ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 174 citations, 11 orders and two safeguards during special impact inspections conducted at 12 coal mines in November. In October, MSHA conducted impact inspections at six coal mines and three metal and nonmetal mines, where inspectors issued 120 citations and 10 orders. Impact inspections were curtailed during part of October due to the government shutdown.

HONOLULU - The U.S. Department of Labor has secured a consent judgment with Aiea-based cement construction and contracting company Reef Development of Hawaii Inc. and its president, Samuel Sanchez Aguirre. An investigation by the department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration established that Aguirre, acting as trustee to the profit-sharing plan, violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by mismanaging plan assets, resulting in more than $700,000 in lost principal, plus approximately $303,000 in lost interest.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $5,586,385 National Emergency Grant to assist approximately 900 transitioning military personnel from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the largest military base on the West Coast, located in Fort Lewis, Washington.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $242,000 National Emergency Grant supplemental award to assist with the continuing cleanup and recovery efforts in the wake of heavy snowfall associated with Hurricane Sandy that affected north-central West Virginia between Oct. 29 and Nov. 8, 2012. The funds are being awarded to WorkForce West Virginia and will provide for the continuation of temporary employment for eligible individuals to assist with the cleanup of affected areas.

JONESBORO, Ga. — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against Wang's Partner Inc., doing business as Hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffet in Jonesboro, and its owner, Shu Wang, to recover unpaid wages and damages under, Fair Labor Standards Act. The department is seeking $1,997,726 in back wages and liquidated damages for 84 employees. The lawsuit is based on an investigation by the department's Wage and Hour Division, which revealed numerous violations of the FLSA.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $5,586,385 National Emergency Grant to assist approximately 900 transitioning military personnel from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the largest military base on the West Coast, located in Fort Lewis, Washington.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $242,000 National Emergency Grant supplemental award to assist with the continuing cleanup and recovery efforts in the wake of heavy snowfall associated with Hurricane Sandy that affected north-central West Virginia between Oct. 29 and Nov. 8, 2012. The funds are being awarded to WorkForce West Virginia and will provide for the continuation of temporary employment for eligible individuals to assist with the cleanup of affected areas.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending December 7, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 368,000, an increase of 68,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 300,000. The 4-week moving average was 328,750, an increase of 6,000 from the previous week's revised average of 322,750.

WASHINGTON — From Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" to Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," African-American literature and authors are represented in the titles of fiction, nonfiction, plays and poetry included on the initial roll of Books that Shaped Work in America.

Date of Action: Dec. 10, 2013

Type of Action: Consent Judgment and Order

Name(s) of Defendant(s): LifeCare of Alabama Inc. and Susan Clingman-Banks

Date of Action: December 9, 2013

Type of Action: Complaint

Name(s) of Defendant(s): Timothy A. Clark, Central Pennsylvania Pulmonary Associates LLC and Central Pennsylvania Pulmonary Associates LLC 401(k) Plan

WASHINGTON — The U.S.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of $12 million to develop the Job Challenge program to expand the existing National Guard Youth Challenge program to include youth once involved with the juvenile justice system. The funding will help facilitate partnerships with the justice system to recruit court-involved youth interested in participating in the program and provide them with education and training to obtain an industry-recognized credential.

Specialty Staff Inc. 401(k) Plan in Carmel, Ind.

Date of Action: Dec. 5, 2013

Type of Action: Judgment

Names of Defendants: Theresa A. Hellman and Robin M. Polin, individually and as fiduciaries of the Specialty Staff, Inc. 401(k) Plan; Specialty Staff, Inc.; and the Specialty Staff, Inc. 401(k) Plan located in Carmel, Ind.

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement about the November 2013 Employment Situation report released today:

"The American economy continues its broad and steady job growth heading into the New Year, adding 203,000 jobs in November. The unemployment rate dropped to 7.0 percent, and American manufacturing remained strong with the addition of 27,000 new jobs.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation today released advance informational copies of the 2013 Form 5500 annual return/report and related instructions.  Modifications to the Form 5500 and Form 5500-SF and their schedules and instructions for plan year 2013 are described under "Changes to Note" in the 2013 instructions, including:

ARLINGTON, Va. — Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health, issued the following statement on National Miner's Day:

Date of Action: Nov. 21, 2013

Type of Action: Default Judgment and Order

Name(s) of Defendant: Samoa Aviation Inc., Samoa Aviation Inc. 401 (k) Profit Sharing Plan

Allegations: As a fiduciary of the plan, defendant Samoa Aviation Inc. failed to administer the plan, resulting in participants not being able to obtain distributions of their individual plan accounts. The plan had 53 participants and assets totaling $235,693 as of June 30.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Ferraiolo Constructions Inc. and owner-president John Ferraiolo, operators of the Portable Pioneer Plant in Thomaston, Maine, will provide compensation to a former employee and take other corrective action to resolve a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Labor before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Ferraiolo Constructions Inc. and owner-president John Ferraiolo, operators of the Portable Pioneer Plant in Thomaston, Maine, will provide compensation to a former employee and take other corrective action to resolve a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Labor before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission.