Boston - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Manchester Moving and Storage Inc., based in Manchester, Conn., and company president Frank N. Serignese for alleged misuse of more than $36,000 belonging to the employees of the company's 401(k) plan.

Arlington, Virginia – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit to obtain appointment of an independent fiduciary to oversee the 401(k) plan of Global System Enterprises Inc., a defunct company formerly located in Arlington.

“Abandonment of a retirement plan is not an option for companies that go out of business,” said Mabel Capolongo, director of the department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. “Employers have a legal responsibility to protect the interests of plan participants.”

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $461,300 grant to assist about 65 workers affected by layoffs at Weyerhaeuser Co. – Dallas Lumber, in Dallas, Ore.

"Today's grant will help these Oregonians access the re-employment and retraining services that are so crucial to transitioning into new careers in promising sectors of the economy," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

WASHINGTON On Dec. 11, the Interagency Council on Veterans Employment held its first meeting to discuss ways of expanding the participation of veterans in the nation's federal workforce. The meeting was co-chaired by Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. John Berry, director of the Office of Personnel Management, serves as the council's vice chair and chief operating officer.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that nearly 4,000 workers in auto-related industries across Ohio are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

The certification includes workers at five Delphi Ohio facilities in Howland, Warren, Rootstown, Vienna and Cortland counties, as well as workers at Cleveland Casting Plant in Cleveland, Ohio.

Boston - The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment ordering Yongsik Lee, president and owner of the now-defunct United Automation Technologies Inc. of Westborough, Mass., to properly administer and bring to termination the company's 401(k) plan.

Atlanta – A federal district court in Atlanta has ordered Insight Research and its president, Allen McMillon, to repay to the company's 401(k) plan $99,784.42 plus additional lost earnings accrued between Sept. 22, 2009, and the date of the judgment.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Dec. 5, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 474,000, an increase of 17,000 from the previous week's unrevised figure of 457,000. The 4-week moving average was 473,750, a decrease of 7,750 from the previous week's revised average of 481,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.9 percent for the week ending Nov. 28, a decrease of 0.2 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.1 percent.

Effort responds to President Obamas directive that federal agencies consult tribes on recommended practices

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor will participate in three consultation sessions over the next few weeks to develop – in coordination with tribal governments – a plan of action for the implementation of Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments. On Nov. 5, President Obama issued an executive memorandum directing federal agencies to conduct such activities.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 2,300 workers from companies in seven states – Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin – are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

Effort will promote labor rights of Mexican and other Hispanic workers in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut

Boston - The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a federal court order appointing an independent fiduciary to manage the abandoned 401(k) plan of The Law Centers for Consumer Protection, a Bennington, Vt., company that ceased operations in 2003.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a broad array of efforts designed to improve the public's accessibility to its agencies and ensure the department can function more effectively. The work is part of the Obama Administration's continued commitment to improved accountability, transparency and service to the American public.

Washington — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has announced a proposed exemption that, if granted, would allow the Ford Motor Co. to transfer company securities to a voluntary employee beneficiary association (VEBA) trust, which would fund a new health plan established to provide health benefits for the company’s retirees. The new health plan would cover in excess of 285,000 retirees and their dependents, and a small number of active employees.

Wage and Hour Divisions investigation covered 7 health care facilities

ST. LOUIS — SSM Health Care, a medical corporation comprised of seven health care centers and hospitals in the St. Louis area, has paid more than $1.7 million in back wages following a Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division.

Chicago – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued the trustees of the employee stock ownership plans and eligible individual account plans of DirecTECH Holding Co. Inc. and its former subsidiaries, DirecTECH Inc., Michigan Microtech Inc., JBM Inc. and DirecTECH Southwest Inc., the companies’ boards of directors and the parties who sold stock at inflated prices to the plans for alleged violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

Boston - The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit asking the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire to appoint an independent fiduciary to oversee the abandoned 401(k) plan of Media Solutions Inc. of Merrimack, New Hampshire, a defunct corporation.

Washington – The head of the U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) will host a live Web chat -open to the public and members of the press - to discuss their respective regulatory agendas. The Labor Department's entire regulatory agenda is published in today's Federal Register.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 2,300 workers from companies in seven states – Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Tennessee – and Puerto Rico are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

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

"This past November, the economy lost 11,000 jobs, and the unemployment rate decreased to 10 percent.

"I am encouraged by the pattern of moderated job loss; however, I will not be satisfied until there are robust job gains.