Complaint asks court to bar security company from government contracting

CHICAGO — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed lawsuits to require Roswell, Ga.-based U.S. Security Associates Inc. — which provides uniformed and trained guards and other emergency responders under federal contract — to submit documents detailing the company's affirmative action plans for its own facilities in Milwaukee, Wis., and Portage, Ind.

WASHINGTON — Officials of the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division and Iowa Workforce Development today signed a memorandum of understanding to protect the rights of employees by preventing their misclassification as independent contractors by employers.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the retirement of Sen. Jay Rockefeller:

SAVANNAH, Ga. – A judge has ordered former Savannah attorney Benjamin S. Eichholz and the Eichholz Law Firm P.C. to restore losses and interest to the firm’s retirement and pension plans. The order resolves a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Labor, which was based on an investigation by the department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration. EBSA found that Eichholz and his former law firm breached their fiduciary responsibilities in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act and caused losses to the plans in excess of $1 million.

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has signed an accord with BNSF Railway Co., headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, announcing BNSF's voluntary revision of several personnel policies that OSHA alleged violated the whistleblower provisions of the Federal Railroad Safety Act and dissuaded workers from reporting on-the-job injuries.

Date of Action: Jan. 9, 2013

Type of Action: Consent judgment

Name(s) of Defendant(s): Richard Yanek, president, sole owner and trustee of the 401(k) plan, and Cardservice of Virginia Inc.

New electronic tools to help inform young workers about hazards and rights

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending January 5, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 371,000, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 367,000. The 4-week moving average was 365,750, an increase of 6,750 from the previous week's revised average of 359,000.

WACO, Texas The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Marathon Norco Aerospace Inc. with eight serious health violations following a July inspection for exposing workers to hazardous materials, such as nickel and cadmium, at the company's facility on Imperial Drive in Waco. Proposed penalties total $41,220.

DALLAS — Paradise Detail Ltd. in Dallas has agreed to pay 82 current and former detail and car wash employees $229,475 in back wages following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division that found violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act's overtime and minimum wage provisions.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis this afternoon sent the following letter to employees at the U.S. Department of Labor:

"Over the Christmas and New Year holidays with my family in California, I enjoyed my first opportunity in years to reflect on the past and my future, with an open mind and an open heart. After much discussion with family and close friends, I have decided to begin a new future, and return to the people and places I love and that have inspired and shaped my life.

WASHINGTON — To help millions of people recognize what they can do to make a difference in the lives — and future careers — of young people with disabilities, the U.S. Department of Labor's Campaign for Disability Employment has released a new video public service announcement titled "Because." The PSA features real people with disabilities — not actors — who are pursuing and realizing their goals and passions as a result of the support they received from everyday people in their lives.

Date of Action: Dec. 28, 2012

Type of Action: Complaint

Name(s) of Defendant(s): The Hartford Construction Group, LLC and Travis M. Donnelly

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $408,403 National Emergency Grant increment for continued assistance to about 320 workers affected by the 2011 closure of Evergreen Solar Inc. in Devens and Marlborough, Mass., and layoffs of two of its staffing firms.

Company will also pay $9,450 in civil money penalties

Date of Action: Jan. 4, 2013

Type of Action: Consent order and judgment

Names of Defendants: Source HR, LLC and Austin R. Ritter

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the December 2012 Employment Situation report released today:

"December's report marks 34 straight months of private sector job growth, which have added close to 5.8 million jobs. For nearly three years, steady gains have occurred across different sectors of the economy, and December finishes a strong year of consistent growth with average increases of about 160,000 private sector jobs per month in 2012.

SAVANNAH, Ga. — L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC has agreed to pay $261,899 in back wages to 361 workers employed at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division that found employees were not being compensated in compliance with the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending December 29, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 372,000, an increase of 10,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 362,000. The 4-week moving average was 360,000, an increase of 250 from the previous week's revised average of 359,750.

Asian Moon and Golden Rod restaurants also will pay more than $98,000 in civil money penalties for minimum wage, overtime, recordkeeping violations