BOSTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Stephen Thomas, individually and as trustee of the defunct Gagne Precast Concrete Products Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan, for alleged violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act that cost the plan millions of dollars in losses. ERISA is the federal law that protects the assets and participants of private sector employee benefit plans.

MENTOR, Ohio – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued the trustee of the North Coast Wood Products Profit Sharing Plan, Harry Fishleigh III, for improperly transferring $96,837.63 in plan assets to his son, Steven Fishleigh, in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending March 5, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 397,000, an increase of 26,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 371,000. The 4-week moving average was 392,250, an increase of 3,000 from the previous week's revised average of 389,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.0 percent for the week ending Feb. 26, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.0 percent.

INDIANAPOLIS –– The actions of the U.S. Department of Labor have ensured that $51,933.26 of un-remitted employee contributions and related lost opportunity costs have been returned to the Premier Properties USA Inc. 401(k) plan.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service today announced the availability of $600,000 in "Stand Down" grants that will provide an estimated 10,000 homeless veterans with opportunities to reintegrate into society. The grants are being awarded under the department's Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,570,907 grant to assist about 400 workers affected by the closing of Sonoco Packaging Products in Devens, Mass., and layoffs at Debbie's Staffing in Ayer, Mass.

"Many of these workers – who have lost jobs through no fault of their own – face significant language and education barriers to new employment," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "This grant will make available the services they need to re-enter the workforce."

Temporary supervisors misclassified under Fair Labor Standards Act

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding International Women's Day:

"Today people all over the world will celebrate International Women's Day, honoring the power, strength and contributions of all women. Together, we not only recognize the economic, political and social achievements of women, but the struggle and sacrifice it took to get here, too.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,288,296 National Emergency Grant increment to continue providing re-employment and retraining services to about 1,000 workers affected by layoffs at Micron Technology Inc. located in Boise, Idaho.

Labor contractor held in contempt of court for failing to cooperate with investigators

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy today posted an online toolkit comprised of resources to assist federal agencies in recruiting, employing and retaining individuals with disabilities. The kit is available at http://www.dol.gov/odep/federal-hire.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the February 2011 Employment Situation report released today:

"Our nation's labor market improved notably in the month of February. Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 192,000, and the unemployment rate decreased to 8.9 percent – exceeding the consensus forecast and adding 60,000 workers to the labor market. Today's numbers highlight steady, sustained and widespread job growth. The bottom line: The policies and programs of this administration are working.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Feb. 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 368,000, a decrease of 20,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 388,000. The 4-week moving average was 388,500, a decrease of 12,750 from the previous week's revised average of 401,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.0 percent for the week ending Feb. 19, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's revised rate of 3.1 percent.

NEW YORK — The U.S. Department of Labor has taken legal action to seek debarment of Lettire Construction Corp., a New York City general contractor, and Nicholas Lettire, president of the company, from working on future federally funded contracts for a period of three years.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of approximately $40 million for Enhanced Transitional Jobs Demonstration grants to help individuals with significant barriers to employment obtain the skills they need through work opportunities.

31 programs in 20 states to share more than $30 million

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an award of $30,696,643 for its YouthBuild programs. Funds will be shared among 31 programs that prepare out-of-school youth across the United States for careers through hands-on construction training, and high school completion and General Educational Development programs.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $6,116,896 National Emergency Grant to assist about 1,450 workers impacted by 2005 Base Realignment and Closure actions that resulted in multiple military base realignments in Texas. The grant will provide retraining and re-employment services to dislocated workers as well as military spouses.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor is notifying all former BWX Technologies Inc. employees who worked at the company's site in Lynchburg, Va., about a new class of employees added to the Special Exposure Cohort of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. The EEOICPA provides compensation and medical benefits to workers who became ill as a result of working in the nuclear weapons industry. Survivors of qualified workers may also be entitled to benefits.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor is notifying all former Texas City Chemicals Inc. employees who worked at the site in Texas City, Texas, about a new class of employees added to the Special Exposure Cohort of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. The EEOICPA provides compensation and medical benefits to workers who became ill as a result of working in the nuclear weapons industry. Survivors of qualified workers may also be entitled to benefits.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor is notifying all former Simonds Saw and Steel Co. employees who worked at the company's site in Lockport, N.Y., about a new class of employees added to the Special Exposure Cohort of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. The EEOICPA provides compensation and medical benefits to workers who became ill as a result of working in the nuclear weapons industry. Survivors of qualified workers may also be entitled to benefits.