WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement calling on Congress to create export-driven jobs by ratifying free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea, and to pass a robust Trade Adjustment Assistance program:

"For the sake of our economic recovery, we must open new markets to American-made goods and services. These three agreements are the result of intensive negotiations that put America first. They'll ensure that we're exporting American products, not paychecks, abroad.

Grants target industries in 20 states and DC that rely on H-1B visa program for skilled workers

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement to mark National Domestic Violence Awareness Month:

"This month, Americans from all walks of life lock hands to send a message that this country will not tolerate domestic violence. Every day, three women in America die at the hands of a violent abuser. We must redouble our efforts to prevent these senseless tragedies.

Court yet to determine amount of wages and damages owed; more than $1.6 million sought

DAYTON, Ohio — In a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Labor against Cascom Inc. and president Julia J. Gress alleging wage violations, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas M. Rose has ruled that the Fairfield, Ohio, company violated federal labor laws by misclassifying its employees as independent contractors and, consequently, not compensating them for overtime work, as required under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis, joined by Sen. Tom Harkin, today released three new reports on child labor and forced labor, and announced $32.5 million in grants to combat child labor around the world.

MEDIA, Pa. – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against now defunct J.M. Singley & Associates Inc. of Media and the trustees of the company’s 401(k) plan, J. Brant Singley and Bradly Weiss, for violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. 

National competition marks 100 years and 60 since it was last held in Columbus, Ohio

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced four two-year cooperative agreements totaling $2,165,998 to consortia led by the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois in Chicago, the National Organization on Disability in New York City, TransCen Inc. in Rockville, Md., and the World Institute on Disability in Oakland, Calif. These awards represent the second round of funding provided through the "Add Us In" initiative of the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy.

Date of Action:  Sept. 30, 2011

Type of Action:  Complaint

Name(s) of Defendant: Nicholas C. Caro, individually and as a fiduciary to the N.C. Caro M.D., S.C. Defined Benefit Plan; and, Nicholas C. Caro’s medical practice, N.C. Caro M.D., S.C., as administrator of and fiduciary to the plan.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending September 24, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 391,000, a decrease of 37,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 428,000. The 4-week moving average was 417,000, a decrease of 5,250 from the previous week's revised average of 422,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.0 percent for the week ending September 17, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $12,845,000 National Emergency Grant to assist Puerto Rico with recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced $1 million in grant funds to eight organizations that provide education and training within the mining industry. The Brookwood-Sago grants program was established through a provision in the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006. This funding will be used to develop and implement training and related materials for mine emergency preparedness, as well as for the prevention of accidents in underground mines.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy today announced a total of $3,787,000 in continued funding for organizations managing consortia that develop models, provide technical assistance and share best practices to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

PITTSBURGH – The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania has approved a consent judgment and order to restore $67,138 in plan assets and interest to the employee 401(k) plan of Liberty-Pittsburgh Systems Inc. The action resolves a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Labor against the company and its chief executive officer, Kevin T. Weir.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 356 citations, orders and safeguards during special impact inspections conducted at 16 coal mines and four metal/nonmetal mines last month. The coal mines were issued 272 citations, 37 orders and two safeguards, while the metal/nonmetal operations were issued 45 citations.

SUMNER, Texas The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited PJ Trailers Manufacturing Co. Inc. and Delco Trailers Co. Inc., a similar company owned by PJ Trailers, for seven willful, 26 serious, nine repeat and four other-than-serious violations. OSHA inspectors found workers exposed to unguarded machinery, fall hazards and accumulations of potentially hazardous dust, among other violations. Proposed penalties total $949,800.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $21,166,560 for seven states under the Disability Employment Initiative to improve education, training, and employment opportunities and outcomes for youth and adults who are unemployed, underemployed and/or receiving Social Security disability benefits. The initiative is jointly funded and administered by the department's Employment and Training Administration and its Office of Disability Employment Policy.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis and Under Secretary of Education Martha Kanter today announced nearly $500 million in grants to community colleges around the country for targeted training and workforce development to help economically dislocated workers who are changing careers. The grants support partnerships between community colleges and employers to develop programs that provide pathways to good jobs, including building instructional programs that meet specific industry needs.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $10 million National Emergency Grant to assist Pennsylvania with recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Irene.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an $89,673 National Emergency Grant increment to continue cleanup and recovery efforts following the severe winter storms and resulting flooding, mudslides, landslides and debris flows that struck Oregon in January.