WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration has appointed a team to investigate the April 5 explosion at the Upper Big Branch South Mine (Performance Coal Co.) in Whitesville, W.Va.

"Twenty-five hardworking men died unnecessarily in a mine Monday," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "The very best way we can honor them is to do our job. MSHA's investigation team is committed to finding out what happened, and we will take action."

San Francisco – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained default judgments appointing Saakvitne Law Corp. as an independent fiduciary for the 401(k) plans of a Sunnyvale, California-based software company and its San Mateo, California-based subsidiary. As fiduciary, Saakvitne will terminate both plans and distribute a total of nearly $556,500 in assets to eligible participants.

San Francisco – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a default judgment restoring more than $46,000, including interest, to participants of a 401(k) profit-sharing plan of now-defunct Power & Data Technology of San Jose, California. The judgment resolves a lawsuit against the company and its former president, Michael D. Williams of Gilroy, California, over losses that resulted from mismanagement and misuse of plan assets.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued former Fort Lauderdale construction company First State Development and its chief executive officer to restore losses owed to the company’s 401(k) plan.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the death of 25 miners yesterday at the Upper Big Branch South Mine in Whitesville, W.Va.:

"As we hear of more heartbreak from Whitesville, our thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends, loved ones, neighbors and coworkers. Twenty-five hardworking men died needlessly in a mine yesterday. I pledge that their deaths will not be in vain.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the situation at the Upper Big Branch South Mine in Whitesville, W.Va.:

"My heartfelt condolences go out to the families, co-workers and communities that are mourning the loss of lives at the Upper Big Branch South Mine in Whitesville, W.Va. My thoughts and prayers are with them.

Denver – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration and the Colorado Division of Insurance will co-host a free health law compliance assistance seminar April 21 and 22 in Denver.

Miami – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued fiduciaries of the Orrin H. Cope Produce Inc. Employees’ Profit Sharing Plan to restore more than $3,780,000 in plan assets improperly used to benefit the company.

“The Labor Department will take legal action to protect workers’ benefits whenever, and wherever, violations occur,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. “Our suit puts plan officials on notice that the department will not tolerate the diversion of workers’ hard-earned retirement assets for the benefit of employers.”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the March 2010 Employment Situation report released today.

This past March, the economy gained 162,000 jobs, and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 9.7 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today unveiled a new regulation that is the first substantive rulemaking on the Trade Adjustment Assistance program in more than 15 years. The rule will implement changes to the TAA funding formula, as required by the Trade and Globalization Adjustment Assistance Act of 2009, which is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. These changes to the funding formula will improve the way the department provides TAA funding to states.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 3,400 workers from companies in 11 states – Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Oregon and Virginia – are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending March 27, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 439,000, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 445,000. The 4-week moving average was 447,250, a decrease of 6,750 from the previous week's revised average of 454,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.6 percent for the week ending March 20, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.6 percent.

CHICAGO — Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today used the historic setting of Chicagos famed Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, on the Chicago campus of the University of Illinois, to unveil the U.S. Department of Labors "We Can Help" campaign. Solis committed to helping the nations low-wage and vulnerable workers, and reminded them that her agencys personnel will not waver in protecting the rights guaranteed by law to every worker in America.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced 2010 allotments to states and outlying areas under the Workforce Investment Act and Wagner-Peyser Act. The nearly $4 billion in funds will be used to help Americans get back to work through high quality employment and training services, which are delivered largely through the department's national network of One-Stop Career Centers.

Binghamton, New York – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment requiring Kellogg Auto Supply Co. Inc. of Cortland, New York, and company president and general manager Richard Coats to restore $149,573 to the company’s employee stock ownership plan.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of approximately $1.8 million in funds for up to six Women in Apprenticeship and Non-traditional Occupations grants.

Elkins, West Virginia – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Byron Goldizen, president of defunct Bryco Bore and Pipe Inc., formerly located in Petersburg, West Virginia, for violating his fiduciary responsibility under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act to the company’s SIMPLE IRA plan.

The suit alleges that Goldizen failed to remit employee contributions to the plan from June 2006 through December 2008. The company ceased operations and filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 7 on June 8, 2009.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labors Veterans Employment and Training Service has announced an $8.3 million grant competition to provide job training, counseling and placement services (including job readiness, and literacy and skills training) to expedite the reintegration of homeless veterans into the labor force through its Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service has announced a $2 million grant competition under the Veterans' Workforce Investment Program to assist eligible veterans by providing employment, training, support services, credentialing and networking information in renewable and sustainable energy.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $13,614,919 grant to assist about 2,817 workers affected by layoffs at multiple companies in Wisconsin, primarily in the manufacturing sector.