WASHINGTON – In response to today's Bureau of Labor Statistics report announcing the preliminary Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries of 5,071 fatal work injuries in 2008 – down from a total of 5,657 fatal work injuries reported in 2007 – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement:

"With every one of these fatalities, the lives of a worker's family members were shattered and forever changed. We can't forget that fact.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Aug. 15, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 576,000, an increase of 15,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 561,000. The 4-week moving average was 570,000, an increase of 4,250 from the previous week's revised average of 565,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.7 percent for the week ending Aug. 8, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.7 percent.

FORT SMITH, Ark. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) announced Gerber Products Co. has agreed to settle findings of hiring discrimination against 1,912 rejected minority and female applicants for entry-level positions. The agreement settles the department's allegations that Gerber engaged in hiring discrimination against minority and female applicants for one year.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,000,000 grant to provide approximately 1,800 jobless workers with partial premium payments for health insurance coverage.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Aug. 8, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 558,000, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 554,000. The 4-week moving average was 565,000, an increase of 8,500 from the previous week's revised average of 556,500.

Atlanta — The U.S. Department of Labor has sued defunct Vinyl-Mark Products Inc. of Hueytown, Alabama, and the company’s pension and profit sharing plan trustees for allegedly misusing $898,259.69 in plan assets to pay the operating expenses of the company.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced that Dr. Esther Johnson, national director of Job Corps, will be leaving her position effective today. Dr. Johnson will undertake new duties as a senior advisor in the Office of the Deputy Secretary of Labor. In her stead, Lynn Intrepidi, former director of the Philadelphia Region of Job Corps will become acting director of the program.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court of the United States:

"Now that Justice Sonia Sotomayor has been confirmed, I want to congratulate her for this achievement and for her grace under fire as she had her judicial record closely scrutinized over the past 10 weeks. She handled herself with poise, but with her keen intellect and impeccable record, she won over the hearts and minds of members of Congress.

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $20,351,150 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Hawaii. Hawaii qualified for these funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by including certain family-friendly provisions in its UI law.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the death of Eunice Kennedy Shriver:

Boston – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued trustees Michael McLaughlin and William J. Frasier for allegedly misusing $312,555.71 in retirement assets of three Mendon, Massachusetts, pension plans, in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that more than 1,750 copper anode production workers from Freeport – McMoran Inc. of Morenci, Ariz., are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

"These workers are in need of good new jobs, and we as a nation are in need of their talent and dedication in our workforce," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "TAA is one tool that can help workers through a dislocation and enter new careers in promising regional industries."

WASHINGTON – During a visit to Iowa today, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced a $521,910 grant to assist approximately 90 workers affected by layoffs at Featherlite Inc. located in Cresco, Iowa.

"This grant will help affected workers rejoin the labor force by providing them with top notch training and job-related services," said Secretary Solis. "Iowans are an important part of the nation's workforce, and they can count on the U.S. Department of Labor to ensure they have access to the employment resources they need and deserve."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that nearly 550 workers in auto-related industries in Indiana, Michigan and Pennsylvania are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

"Over the years, our nation has benefited immensely from the work and dedication of those employed in auto-related industries across these states," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Trade Adjustment Assistance is one way we can support these workers as they seek re-employment in promising regional industries that pay family-supporting wages."

RALEIGH, N.C. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has fined nine farms and 17 farm labor contractors doing business in Bladen and Craven counties, N.C., for violating federal labor law, including employing children as young as eight years old as farm laborers.

The investigation is part of the agency's ongoing agricultural initiative aimed at protecting the rights of farm workers under provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA).

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the July 2009 Employment Situation report released today:

"Today's unemployment numbers continue to show the challenges of the economic problems that this administration inherited. These figures are a reminder that we still have a lot of work to do on behalf of America's workers.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court of the United States:

"Today is a proud and historic day for our nation. Congress has confirmed its third female Supreme Court Justice and its first Latina woman to the highest court in our land.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Aug. 1, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 550,000, a decrease of 38,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 588,000. The 4-week moving average was 555,250, a decrease of 4,750 from the previous week's revised average of 560,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.7 percent for the week ending July 25, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.7 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $3,421,645 grant to assist approximately 1,227 workers across the state of Wisconsin affected by layoffs at 11 companies in the manufacturing industry in the northeastern part of the state.

"These Wisconsin workers have made tremendous sacrifices, and they deserve our support," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "This grant will ensure that they receive the training and reemployment services necessary to find new jobs."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in an effort to crack down on fraudulent trainers, is continuing to strengthen the integrity of its 36-year-old Outreach Training Program by publishing an "Outreach Trainer Watch List" of those who have had their trainer authorizations either revoked or suspended.