July 11, 2016

US Labor Department releases proposal to improve, modernize Form 5500 Annual Return/Report filed by employee benefit plans

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation are seeking public comments on proposed revisions to modernize and improve the Form 5500 Annual Return/Report filed by private-sector employee benefit plans.

July 11, 2016

Oil and gas equipment manufacturer, local staffing company face $120K in fines after OSHA finds a combined 34 safety violations

Employers names: Exterran Energy Solutions LP
South Texas Specialty Welders LLC

Worksite location: 2707 FM 949, Alleyton, Texas 78935

Citations issued: July 8, 2016

July 11, 2016

Denver stone distributor cited by OSHA for willful, repeat, serious violations after more than 3 tons of granite fall on, kill warehouse worker

Employer name: Nidi Tec Inc.

Worksite: 591 East 56th Ave., Denver, Colorado 80216

Citations issued: July 6, 2016

July 11, 2016

US Labor Department recovers $147K in back wages for 21 Ohio trade workers employed under federal contract

CINCINNATI, Ohio – Pipefitters and bricklayers constructing the Viking Village Shared Facility Pool in Sharonville under a federal contract will recover a total of $147,000 in back wages and benefits following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division.

July 11, 2016

U.S. Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division to offer free compliance seminar in Boston on August 3, 2016

BOSTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division will offer a comprehensive compliance seminar for employers, representatives of community rehabilitation programs, family members and guardians of workers with disabilities and other stakeholders on rules governing the payment of workers with disabilities under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act

July 8, 2016

Bureau of International Labor Affairs issues report on submission under the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation

WASHINGTON – A report released today under the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation by the U.S. Department of Labor responds to a submission filed by U.S. and Mexican labor unions and worker advocacy groups that alleges that the Mexican government has failed to meet its obligations under the NAALC with respect to a large chain of Mexican retail stores.

July 8, 2016

Statement of US Labor Secretary Perez on June employment numbers

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement about the June 2016 Employment Situation report released today:

July 7, 2016

Texas oilfield chemical provider to pay $439K in back wages, damages to 50 workers following US Labor Department investigation

Employer: WadeCo Specialties Inc., an oilfield services chemical provider

Site: 8115 West Industrial Avenue, Midland, Texas 79706

July 7, 2016

Frankfort, Illinois, painting companies to pay nearly $127K in overtime back wages, damages to 52 workers

Type of Action: Fair Labor Standards Act consent judgment

Name of Defendants: Mike’s Refinishing Corporation
Mike’s Decorating and Painting Inc.
Michael Nastepniak

July 7, 2016

OSHA cites Amerway for again overexposing employees to lead hazards at Altoona manufacturing facility; failing to provide respiratory protection

Employer name: Amerway Inc., an industrial soldering and metal brazing manufacturer

Inspection site: 3701 Beale Ave., Altoona, Pennsylvania

July 7, 2016

Wally’s American Pub and Grille to pay $141K in overtime back wages and damages to 11 employees in Phoenix, Scottsdale

Employer: Wally’s American Pub and Grille, LLC, operating two restaurants in Arizona

Locations: 5029 North 44 Street, Phoenix
7704 East Double Tree Rach, Scottsdale

July 7, 2016

US Labor Department sues El Paso fire protection company, seeking $321K in unpaid wages, liquidated damages for workers

Date of Action: July 7, 2016

Type of Action: Lawsuit

Name of Defendant: Five Star Automatic Fire Protection LLC

July 7, 2016

Cement producer agrees to improve safety at Puerto Rico facilities, pay nearly $300K for 119 MSHA violations

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration announced today that cement producer CEMEX de Puerto Rico has agreed to pay $291,722 in penalties, and implement enhanced safety measures at its three MSHA-regulated facilities in Puerto Rico.

July 7, 2016

SoCal electrical contractor pays more than $321K in overtime back wages and damages to 158 workers following labor investigation

Employer: Schamber Electric & Sons Inc., doing business as Schamber Electric Inc.

Location: 1674 Rail Road St., Corona, California

July 7, 2016

Labor Department awards $81M to provide training, support and housing assistance to seasonal farmworkers

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $81 million in grants through the National Farmworker Jobs Program to provide additional employment, training and housing assistance to migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families. Recipients include 63 organizations in 49 states and Puerto Rico.

July 7, 2016

Emergency medical service provider fails to protect employees from risks of bloodborne pathogens

ALTAMONT, Ill. – Federal safety and health investigators found Altamont Ambulance Service Inc. failed to follow specific guidelines to protect emergency healthcare workers from exposure to bloodborne pathogens and other hazards while providing patient care.

July 7, 2016

OSHA cites Tonawanda Coke for repeat, serious safety violations after employee dies while servicing operating coal elevator

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The death of a Tonawanda Coke Corp. employee who was pulled into the rotating shaft of a coal elevator on Jan. 6, 2016, could have been prevented, an inspection by the Buffalo Area Office of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has determined.

July 7, 2016

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending July 2, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 254,000, a decrease of 16,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 268,000 to 270,000. The 4-week moving average was 264,750, a decrease of 2,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 266,750 to 267,250.

July 7, 2016

San Fernando Valley recycler to pay more than $45K in back wages, damages to four workers following labor investigation

Employer: Odelsi Recycling, a company that purchases recyclable materials such as aluminum, glass
and plastic bottles from individuals in California’s San Fernando Valley.

Location: 11045 Glenoaks Blvd., Pacoima
13426 Osborne St., Arleta

July 6, 2016

$8.4M awarded to provide safety and health training to miners in 47 states, Navajo Nation to reduce accidents, injuries and illnesses

ARLINGTON, Va. – Forty-seven states and the Navajo Nation will receive a total of $8,441,000 in funds to support safety and health training courses and other programs to reduce mining accidents, injuries and illnesses, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration announced today.