WASHINGTON Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week:

"President Obama declared this week National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week. I join him in celebrating the tremendous achievements of HBCUs and the many contributions that these institutions of higher learning and their graduates have made to our nation.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $437,084 grant to assist about 75 workers affected by layoffs from CDS Global in Red Oak, Iowa.

"The information industry has experienced painful layoffs during this recession," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "This grant will help affected Iowans get the retraining and re-employment services necessary to transfer their skills and secure new jobs in expanding fields."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $330,000 grant to assist about 60 workers affected by layoffs at Terex Handlers in Baraga, Mich.

"The state has been hit hard by this recession, and I want to ensure that dislocated workers are given the tools they need to train and prepare for new occupations that will lead to good and permanent jobs," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Today's grant will help these Michigan workers find new jobs in expanding sectors of the state's economy."

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced a $10 million grant to fund a new Framework of Action to eliminate the worst forms of child labor in the cocoa industry in Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire. Together the two countries supply more than half of the world's cocoa. Labor Minister E.T. Mensah of Ghana, Labor Minister Emile Guirieoulou of Cote d'Ivoire, and representatives of the international chocolate and cocoa industry joined Secretary Solis in making renewed commitments of resources to address the problem.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy today announced that it will exercise the second option year of its cooperative agreement with the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University and award an additional $1,150,000 to continue funding the National Technical Assistance and Research Center for Increasing the Employment and Economic Independence of Adults with Disabilities.

LOS ANGELES – The U. S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration today announced that the owner of a Pasadena spa and salon has been indicted on federal charges that he embezzled thousands of dollars from his employees’ 401(k) profit-sharing plan.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today awarded $8 million in Susan Harwood Capacity Building Grants to 45 organizations, including nonprofit and community/faith-based groups, employer associations, labor unions, joint labor/management associations, and colleges and universities. The grants will assist these organizations in providing safety and health training, and educational programs for workers and employers.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $5,367,340 grant to assist about 600 workers affected by layoffs from multiple employers impacted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's retirement of the Space Shuttle program.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Sept. 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 451,000, a decrease of 27,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 478,000. The 4-week moving average was 477,750, a decrease of 9,250 from the previous week's revised average of 487,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.5 percent for the week ending Aug. 28, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.5 percent.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced the publication of comprehensive data regarding safety and health records of the nation's mines.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $10 million in grant funds to 22 states to make technology improvements leading to more accurate unemployment insurance benefit payments.

"We must constantly strive to improve the systems that prevent improper payments within unemployment insurance systems," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Technology improvements can save money both by preventing overpayments and in staff time that otherwise would be dedicated to recovering improperly paid benefits."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced more than $8 million in grants to 22 states to make automation and technology upgrades within unemployment insurance systems.

"Increased workloads have put a strain on many state unemployment insurance systems," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "We must work to ensure that technology is up to par to guarantee quality service for all unemployment claimants regardless of volume or demands on state programs."

CLINTON, Md. — The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment ordering Walton Mechanical Service Inc. and its president, David A. Walton Jr., to restore $17,378 to the company’s SIMPLE IRA Plan.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration has launched a Web portal to help job seekers match their current skills to new careers and find out what training is needed to transition from one job to another. This new online tool is called "mySkillsmyFuture" and can be accessed at http://www.myskillsmyfuture.org. Users will be able to view local job postings and locate training and education providers.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the addition of the Career Videos for America's Job Seekers to a new federal government-wide site, http://www.challenge.gov.

PHENIX CITY, Ala. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited MDLG, doing business as Phenix Lumber Co., for 53 safety and health violations following the death of one worker and the critical injury of a second at its Phenix City facility. Proposed penalties total $439,400.

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

"This past August, the economy gained 67,000 jobs in the private sector, and the unemployment rate increased to 9.6 percent. Total nonfarm employment declined by 54,000 over the month, as 114,000 temporary census jobs wrapped up between July and August and more than offset the private sector job gains.

Turlock, California – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued D. L. Silva Inc., Daniel Silva, Dennette Dores and the estate of Dennis Silva for allegedly failing to remit or collect $104,513 in employee and employer contributions owed to the company's plan in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. The plan provides health and pension benefits to as many as 19 company employees.

ARLINGTON, Va. The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced the release of two new program information bulletins pertaining to the rights of miners who make hazardous condition complaints and request inspections, as well as miners' protections against discrimination.

Mining community urged to focus on safe work practices

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today issued a safety alert and fatality update to the mining industry to draw renewed attention to deaths that have occurred this year in mines throughout the country.