Grants will advance Registered Apprenticeships into 21st century

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded $6,499,992 to assist national industry and employer associations and labor-management organizations in advancing Registered Apprenticeship through the development of innovative programs that utilize an updated 21st century Registered Apprenticeship framework.

Chicago — The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment and order requiring the former president of Chicago-based AA Capital Partners Inc. to restore $50 million in losses to five Michigan pension funds as restitution for misuse of the plans’ assets to benefit the investment firm and himself. The judgment also bars defendant John Orecchio from serving in a fiduciary or service provider capacity to any employee benefit plan governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that almost 2,000 workers in auto-related industries in Michigan, Indiana, South Carolina and Mississippi are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance.

WASHINGTON – The safety of airport traffic control tower personnel is the focus of an inspection targeting program titled "Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Traffic Control Tower Monitoring Program" which monitors how workers clear a control tower in case of fire and other emergencies. The inspection targeting program, conducted by the U.S.

Chattanooga, Tennessee – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment and settlement agreement requiring Tim Manson to restore $35,415 to Standard Coosa Thatcher (SCT) Yarns’ retirement plans for salaried and hourly employees.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $558,591 grant to assist approximately 160 workers affected by layoffs at eight manufacturing companies located in southern New Hampshire.

"The professionalism and commitment to quality of the American manufacturing workforce is unparalleled," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "These workers deserve our support as they seek to upgrade current skills or enter training leading to good jobs in growing industries."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded $10 million in funding to organizations that connect older Americans to career opportunities. The Aging Worker Initiative: Strategies for Regional Talent Development is designed to train workers aged 55 and older for jobs in high-growth, high-demand industries, and increase the public workforce system's capacity to effectively serve an aging worker population.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending July 25, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 584,000, an increase of 25,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 559,000. The 4-week moving average was 559,000, a decrease of 8,250 from the previous week's revised average of 567,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.7 percent for the week ending July 18, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.7 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $578,574 grant to assist approximately 50 workers affected by layoffs at Sauer Danfoss Inc. in Hillsboro, Ore.

"The professionalism and commitment to quality of the American manufacturing workforce is unparalleled," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "These workers deserve our support as they seek to upgrade current skills or enter training leading to good jobs in growing industries."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced grants totaling $26.5 million to 25 states to implement or enhance the Re-employment and Eligibility Assessment (REA) Initiative for unemployment insurance (UI) recipients.

Washington – The U.S. Department of Labor is soliciting nominations to fill five three-year vacancies on the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, known as the ERISA Advisory Council. The deadline for receipt of nominations is September 15, 2009.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $28,231,263 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Maine. Maine qualified for its full share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act or ARRA) by providing for a variety of provisions that make it easier for recent entrants to the workforce, workers seeking part-time work and people who are upgrading their skills to be eligible for benefits.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that almost 1,000 workers in auto-related industries in Michigan are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that more than 600 workers from Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. in Union City, Tenn., are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance.

WASHINGTON Facilities that could potentially release highly hazardous chemicals resulting in toxic fire or explosion hazards are the focus of a national emphasis program (NEP) developed by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

The program establishes policies and procedures for inspecting workplaces that are covered by OSHA's process safety management (PSM) standard.

Atlanta — The business manager of Jasper Anesthesia Care Inc. in Jasper, Alabama, was ordered by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama in Jasper to pay of $46,844.79 in restitution to the company’s profit-sharing plan plus a $100 special assessment. Haze Edward Persons also was sentenced to 10 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

TULSA, Okla. — QuikTrip Corp. has agreed to pay $747,729 in overtime back wages for 3,819 current and former convenience store workers following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division's Arkansas-Oklahoma District Office.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that it has paid more than $5 billion in compensation and medical benefits to more than 52,600 claimants nationwide under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). This milestone coincides with the eighth anniversary of the Labor Department's administration of the EEOICPA, which provides compensation and medical benefits to employees who became ill as a result of working in the nuclear weapons industry.

Launch of revamped site coincides with Americans with Disabilities Acts 19th anniversary

Orlando, Florida – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Bichler and Kelly P.A. and two of its attorneys to protect the assets of the law firm’s savings incentive match plan for employees individual retirement account (SIMPLE IRA).