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

"This past August, the economy lost 216,000 jobs – fewer than what most experts expected. The overall unemployment rate is now 9.7 percent. Last month's jobs loss is an improvement from the average 700,000 jobs our economy was losing every month when this administration took office, but is still by no means acceptable.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement for Labor Day:

"On Monday, Sept. 7, we will celebrate a great American holiday – Labor Day. Over the years, it may have become a time for backyard barbecues. But the real intent behind today's holiday is honoring the contributions of American workers.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $20,934,147 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of New Hampshire. New Hampshire qualified for the remaining two-thirds of its share of the 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 family reasons to be eligible for benefits.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Aug. 29, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 570,000, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 574,000. The 4-week moving average was 571,250, an increase of 4,000 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 Aug. 22, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.6 percent.

Washington —The U.S. Department of Labor has proposed a regulation to assess civil penalties against plan sponsors of multiemployer defined benefit pension plans that fail to adopt a funding improvement or rehabilitation plan in accordance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) as amended by the Pension Protection Act (PPA).

WASHINGTON – A survey of 4,387 workers in low-wage industries across the three largest U.S. cities – Chicago, Los Angeles and New York – found that the core workplace protections many Americans take for granted are failing significant numbers of workers.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $200,767,125 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Illinois. Illinois qualified for the remaining two-thirds of its share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by including certain family-friendly provisions in its UI law.

New York – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) will hold a free workshop on September 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT to help employers, the employee benefit community and others better comply with federal pension law. The workshop will be held at Plaza 35, 1030 St. George’s Avenue, Suite 205 in Avenel, New Jersey.

Washington – The Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans (also known as the ERISA Advisory Council) will hold meetings September 15 through 17 in Washington, D.C., at the U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue N.W., Room N-3437A-B.

CHICAGO – Illinois today became the newest state to receive approval from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to administer its own occupational safety and health plan for public employees in the state. A notice appears in today's edition of the Federal Register.

Campaign depends upon community organizations to implement local level activities

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today encouraged public and private community organizations to participate in the 4th annual Drug-Free Work Week, which will occur Oct. 19 to 25. This public awareness campaign, held each October, emphasizes the importance of drug-free workplace programs to help prevent workplace alcohol and drug use, and encourage workers with alcohol and drug problems to seek help.

Nearly 90 teams to compete in simulated coal mine emergency

New York - The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit asking the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York to appoint an independent fiduciary to oversee the abandoned 401(k) plan of defunct Community Home Mortgage Corp., formerly located in Melville, New York.

Coshocton, Ohio – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued an officer and fiduciary to the savings incentive match plan for employees individual retirement account (SIMPLE IRA) plan of Pharmaceutical Alternatives Inc. of Coshocton for improperly using plan assets withheld from employees’ pay for the benefit of the company as well as other violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). The company also does business as Three Rivers Infusion Option Care.

Pittsburgh – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Patrick P. Bane, president of defunct Comtel Communications, to recover employee contributions owed to the company’s 401(k) retirement plan.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Aug. 22, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 570,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 580,000. The 4-week moving average was 566,250, a decrease of 4,750 from the previous week's revised average of 571,000.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $89,289,386 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Wisconsin. Wisconsin qualified for the remaining two-thirds of its share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by updating its UI program to reflect the 21st century workforce.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 3,200 workers from specific companies in 14 states – Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin – are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $3,446,051 National Emergency Grant increment to continue to assist workers across the state of Minnesota affected by layoffs from five companies in the manufacturing and retail industries: Celestica, Hutchinson Technology Inc., International Business Machines (IBM), Seagate Technology Inc. and Target.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy:

"Last night we lost a hero, and I lost a friend. The passing of Sen. Edward Kennedy is an indescribable loss for our nation and the world.

"In 2000, I had the great honor of being presented the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award by the senator. And, I will always remember his insights and advice during my confirmation hearing.