June 10, 2009

U.S. Labor Departments OSHA issues letters to oil refineries stressing compliance with process safety management standard

WASHINGTON – Oil refineries nationwide have received letters from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) emphasizing the need to comply with all applicable OSHA standards, particularly the Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals (HHCs).

June 10, 2009

U.S. Department of Labor announces $720,000 grant to assist in recovery efforts as result of recent flooding in West Virginia

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $720,000 grant to create approximately 40 temporary jobs for eligible workers to assist in clean-up and recovery efforts resulting from flooding in southern West Virginia.

"The southern West Virginia region has been severely impacted by recent flash flooding," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Today's grant will provide temporary employment and help the area recover from the disaster."

June 10, 2009

U.S. Department of Labor releases more than $450 million in additional funds for Trade Adjustment Assistance

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today released more than $450 million in Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) funding to states to provide career training, and employment and case management services to workers who lose their jobs due to outsourcing and foreign trade.

June 10, 2009

U.S. Department of Labor marks 2009 World Day Against Child Labor with roundtable of employers, unions, academics, organizations, experts and activists

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today marked the 2009 World Day Against Child Labor by hosting a roundtable discussion at the department with Sen. Tom Harkin; Tina Tchen, executive director of the White House Council on Women and Girls; representatives of many U.S. companies, unions, employer groups, nongovernmental and international organizations, and academia; and dozens of other experts and activists. The event focused on this year's World Day theme of "Give Girls a Chance — End Child Labor."

June 9, 2009

OSHA seeks applications for nearly $7 million in new safety and health training grants

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is soliciting applications for nearly $7 million in Susan Harwood Training Grants available to nonprofit, community and faith-based organizations.

OSHA awards funds to provide training and education programs on safety and health topics for workers and their employers. For fiscal 2009, the program offers 24 targeted topic areas including crane safety, combustible dust, emergency preparedness and response, and the OSHA recordkeeping process.

June 8, 2009

U.S. Department of Labor to host webcast on electronic filing requirements for Form 5500

Washington – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) will host a free webcast to assist plan sponsors and service providers with upcoming changes to the Form 5500 and electronic filing requirements that start with the 2009 plan year filings.

June 5, 2009

Statement of U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis on May 2009 employment numbers

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

"This past May, our economy lost 345,000 jobs, bringing the total number of jobs lost since this recession began to 6 million. The overall unemployment rate increased to 9.4 percent.

June 5, 2009

U.S. Labor Department announces release of $25.6 million in unemployment insurance modernization incentive funds to Nevada

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $25,645,804 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Nevada. Nevada qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits.

June 5, 2009

U.S. Labor Department announces release of $28.5 million in unemployment insurance modernization incentive funds to Oregon

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $28,524,880 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Oregon. Oregon qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits.

June 5, 2009

U.S. Labor Department announces release of $220.3 million in unemployment insurance modernization incentive funds to Georgia

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $220,286,144 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Georgia. Georgia qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by providing for a variety of provisions that assist recent entrants to the workforce, part time workers and people who are upgrading their skills.

June 5, 2009

Owner of defunct North Carolina sign company sentenced for embezzling 401(k) and health plan assets

Atlanta — The owner of defunct Wesco Signs Inc., Concord, North Carolina, has been ordered by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina in Greensboro to pay $57,089.25 in restitution to the company’s 401(k) and health plans and sentenced to five years of supervised release. Mitchell W. Messer also must perform 416 hours of community service.

June 4, 2009

U.S. Labor Department announces release of $9.2 million in unemployment insurance modernization incentive funds to District of Columbia

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $9,210,994 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the District of Columbia. The District of Columbia qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits.

June 4, 2009

U.S. Labor Department announces release of $70.8 million in unemployment insurance modernization incentive funds to Iowa

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $70,814,387 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Iowa. Iowa qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by enacting new provisions that assist recent entrants to the workforce, part-time workers and people who are upgrading their skills.

June 4, 2009

U.S. Labor Department announces release of $48.9 million in unemployment insurance modernization incentive funds to Washington

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $48,864,609 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Washington. Washington qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits.

June 4, 2009

ETA Press Release: Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending May 30, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 621,000, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 625,000. The 4-week moving average was 631,250, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's revised average of 627,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 5.0 percent for the week ending May 23, unchanged from the prior week's revised rate of 5.0 percent.

June 4, 2009

Statement of U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on death of John F. Henning

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the death of John F. Henning:

"Today American workers lost a tireless advocate, and I lost a dear a friend. I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of John F. 'Jack' Henning.

"For most of his life, Jack Henning was on the frontlines of the labor movement, fighting for civil rights, equality and justice for working Americans. He was a man of modest means, with a thirst for knowledge and a tremendous sense of compassion for his fellow man.

June 3, 2009

U.S. Department of Labor announces $1.4 million grant to assist workers affected by paper industry layoffs in Oregon

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,416,970 grant to assist approximately 200 workers affected by layoffs at Boise Cascade LLC in St. Helens, Ore.

"This grant will allow affected workers in Oregon to access the services and training necessary to allow them to upgrade current skills or seek careers in new occupations," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

June 3, 2009

U.S. Department of Labor announces more than $100 million in Recovery Act funds to help Ohios unemployed workers

Total includes nearly $16 million in Trade Adjustment Assistance and grant increase of $1.7 million for laid off auto workers plus UI modernization funds announced yesterday

June 3, 2009

Former Massachusetts employer agrees to restore employee contributions to company 401(k) plan to resolve U.S. Labor Department lawsuit

Boston – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment requiring the plan administrator and trustee to restore nearly $23,000 owed to the 401(k) plan of defunct Davis Design Associates Inc. of Fitchburg, Massachusetts.

The department sued the company and its president, Paul Stewart Smith – the 401(k) plan trustee – for allegedly violating the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

June 3, 2009

U.S. Labor Department obtains court judgment against closed Seatoma Convalescent Center, giving workers access to nearly $18,000 in retirement funds

Seattle – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a default judgment against the Seatoma Convalescent Center of Des Moines, Washington, giving its workers access to nearly $18,000 in 401(k) trust assets.