More than 2500 Minorities and Women Benefit from U.S. Labor Department Action

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) announced today that Tyson Foods Inc., headquartered in Springdale, Ark., has entered into six consent decrees to settle findings of hiring discrimination. More than 2500 women and minorities will receive a total of $1.5 million in back pay.

Form T-1 Improves Disclosure and Increases Union Transparency

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Detroit, Michigan - The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Detroit to appoint an independent trustee for the abandoned savings and investment plan of Michigan Pumping Service Inc., Trenton, Michigan. The company ceased doing business in 2003 after being sold to a new owner.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Washington, DC - U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced a proposed rule to make it easier for fiduciaries of 401(k) plans and other participant-directed defined-contribution plans to adopt automatic enrollment design features. The proposed rule is the first major regulation resulting from the Pension Protection Act signed into law by President Bush on August 17, 2006.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Duluth, Minnesota - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued the president of Arrowhead Equipment Company, Duluth, Minnesota, for failing to administer and terminate the company’s employee stock ownership plan so that assets could be distributed to plan participants.

WASHINGTON —U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced grants of nearly five million dollars for pilot projects and research to develop systems models designed to increase self-employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Pierre, South Dakota - A free compliance assistance seminar focusing on laws that cover health benefits will take place October 18 and 19 in Pierre, South Dakota, at Kings Inn Hotel & Conference Center. The seminar is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) and the South Dakota Division of Insurance.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao has announced a grant of $500,000 to Syracuse University's Burton Blatt Institute: Centers of Innovation on Disability, to lead a national research consortium to study employer practices in employing, retaining and promoting people with disabilities.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor released the final report of the 2006 National Summit on Retirement Savings. The report, entitled Saving for Your Golden Years: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities, represents the work of 200 summit delegates appointed by the president and congressional leaders.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Columbus, Ohio - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Team America Corporation, Columbus, Ohio and three individuals who served as fiduciaries to the company’s retirement savings, health and disability programs for failing to forward employee and employer contributions to the plans and to segregate plan contributions from the general operating assets of the company.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

West Middlesex, Pennsylvania - The U.S Labor Department has sued Coast to Coast Home Equity Corp. to obtain appointment of an independent fiduciary to distribute the assets of the company’s 401(k) plan to plan participants. The defunct West Middlesex, Pennsylvania company is currently in bankruptcy and ceased operations in May 2004.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - The U.S. Department of Labor sued Javis Automation & Engineering, Inc., Dumfries, Virginia, and its president, John W. Long, Sr., for failure to remit contributions deducted from employees’ paychecks to the company’s 401(k) profit sharing plan.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Covington, Kentucky - The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment requiring Mitchell Molding Company Inc., Hebron, Kentucky, and its bankrupt former owner to restore delinquent employee contributions to the company’s 401(k) plan.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Burlington, New Jersey - The U.S. Labor Department sued Russell Johnson and Shellene Barker, trustees of the Johnson Specialized Transportation, Inc. 401(k) Plan, for allegedly failing to forward more than $36,000 in employee and matching employer plan contributions plus lost opportunity costs to the plan.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced publication of a “request for information” (RFI) to assist the department in updating its guidance on the independence of accountants who audit employee benefit plans. The RFI is to be published in the September 11, 2006 Federal Register.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Sherburn, Minnesota - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued the officers of D&J Transfer Company, Sherburn, Minnesota, for failing to administer and terminate the company’s employee retirement plan so that assets could be distributed to plan participants.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Washington - The U.S. Department of Labor today released the final report of the 2006 National Summit on Retirement Savings. The report, entitled “Saving for Your Golden Years: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities,” represents the work of 200 summit delegates appointed by the president and congressional leaders.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an agreement with the estate of Kenneth L. Lay granting a $12 million claim against his estate on behalf of participants covered by Enron's pension plans. Lay died on July 5, 2006. This proposed settlement must be formally documented and submitted for approval to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.