Activities occurring in workplaces and communities nationwide Oct. 19 through 25

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today launched the fourth annual Drug-Free Work Week national awareness campaign, which will run through Oct. 25. The department's campaign highlights support for workplace safety and the importance of having a drug-free work environment. Activities also encourage workers battling alcohol and drug problems to seek assistance.

Washington – The Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans - known as the ERISA Advisory Council - will meet Tuesday, Nov. 3, and Wednesday, Nov. 4, at the U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 2,329 workers from companies in 14 states – Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin – are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Oct. 10, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 514,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 524,000. The 4-week moving average was 531,500, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week's revised average of 540,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.5 percent for the week ending Oct. 3, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's revised rate of 4.6 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified the release of $84,979,841 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Colorado. The state qualified for the remaining two-thirds of its share of funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by making it easier for unemployed workers seeking part-time work and those unemployed for compelling family reasons to be eligible for benefits.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $13,017,176 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Montana. The state qualified for the remaining two-thirds of its share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by adding provisions that allow part-time workers and individuals who are upgrading skills to receive unemployment compensation.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 8,600 workers from companies in 17 states – Arizona, Arkansas, California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin – are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Oct. 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 521,000, a decrease of 33,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 554,000. The 4-week moving average was 539,750, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week's revised average of 548,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.5 percent for the week ending Sept. 26, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.6 percent.

BOSTON — The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered more than $1.4 million in back wages for 237 employees of Computer Sciences Corp., a contractor for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Vermont Service Center at various locations in St. Albans and Essex Junction, Vt.

Cherry Hill, N.J. – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit to obtain appointment of an independent fiduciary to oversee the 401(k) plan of ABC Wireless Inc., a defunct company formerly located in Cherry Hill.

"Jeopardizing workers' 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."

Move marks 5th round of enforcement initiative by mine safety agency

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) today announced that 10 mine operators from around the country have received letters putting them on notice that each has a potential pattern of violations of mandatory health or safety standards under Section 104(e) of the federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act).

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis leads the U.S. delegation to Buenos Aires, Argentina, for the 16th Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor. Today Secretary Solis addresses the labor minister attendees in a plenary session titled "Coordination of Policies and Programs for Promoting Employment: a Guiding Framework in Facing the Crisis."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $553,237 grant to assist about 100 workers in the state of Maine affected by layoffs at WestPoint Home in Biddeford.

"This grant will provide crucial retraining and re-employment services to help workers find new careers in the high-growth, high-demand sectors of Maine's economy," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Plant closings and work reductions are an unfortunate reality across industries. Today, we have an opportunity to help these workers as they seek to re-enter the job market."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $774,925 National Emergency Grant increment to support continued clean-up and recovery efforts in the wake of severe storms that occurred in Illinois in 2008.

"Parts of Illinois are still working to recover from destruction caused by severe storms in June 2008. This additional funding will allow temporary workers to stay on the job and further the process to a complete regional recovery," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) joined President Obama today in underscoring the administration's commitment to serving every American worker, including the 54 million people across the nation living with disabilities.

"No artificial barriers should prevent individuals from reaching their potential in the workplace and contributing their skills to our nation," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

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

"This past September, the economy lost 263,000 jobs, and the unemployment rate increased to 9.8 percent.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor would like to notify all former Standard Oil Development Co. workers who worked in Linden, N.J., from 1942 to 1945 about a new class of employees added to the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act's (EEOICPA) Special Exposure Cohort (SEC). The EEOICPA provides compensation and medical benefits to employees who became ill as a result of working in the nuclear weapons industry. Survivors of qualified employees may also be entitled to benefits.

Washington – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced a proposed exemption that, if granted, would allow the New Chrysler Corp. to transfer approximately $4.59 billion promissory note and company securities to a Voluntary Employees Benefit Association (VEBA) Plan established to provide health benefits for the company's retirees. The retiree health plan would cover about 120,000 retirees and dependents when it becomes effective on Jan. 1, 2010.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 7,200 workers from companies in 17 states – Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin – are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Sept. 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 551,000, an increase of 17,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 534,000. The 4-week moving average was 548,000, a decrease of 6,250 from the previous week's revised average of 554,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.6 percent for the week ending Sept. 19, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.6 percent.