May 31, 2016

Workers exposed to chemical hazards, other safety and health dangers at Bethlehem global flavor, fragrance manufacturer

Employer name: Ungerer & Company

Inspection site: 110 North Commerce Way, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Citations issued: On May 25, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued one repeat and six serious violations, and one other-than-serious violation.

May 27, 2016

U.S. Labor Secretary Thomas Perez announces agreement in principle on a new contract for Verizon workers

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez issued the following statement today regarding the ongoing labor dispute at Verizon:

"Today, I am pleased to announce that the parties have reached an agreement in principle on a four-year contract, resolving the open issues in the ongoing labor dispute between Verizon’s workers, unions, and management. The parties are now working to reduce the agreement to writing, after which the proposal will be submitted to CWA and IBEW union members for ratification.

May 26, 2016

Department awards $3.4M to help re-employ workers affected by coal mining industry layoffs in Kentucky

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the funding of a supplemental National Dislocated Worker Grant of $3.4 million to provide for reemployment and training services for Kentucky coal mine workers. The new funding will assist current program participants as well as an additional 797 participants hurt by recent layoffs.

May 26, 2016

ERISA Advisory Council to discuss cybersecurity, other benefit plan issues at June 7-9 meeting in Washington

WASHINGTON – The Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, also known as the ERISA Advisory Council, will meet at the U.S. Department of Labor’s headquarters on June 7-9, 2016, to hear testimony from invited witnesses and to receive an update from the Employee Benefits Security Administration. The council has scheduled the EBSA update tentatively for the morning of June 9. The department is located at 200 Constitution Ave.

May 26, 2016

GetMyFuture.org the latest enhancement to US Department of Labor’s CareerOneStop site to help young people enter the job market

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor  today announced the launch of GetMyFuture.org, a mobile-friendly web application that helps youth plan their careers, explore education and training options, and search and apply for jobs. The app is one of many resources found at CareerOneStop, a website to help people plan and achieve their career, education, and employment goals.

May 26, 2016

US Labor Department’s actions recover $7.1M for workers in AIT Laboratories Employee Stock Ownership Plan

INDIANAPOLIS – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration has reached a settlement restoring an additional $3.47 million directly to AIT Laboratories Employee Stock Ownership Plan, for losses associated with the plan’s 2009 purchase of overpriced company stock.

May 26, 2016

Repeat safety and health violator US Chutes Inc. fails to correct hazards, ‘needlessly places its workers at risk’ of illness, injury

HARTFORD, Conn.  – After the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited and fined U.S. Chutes Inc.’s Bantam plant $94,428 for repeated and serious safety violations in January 2015, the manufacturer of galvanized chutes for laundry and trash conveyors asked for time to correct the hazards completely.

May 26, 2016

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending May 21, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 268,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 278,000. The 4-week moving average was 278,500, an increase of 2,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 275,750.

May 25, 2016

Worker loses part of finger in unguarded machine at bearing manufacturer

Employer name: The Timken Company, Bucyrus, Ohio

Citations issued: May 18, 2016

May 25, 2016

OSHA: Ohio gun shop’s lead, respiratory hazards endanger workers

CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio – Federal safety and health investigators found that employees of an Ohio gun shop may face life-long health damage because their employer continues to expose them to lead hazards and has failed to establish a respiratory protection program.

May 25, 2016

MSHA announces results of April 2016 impact inspections

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 90 citations and three orders during special impact inspections at 10 coal mines and three metal and nonmetal mines in April 2016.

May 25, 2016

Federal court orders Bay Area taxi, limo companies’ owner to pay misclassified workers $175K in back wages, damages

SAN FRANCISCO – A federal judge has ordered the owner of a Bay Area taxi and limousine service to pay a collective $175,000 in back wages and damages to dozens of drivers who the company misclassified as independent contractors and failed to pay minimum wage and overtime pay as federal law requires. 

May 25, 2016

US Labor Department sues poultry giant Pilgrim’s Pride for hiring discrimination against African American, white, female applicants

DALLAS – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs has filed a lawsuit alleging that Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. has systematically discriminated against female, African American and white jobseekers at its Mount Pleasant processing facility.

May 25, 2016

Court orders Newark flooring company to pay $280K in back wages, damages to 15 employees after US Labor Department investigation

Type of Action: Consent judgment

Defendant(s): Ferry Carpets Inc., Alina Lolo, and Antonio Lolo

Resolution: Flooring company Ferry Carpets Inc. will pay 15 employees $140,000 in back wages and $140,000 in liquidated damages under the terms of a consent judgment entered in a U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey in Newark on May 24.

May 25, 2016

Obstructed emergency exits at two New Rochelle CVS stores: OSHA

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. – Responding to complaints, inspectors from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found access to emergency exits at two New Rochelle CVS stores blocked by merchandise, boxes and other objects. As a result, OSHA is citing the retailer for two repeated violations of workplace safety standards and proposing a total of $88,000 in fines.

May 25, 2016

US Labor Department recovers $189k in wages on behalf of 28 underpaid workers on federally funded Manhattan construction project

NEW YORK – The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $189,000 in unpaid wages and overtime for 28  carpenters and laborers who worked on the federally funded West 131st St. Cluster Project in Harlem between April 2009 and April 2010. This was the result of a joint enforcement effort with the office of New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman in which the two agencies shared information and worked collaboratively on behalf of workers in New York. The attorney general’s investigation continues.

May 24, 2016

South Florida roofing contractor continues to expose workers to dangerous falls and other safety hazards; OSHA proposes nearly $54K in fines

Employer name: Payton Roofing Inc.

Inspection site: 4160 NW, 21st St., Buildings B and D, Lauderhill, Florida 33313

Citations issued: Citations were issued to the employer on May 23.

May 24, 2016

Molina Healthcare of New Mexico to pay $700K to more than 400 caseworkers after US Labor Department investigation finds them eligible for overtime

Employer: Molina Healthcare of New Mexico Inc.

Site: 400 Tijeras SE, Suite 200, Albuquerque, New Mexico

May 24, 2016

Bankruptcy court declares $27k in debts owed to Rose Printing Services employee benefit plans non-dischargeable

Date of Action: May 23, 2016

Type of Action:  Default Judgment

Name of Defendant: William Robin Rose is the fiduciary to the Rose Printing Services Inc. Employees 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan, Rose Printing Services Inc. Employees Health Plan and Rose Printing Services Inc. Employees Dental Plan.

May 24, 2016

Court judgment orders four Phoenix-area Federico’s Mexican Food Restaurants to pay workers $202K in overtime back wages, damages

Employer: Federico’s Mexican Food Restaurant

Sites: 4014 North 43 Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona
3730 West Happy Valley Road, Suite 109, Glendale, Arizona
20429 North Lake Pleasant, Suite 101, Peoria, Arizona
7410 South 35 Avenue, Laveen, Arizona