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Dec. 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 480,000, an increase of 7,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 473,000. The 4-week moving average was 467,500, a decrease of 5,250 from the previous week's revised average of 472,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.9 percent for the week ending Dec. 5, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.9 percent.

Minneapolis – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued the owner of Marcel's Coffee Gourmet Inc. in Minneapolis for allegedly using employee contributions owed to the company's savings incentive match plan for employees individual retirement account (SIMPLE IRA) to pay the operating expenses of the company. Marcel's Coffee Gourmet Inc. was a distributor of coffee and coffee supplies until it ceased operations in December 2008.

Washington – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) will host a free retirement planning workshop on Jan. 13, 2010, at the Oxon Hill Public Library in Oxon Hill, Md., to help the public understand how much they will need for a financially secure retirement and ways to close the retirement savings gap. Department of Labor representatives will be joined by a representative from the Social Security Administration.

Pittsburgh – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has obtained a consent agreement with Patrick P. Bane, president of defunct Comtel Communications Inc., requiring him to restore employee contributions owed to the company's 401(k) plan.

The consent order, issued by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, requires the defendant to restore $13,651.18 to the 401(k) plan and removes him as trustee of the plan.

Nashville, TN - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Mark Black, Tom Black and their former company, Synergy Holdings Inc. in Nashville, for allegedly violating the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) by failing to administer the company's 401(k) plan.

The lawsuit alleges that the defendants breached their fiduciary responsibilities when they failed to terminate the company's 401(k) profit-sharing plan and distribute the assets to plan participants after the company ceased operations in 2006.

Atlanta - The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a default judgment barring People Unlimited Consulting Inc. and two of its officers, Janice Love and Linda Marler, from serving in a fiduciary capacity to any employee benefit plan governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).