New York – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed two lawsuits asking the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York to appoint independent fiduciaries to oversee the abandoned profit-sharing plans of defunct H&M Tool & Machine Co. Inc. and Valmar Industrial Corp., both formerly located in the Binghamton, New York, area.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today made the following statement on equal pay:

"One of the most fundamental principles on which our nation was founded is the belief that we are all created equal.

"Yet today, women earn just 78 cents for every dollar a man earns. Women of color earn even less. Countless women are losing thousands of dollars in salary, income and retirement savings over the course of a lifetime. As a result, women often must work longer or harder to make ends meet.

Washington – The U.S. Departments of Labor, Treasury, and Health and Human Services today announced publication of a request for information (RFI) soliciting public comments in advance of developing rulemakings on group health plans. The RFI is published in today’s Federal Register.

Atlanta – The U.S. Department of Labor is suing Bonnie Tile and several of its former corporate officers to require them to restore assets to the defunct company’s savings incentive match plan for Employees (SIMPLE IRA) plan.

ARLINGTON, Va. – For the 11th consecutive year, the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) today launched its annual "Stay Out – Stay Alive" public safety campaign to warn outdoor enthusiasts – especially children – about the dangers of playing on mine property. Since 1999, nearly 300 people have lost their lives in recreational accidents at mine properties. Almost half of all victims are 15 to 25 years of age, and the most common cause of death is drowning in a quarry.

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the appointment of Sandra Polaski as deputy undersecretary for international affairs at the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB).

"Sandra's extensive experience with labor, employment and trade issues will make her an excellent leader and a great asset to the department," Secretary Solis said.

Previously, Polaski served as a senior associate and director of the trade, equity and development program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending April 18, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 640,000, an increase of 27,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 613,000. The 4-week moving average was 646,750, a decrease of 4,250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 651,000.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,520,633 grant to assist approximately 300 workers affected by the closure of MPC Computers LLC in Nampa, Idaho.

"This grant will provide training and education opportunities for workers so that they can upgrade existing skills and transition to careers in new industries," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $627,961 grant to assist approximately 87 workers affected by the sudden closure of Wood Structures Inc. headquartered in Biddeford, Maine, with a manufacturing facility in Saco, Maine.

"The sudden loss of jobs within these communities warrants a response that offers workers opportunities to improve their current skills or pursue new careers in growing regional industries," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

WASHINGTON – The following is the written statement for the record of U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis, who today testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions regarding green jobs skills training for workers.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $100,383,562 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Illinois. Illinois 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. Illinois' approved application will be posted at the department's Employment and Training Administration Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/recovery.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $54,227,780 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the commonwealth of Massachusetts. Massachusetts 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.

Newark, New Jersey – A free health law compliance assistance seminar for employers, plan fiduciaries and plan services providers, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) and the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance, will take place on April 22 and 23 at the Essex County College, 303 University Avenue, Smith Lecture Hall, Room 2131.

Hackensack, New Jersey — The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a default judgment appointing Jacqueline Carmichael as the independent fiduciary of the profit sharing plan of defunct Jules Prosnitz & Sons Inc., formerly doing business as Prozy’s Army-Navy Store, in Hackensack. The court order gives Carmichael authority to terminate the plan and distribute approximately $110,178 in assets to five plan participants.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,680,000 grant to create approximately 140 temporary jobs in Minnesota related to the Red River flood cleanup and recovery effort.

"Recent flooding has left a portion of Minnesota in need of cleanup and recovery services," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "This grant will provide temporary jobs for a number of dislocated workers to help restore areas affected by flooding."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $271,075 grant to assist approximately 75 workers affected by the closure of GE Lighting located in Willoughby, Ohio.

"This grant will allow affected Ohio workers to gain access to the services they need to help prepare them for new jobs in high-demand industries in the region, such as health care," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "These workers have expressed an interest in long-term training, among other employment-related services."

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending April 11, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 610,000, a decrease of 53,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 663,000. The 4-week moving average was 651,000, a decrease of 8,500 from the previous week's revised average of 659,500.

SAN FRANCISCO — In the latest of a series of court actions pursued by the U.S. Department of Labor, a federal judge has ordered a Southern California cleaning service and its owners to pay $227,791 in post-judgment interest plus $2,400 in daily fines for failing to follow a 2007 order to pay nearly $3.5 million in back wages plus more than $1 million in liquidated damages to 385 workers.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $10,467,073 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of New Hampshire. New Hampshire 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. New Hampshire's approved application will be posted at the department's Employment and Training Administration Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/recovery.

Atlanta – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Batesville Truck Line and Jet Transportation and the trustees of the company’s 401(k) plan for allegedly failing to administer the plan in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).