WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor released the following statement regarding President Donald J. Trump's fiscal year (FY) 2021 budget.

FORT VALLEY, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Pearson Farms LLC for safety violations after an employee suffered fatal injuries at the farm’s post-harvest operations facility in Fort Valley, Georgia. The farm is facing $128,004 in penalties.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia issued the following statement on the January 2020 Employment Situation Report:

“January’s jobs report far surpassed expectations with a surge of 225,000 jobs created. 

In the week ending February 1, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 202,000, a decrease of 15,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 216,000 to 217,000. The 4-week moving average was 211,750, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 214,500 to 214,750.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia traveled to Fort Worth, Texas, to participate in a roundtable discussion with local business leaders at the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce and to give the keynote address at the Independent Electrical Contractors’ Business Summit. Building on President Trump’s State of the Union message, Secretary Scalia underscored the administration’s efforts to provide the nation’s workers with ample opportunities to gain the skills needed for success in today’s advanced economy.

LOUISVILLE, KY – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), NPT Partners I LLC – a Louisville, Kentucky-based franchisee of six McDonald’s restaurants – has paid a civil money penalty of $48,258 for violating child labor requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). In addition, the franchisee has paid $20,015 in wages to eight employees for violating minimum wage and overtime requirements of the FLSA.

ST. AUGUSTINE, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Flagler Hospital Inc. – based in St. Augustine, Florida – will pay $107,185 in back wages to 141 employees for violating the overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has selected 12 states and the District of Columbia to participate in its Visionary Opportunities to Increase Competitive Integrated Employment (VOICE) initiative. The chosen participants will receive support to help them develop policy designed to increase employment opportunities for people with mental health disabilities.

DENVER, CO – The U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado has ordered Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF) to pay $696,173 in lost back and future wages to a former employee who reported track defects, bringing the total paid to the whistleblower to more than $1.74 million.

LOS ANGELES, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California has sentenced Kimi Gudmundsen – owner of Healthy Life Acupuncture Center in Los Angeles and Riverside, California – to 30 months in prison and ordered her to pay $2,683,903 in restitution for defrauding Amtrak’s healthcare plan. 

SAVANNAH, GA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Vos Electric Inc. – an electrical contractor based in Green Bay, Wisconsin – has paid $221,853 in back wages and benefits to 32 employees for violating requirements of the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (CWHSSA) and the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA). The violations occurred while the employees were working at the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia issued the following statement regarding President Donald J. Trump’s State of the Union Address:

“Three years ago, President Trump entered the Oval Office with a promise to bring back jobs and prosperity for the American worker. Tonight, the President reminded us that he has delivered on that promise. His policies have created an economic boom that is lifting up all Americans.

CAMP HILL, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Cleveland Brothers Inc. – doing business as CB HYMAC – for exposing workers to hexavalent chromium fumes and other safety hazards at the company’s shop in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. OSHA cited the company, which provides hydraulic service and repair, machining and chroming services, for one willful violation and 18 serious and two other-than-serious citations. The company faces $280,874 in penalties.

MANCHESTER, NH – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the City of Concord, New Hampshire, paid $9,645 in civil money penalties for violations of the child labor requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) at the Douglas N. Everett Ice Arena, which led to the injury of one minor employee.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia traveled to Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Virginia, to visit a Virginia Career Works job center, to tour the STIHL Incorporated manufacturing facility, and to participate in a roundtable discussion with area business leaders.

NEW YORK, NY – The U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey has sentenced Lawrence Ackerman – a former Bergen County, New Jersey, insurance broker – to six months of imprisonment and six months of home incarceration, and ordered him to pay $1,000,000 in restitution for defrauding the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2326 Health and Welfare Fund.

LEVELLAND, TX – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Ricky L. Bryant Ltd. – doing business as Bryant Electric in Levelland, Texas – has paid $44,685 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 43 employees for violating the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

NAPLES, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Fort Myers Division, has sentenced Stalin Rene Barahona – former owner of the now-dissolved SB Framing Services Inc. in Naples, Florida – to 30 days in prison. Barahona pleaded guilty to one count of willfully violating federal fall protection standards. He will begin serving his sentence on Feb. 26, 2020.

RICHARDSON, TX – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Accelore Group LLC – doing business as Accelore Solutions in Richardson, Texas – has paid $153,755 in back wages to 289 employees to resolve violations of the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia issued the following statement in recognition of National African American History Month:

“This month we reflect on the African American men and women whose struggles, accomplishments, and dreams are part of our national heritage. And while we remember the past, together we look to a future of opportunity, growth and success for all Americans.