Agency also launches transparency Web site 2 weeks early

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement regarding the Bureau of Labor Statistics report released today on Union Members in 2009:

"Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that, in 2009, the unionization rate of employed wage and salary workers was 12.3 percent, in essence unchanged from the 12.4 percent rate in 2008. Among private sector employees, the rate dropped to 7.2 percent from 7.6 percent in 2008.

Columbus, Indiana – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued the owner of Hoosier Foot & Ankle LLC, a non-surgical foot and ankle care business in Columbus, for failure to carry out his fiduciary duty to monitor the service provider to the company’s 401(k) plan in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Jan. 16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 482,000, an increase of 36,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 446,000. The 4-week moving average was 448,250, an increase of 7,000 from the previous week's revised average of 441,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.5 percent for the week ending Jan. 9, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.5 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 4,800 workers from companies in 14 states – Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington – are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced nearly $190 million in green jobs training grants, as authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). The State Energy Sector Partnership and Training Grants are designed to teach workers the skills required in emerging industries, including energy efficiency and renewable energy. This set of green grants is the third awarded in as many weeks by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Washington – The U.S. Department of Labor has released three model notice packages that will enable group health plans and employers to provide notice on the availability of the extension of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) continuation coverage premium reductions under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act). A free webcast will be held on Jan. 22, from 1 to 3 p.m. (EST) to help employers, plan administrators and service providers comply with the notice requirements.

Lewes, Del. – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit to obtain appointment of an independent fiduciary to oversee the 401(k) plan of Keystone Professional Employers Inc., a defunct company formerly located in Lewes.

"Denying workers access to their retirement savings will not be tolerated by the Labor Department," said Mabel Capolongo, director of the department's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) in Philadelphia. "Employers cannot abandon 401(k) plans when a company goes out of business."

Dallas, Pa. – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Raymond Woronowicz, former president of The Business Alliance Inc., for failing to deposit employee contributions into the company's employee benefit plan in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). The Dallas company ceased operations in or around January 2006.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,661,173 grant to assist about 600 workers affected by layoffs at the Taylor, Bean and Whitaker Mortgage Corp. and its subsidiary companies in north/central Florida.

Public meeting scheduled for Feb. 10 in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today announced a public meeting, "OSHA Listens," to solicit comments and suggestions from OSHA stakeholders on key issues facing the agency. The meeting is scheduled for Feb. 10 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST in Washington, D.C.

Cherry Hill, N.J. – The plan administrator of the Airport Hospitality, LTD 401(k) Plan now located in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, was ordered to pay the $86,500 penalty assessed by the U. S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), according to the decision and order of the department's Office of Administrative Law Judges.

Atlanta – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Atlanta engineering company Williams-Russell & Johnson and two of its owners, Pelham C. Williams and Charles E. Johnson Sr., for failure to forward employee contributions and loan repayments in a timely manner to the company's 401(k) plan in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

Memphis, Tenn. – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a default judgment requiring that Stephens Brothers Inc. be removed as fiduciary of the former Memphis company's 401(k) plan.

The order, issued by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, found that Stephens Brothers Inc. violated provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

The judgment appoints an independent fiduciary to terminate the plan and distribute assets of approximately $692,000 to the plan participants.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 3,900 workers from companies in 15 states – California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin – are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Jan. 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 444,000, an increase of 11,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 433,000. The 4-week moving average was 440,750, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week's revised average of 449,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.5 percent for the week ending Jan. 2, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.6 percent.

BAY SHORE, N.Y. — The U.S. Department of Labor will recover more than $1.8 million in back wages for more than 500 employees of MT Transportation & Logistics Services Inc., a trucking company based in Bay Shore, under contract with the United States Postal Service (USPS) to haul mail. The company and its principal officers also will be debarred from receiving future government contracts for a three-year period.

Raleigh, N.C. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has sued fiduciaries of the former Raleigh-based Castleton Group to restore more than $500,000 in plan losses that resulted from violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

Washington – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) will host a free webcast January 21 to help employers, plan administrators and service providers prepare for changes to the Form 5500 and electronic filing requirement that begin with the 2009 plan year filings.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced $150 million in green jobs training grants, as authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). The "Pathways Out of Poverty" grants – as the group of funding awards is known – will support programs that help disadvantaged populations find ways out of poverty and into economic self-sufficiency through employment in energy efficiency and renewable energy industries.