WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $2,136,749 to the state of Washington to improve and further promote the state’s short-time compensation program, a layoff prevention program also known as "work-sharing."

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,510,320 grant to assist approximately 310 workers affected by layoffs at nine companies in the Milwaukee area.

"Many of those laid off were longtime employees of their companies, and they now face the challenge of finding a job comparable to the one they lost," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. "This National Emergency Grant will provide them with opportunities for re-training and employment services that are crucial to helping them get back to work quickly."

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $2,136,749 to the state of Washington to improve and further promote the state’s short-time compensation program, a layoff prevention program also known as "work-sharing."

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,510,320 grant to assist approximately 310 workers affected by layoffs at nine companies in the Milwaukee area.

"Many of those laid off were longtime employees of their companies, and they now face the challenge of finding a job comparable to the one they lost," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. "This National Emergency Grant will provide them with opportunities for re-training and employment services that are crucial to helping them get back to work quickly."

Date of Action: Jan. 28, 2014

Type of Action: Decision and Order

Name(s) of Defendant: Intelligent System Solutions 401(k) Plan

Allegations: Intelligent System Solutions, doing business as, Cipher Associates 401(k) plan, based in Albany, N.Y., is an employee defined contribution plan established in 1998. The Plan was sponsored by Intelligent System Solutions, Inc. doing business as Cipher Associates.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained consent judgments against Robert La Courciere and Pamela Babbish, former trustees of the Fourslides Inc. pension plan; these judgments follow the recovery of $490,594 owed to the plan. A lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky alleged that over three years, La Courciere, Babbish, George Hofmeister and Fourslides Inc. improperly used pension funds. Judgments against the remaining defendants are being sought by the department in ongoing litigation.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained consent judgments against Robert La Courciere and Pamela Babbish, former trustees of the Fourslides Inc. pension plan; these judgments follow the recovery of $490,594 owed to the plan. A lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky alleged that over three years, La Courciere, Babbish, George Hofmeister and Fourslides Inc. improperly used pension funds. Judgments against the remaining defendants are being sought by the department in ongoing litigation.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,520,243 National Emergency Grant to assist with cleanup and recovery efforts following the severe winter storm that battered Arkansas on Dec. 5 - 6, 2013. This grant will provide aid to affected communities in North Central, Northwest and Western Arkansas.

Date of Action: Feb. 3, 2014

Type of Action: Complaint

Name(s) of Defendant(s): Burgess Baird Jr. and DSI Contracting Inc.

Date of Action:  Feb. 4, 2014

Type of Action:  Consent Order and Judgment

Names of Defendants: Daniel Deighan, Timothy Deighan, Sunset Golf LLC, Revolution Golf LLC, Sunset Golf, LLC 401(k) Employee Retirement Plan, and Sunset Golf LLC Group Health Plan in Loudonville, Ohio.

Date of Action: January 30, 2014

Type of Action: Complaint

Name of Defendant: Thomas R. Brewer, in his capacity as fiduciary of the Matthewson Corp. Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan

WARMINSTER, Pa. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Philadelphia Macaroni for 13 alleged workplace safety and health violations — five of them repeat — at its Warminster facility. OSHA proposed $75,483 in penalties following a July 2013 inspection initiated under its Site-Specific Targeting Program that directs enforcement resources to workplaces with the highest injury and illness rates.

HARTFORD, Conn. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Radcliff Wire Inc. for serious and repeat violations of workplace safety standards following an inspection by OSHA's Hartford Area Office. An inspection of the Bristol wire products manufacturer began on July 23, 2013, under OSHA's Site Specific Targeting Program, resulting in $109,340 in proposed fines.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez today announced the awarding of two grants totaling $900,000 to fund services provided by Veterans' Employment and Training Service. Grants of $450,000 each were awarded to Advocates for Human Potential Inc. in Sudbury, Mass., and the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans in Washington, D.C. The grants are being awarded through the department's Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending January 25, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 348,000, an increase of 19,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 329,000. The 4-week moving average was 333,000, an increase of 750 from the previous week's revised average of 332,250.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The City of Providence, the Providence School Board and the Harold A. Birch Vocational Center and School have signed a settlement agreement to pay $250,859 in back wages to 60 student workers with disabilities following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division that found violations of the minimum wage provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

NEW YORK — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Cooper Tank & Welding Corp., doing business as Cooper Tank Recycling, for eight serious health and safety violations following the heat-related death of a 64-year-old worker at the Brooklyn recycling facility on 222 Maspeth Ave.

ARLINGTON, Va. — In a speech before attendees of the West Virginia Coal Association's 41st Annual Mining Symposium in Charleston, W.Va., today, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Joseph A. Main discussed actions taken by the Mine Safety and Health Administration and the mining community over the past year to improve mine safety and health.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $367,956 National Emergency Grant to assist approximately 142 of the 285 workers affected by the closure of two Xerox Commercial Services LLC facilities, located in Coos Bay and North Bend, Ore., respectively.

ARLINGTON, Va. — In a speech before attendees of the West Virginia Coal Association's 41st Annual Mining Symposium in Charleston, W.Va., today, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Joseph A. Main discussed actions taken by the Mine Safety and Health Administration and the mining community over the past year to improve mine safety and health.