WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today will announce, from Anaheim, Calif., a national outreach initiative by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration to educate workers and their employers about the hazards of working outdoors in the heat and steps needed to prevent heat-related illnesses.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Alliance Excavating Inc. of Grove City and the defunct company's owner, James Sowers, for allegedly failing to administer and terminate the Alliance Excavating Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust, in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the death of Larry Marek:

"My heartfelt condolences go out to the family, friends and co-workers of Larry Marek. After more than a week of valiant round-the-clock efforts to locate him, rescue workers made the tragic discovery on Sunday that he had not survived the April 15th roof fall at Lucky Friday Mine.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs today published in the Federal Register a request for information seeking public comments and relevant information to assist the department in updating three reports released in 2010 on child labor and forced labor in foreign countries.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs today announced a proposed rule to strengthen affirmative action requirements of federal contractors and subcontractors for veterans protected under the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974. Veterans protected by VEVRAA include those with disabilities and those recently discharged as well as those who served during a war, campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge is authorized.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on Earth Day:

"Americans have always worked to make a difference in their own communities and around the world. Earth Day offers an important reminder to continue that tradition. We can – and must address the challenges that threaten our economy, our security and our planet.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending April 16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 403,000, a decrease of 13,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 416,000. The 4-week moving average was 399,000, an increase of 2,250 from the previous week's revised average of 396,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9 percent for the week ending April 9, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.9 percent.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the first anniversary of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill:

"This time last year, our country experienced the largest oil spill in its history. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico not only released close to 5 million barrels of oil, it also claimed the lives of 11 workers, injured many more and had a major economic impact on the region.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $335,400 National Emergency Grant to assist about 100 workers affected by layoffs at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Conn., which occurred in September 2010.

"The Labor Department is committed to helping all Americans who have lost jobs through no fault of their own," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "This grant will provide training and other services to help dislocated workers prepare for good jobs in Connecticut's growing industries."

WEST CHESTER, Ohio – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that a federal district court in Cincinnati has issued a default judgment against Christopher Technologies LLC of West Chester and its president, John Fussner, ordering $37,232.40 in employee contributions and lost opportunity costs be repaid to the participants and beneficiaries of the company’s 401(k) profit-sharing plan.

Egregious safety violations result in proposed fines of $378,000

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $284,023 National Emergency Grant to assist recovery efforts following the March 11 tsunami wave surge. Awarded to the Oregon Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development, the funds will be used to create temporary jobs to help repair damage to coastal areas of Curry County.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $3,849,481 National Emergency Grant increment to continue cleanup and recovery efforts in southern Texas in the wake of Hurricane Alex. This increment, awarded to the Texas Workforce Commission, will fund temporary jobs for eligible dislocated workers to assist in those efforts.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $1 million National Emergency Grant increment to continue cleanup and recovery efforts in the wake of Tropical Storm Otto that struck Puerto Rico in October 2010. Awarded to the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources, the funds will create temporary jobs for eligible dislocated workers to assist in these efforts.

AUSTIN, Texas – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration will co-host a free health law compliance assistance seminar with the Texas Department of Insurance on Tuesday, May 17, and Wednesday, May 18, at the University of Texas at Austin’s Thompson Conference Center.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit rejected a challenge by the National Roofing Contractors Association to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's December 2010 directive on the use of fall protection in residential construction. The directive withdrew an earlier one that allowed certain residential construction employers to bypass some fall protection requirements.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATAIn the week ending April 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 412,000, an increase of 27,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 385,000. The 4-week moving average was 395,750, an increase of 5,500 from the previous week's revised average of 390,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9 percent for the week ending April 2, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.0 percent.

STEVENSVILLE, Mich. – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued defunct Metal Processors Inc., a die maker in Stevensville, and owner Russel Reschke, to restore $16,200 in employee contributions plus lost interest to the company’s 401(k) plan. The case resulted from an investigation by the department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration into alleged violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued now defunct Family Care Management of Northbrook and trustees Robert Kaplan, Michael Kaplan and Arnold Kaplan for allegedly failing to administer and terminate the company’s 401(k) and profit-sharing plan in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.  This situation has prevented qualified participants from obtaining distributions of their individual account balances since the company ceased operations in 2007.  At that time, the plan had 15 participants and assets totaling $124,236.

OAK PARK HEIGHTS, Minn. – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Greeder Mondor Electric Co., a defunct Oak Park Heights electrical contractor, and the company’s owner, Scott Mondor, for allegedly failing to administer and terminate the Greeder Mondor Electric Co. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.