December 12, 2023

Federal safety inspectors find Palatine roofing contractor continued to expose employees to deadly fall hazards; cite 6th violation since 2019

PALATINE, IL – Twice within a month in summer 2023, federal workplace safety inspectors found a Palatine contractor did not provide roofing employees with required fall protection, exposing them to the risk of falls from elevation, the construction industry’s leading cause of workplace deaths.

December 11, 2023

US Department of Labor, Office of the Trade Representative announce resolution of alleged labor rights’ denials at Mexican garment factory

WASHINGTON The U.S. and Mexico have resolved a Rapid Response Mechanism petition under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement that alleged INISA2000 — an Aguascalientes, Mexico, denim garment facility — denied freedom of association and collective bargaining rights.

December 11, 2023

Investigation finds Ohio food processor’s failure to guard machine’s moving parts led temporary worker to suffer amputation injury

CINCINNATI ‒ A federal workplace safety investigation at one of the world’s leading suppliers of processed foods found a temporary worker’s finger amputation occurred when they reached into a meat grinder’s discharge port that lacked required safety guards. 

December 8, 2023

Statement by Acting Secretary of Labor Su on November jobs report

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su issued the following statement on the November 2023 Employment Situation report: 

“Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the American economy added 199,000 jobs in November, and the unemployment rate ticked down to 3.7 percent, continuing 22 straight months of an unemployment rate under 4 percent. Not since 1970 has unemployment been this low for this length of time, demonstrating once again that Bidenomics is working.

December 7, 2023

US Department of Labor launches program to stem rising fatality rates, promote workplace safety in landscaping, horticultural industries

SAN FRANCISCO ‒ The U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration has launched a Regional Emphasis Program to promote workplace safety and protect people employed in the landscaping and horticultural industries in four western states and three Pacific territories.

December 7, 2023

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending December 2, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 220,000, an increase of 1,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 218,000 to 219,000. The 4-week moving average was 220,750, an increase of 500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 220,000 to 220,250.

December 6, 2023

US Department of Labor recovers $86K in back wages, damages for 127 employees of Indianapolis healthcare staffing company

Employers:    Network Connect Healthcare Staffing

                        7930 Castleway Drive

                        Indianapolis, IN 46250

December 6, 2023

Federal marshals arrest Long Island grocer who ignored court orders, demands for records in US Department of Labor investigation

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY – The owner of a Lynbrook grocery store believed they could ignore requests from the U.S. Department of Labor and a federal court in New York to cooperate with an investigation of their company’s pay practices. 

December 5, 2023

US Department of Labor recovers $266K in tips, damages for 34 employees of New Hampshire restaurant that kept workers’ tips

Employer name:                               Chief’s Place Pizza Restaurant Inc. doing business as Chief’s Place

December 5, 2023

Minnesota construction contractor faces $1.8M in federal penalties for exposing workers to trenching hazards for the 4th time since 2019

MINOT, ND – Despite signing a 2021 settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor that included a promise to protect its employees from potentially deadly trenching and excavation hazards, a Minnesota construction contractor was again found endangering employees in June 2023 as they replaced a residential water main and 20 separate curb stop valves for house connections in Minot. 

December 4, 2023

US Department of Labor awards up to $4M to reduce the risks for child, forced labor in Nepal by addressing climate change impact

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of up to $4 million to support a project to build the capacity of local communities in Nepal to address child labor and forced labor, with a specific focus on confronting new challenges arising from climate change.

December 4, 2023

Department of Labor finds poultry processor illegally endangered children in dangerous jobs, robbed workers of wages, retaliated by firing workers

WASHINGTON – As the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division and Office of the Solicitor continue to find serious illegal employment practices in the meat and poultry processing industries, a California poultry processor and supplier to supermarkets and food distributors — including Ralphs, ALDI, Grocery Outlet and SYSCO Corp.

December 1, 2023

US Department of Labor cites Cartersville chemical manufacturer after 52-year-old employee suffers fatal burns

ATLANTA – A federal investigation has determined a Cartersville chemical manufacturer could have prevented a 52-year-old leach tank operator from suffering fatal chemical and thermal burns over most of his body in June 2023 by following required safety regulations.

December 1, 2023

US Department of Labor recovers $98K in back wages, damages for 32 security guards Muskegon Heights’ city government misclassified

MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, MI – A federal investigation has recovered $98,316 in back wages and liquidated damages for 32 security guards who the Muskegon Heights Housing Commission failed to pay overtime wages because the Michigan employer misclassified them as independent contractors.

December 1, 2023

US Department of Labor cites Massachusetts concrete contractor for crushing, fall, energy hazard violations after employee fatality

BRAINTREE, MA – A federal investigation has found that an East Freetown concrete contractor could have prevented an employee maintaining a soil screener from suffering fatal injuries on Sept. 6, 2023, by following required safety regulations.

November 30, 2023

READOUT: Acting Secretary Su convened business leaders, investors, workers for ‘New Frontiers for Empowering Workers and Business’

WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su welcomed business and finance leaders, workers and worker advocates to the department’s Washington headquarters on Nov. 28, 2023, to discuss the case for businesses, investors and related entities to expand their practical understanding of the benefits of worker voice.

November 30, 2023

US Department of Labor investigation into inmate’s violent attack on nurse finds South Bay facility failed to institute safety procedures

SOUTH BAY, FL A federal workplace safety investigation found a South Bay correctional and rehabilitation facility failed to follow recognized safety practices, leaving employees vulnerable to violent attacks and injuries, including one worker who a patient reportedly struck in the face with a rock.