In the week ending February 24, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 210,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since December 6, 1969 when it was 202,000. The previous week's level was revised down by 2,000 from 222,000 to 220,000. The 4-week moving average was 220,500, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since December 27, 1969 when it was 219,750.

SEATTLE, WA – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed suit against a northern Washington berry farm for violating the labor provisions of the H-2A visa program. Sakuma Brothers Farms Inc. and the Washington State Farm Labor Association have been assessed $124,575 in civil money penalties and an additional $9,599 for failing to pay back wages to an eligible U.S. worker who was not hired and to workers who drove the buses that transported workers to the farm.

ERIE, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Clarion University Small Business Development Center (Clarion University SBDC) recently formed an alliance to educate small businesses in Pennsylvania on workplace safety and health hazards.

NEWARK, NJ – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation, AWAB Transport Inc., a Newark medical transportation company, will pay $77,202 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 38 employees to resolve violations of the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

NAPLES, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited L.I. Aluminum Design Inc., a Naples-based patio and pool enclosure manufacturer and installer, for failing to protect employees from fall hazards. Proposed penalties total $40,096.

MEMPHIS, TN – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation, Empire Packing LP, a Memphis meat cutting and packing company, will pay $127,830 in back wages and liquidated damages to 272 employees for violating overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

ESTILL SPRINGS, TN – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation, Tinsley Asphalt LLC, a Tennessee paving company, will pay $77,467 in back wages to 43 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

KIHEI, HI – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation, Piilani Gardens LLC, based in Kihei will pay $84,136 in overtime back wages to 22 employees performing maintenance and landscaping activities on Maui to resolve federal overtime pay and recordkeeping violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

ARLINGTON, VA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has initiated the deployment of a Mobile Inspection Application System (Mobile IAS) to further enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of mine inspectors and to better carry out MSHA’s core mission of promoting the health and safety of America’s miners. Nearly 1,500 federal mine inspectors across the nation and enforcement staff will benefit from this new technology.

SOLEDAD, CA – Following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Future Ag Management Inc. – a Soledad, California-based farm labor contractor – will pay $168,082 in penalties to resolve Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA) violations that posed a direct and imminent threat to its employees. 

In the week ending February 17, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 222,000, a decrease of 7,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 1,000 from 230,000 to 229,000. The 4-week moving average was 226,000, a decrease of 2,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised down by 250 from 228,500 to 228,250.

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PALATINE, IL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Manuel Gallardo, owner of Gallardo’s Construction Services, after inspectors observed employees exposed to fall hazards on six Chicago-area residential roofing projects between August and November 2017. The company faces $281,286 in proposed penalties.

HELENA, AL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited ABC Polymer Industries LLC, after an employee suffered fatal injuries when she was pulled into a plastics recycling machine. The company faces $195,144 in proposed penalties.

BOSTON, MA – In connection with a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the owners of several Boston, Massachusetts, pizza restaurants have agreed to a preliminary order enjoining them from retaliating against employees or former employees, and from instructing employees not to speak with or to lie to U.S. Department of Labor investigators.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, Fort Lauderdale window and door installation contractor ADCO Installers LLC will pay $103,608 in back wages to 35 employees. WHD investigators found the employer violated overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Investigators determined ADCO Installers LLC paid employees straight-time rates, instead of the required time-and-one-half, for hours they worked over 40 in a work week.

CHARLESTON, WV – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Atlanta-based Peach State Roofing Inc. for failing to protect its employees from fall hazards at a Charleston worksite. The company faces $107,930 in proposed penalties.

OSHA initiated an inspection on Aug. 9, 2017, after observing employees accessing a building roof without a ladder or stairway and working on the roof without fall protection. The company was cited for one repeat and two serious violations.

MIAMI, FL – After a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, Cartagena’s Inc., a Miami-based commercial aircraft paint contractor, will pay $54,704 in back wages to 31 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

COLUMBUS, OH – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Buckeye Service, Transmission, Exploration, and Production Safety Network (STEPS) have renewed an alliance to address safety and health hazards, and help improve workplace safety in Ohio’s oil and gas industry.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), WM Limited Partnership-1998, a Grand Rapids-based franchisee of 53 Wendy’s Restaurants, has paid $258,249 in civil money penalties for child labor violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) at all 53 of its Michigan restaurants.

STEUBENVILLE, OH – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Environmental Management Specialists Inc. (EMS) reached a settlement agreement that resolves a lawsuit filed under the anti-retaliation provision of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act. Under the agreement, Steubenville, Ohio-based EMS will pay $21,000 in back wages to one of its employees.