June 19, 2012

US Department of Labor provides grant increment to assist Native Americans affected by fishing industry layoffs in Washington state

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,542,924 National Emergency Grant increment to provide employment-related services to 443 workers who are members of the Lummi Nation and have been affected by fishing industry layoffs in Bellingham, Wash.

June 19, 2012

US Department of Labor provides grant increment to continue aid to Tennessee workers impacted by Goodyear closure

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,118,609 National Emergency Grant increment to provide employment-related services to more than 960 workers impacted by the closure of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. facility located in Union City, Tenn.

June 19, 2012

US Department of Labor announces $2.5 million grant opportunity to manage, operate Job Accommodation Network

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of a $2.5 million grant to fund a cooperative agreement to manage and operate the Job Accommodation Network, a national technical assistance center that facilitates the employment and retention of workers with disabilities.

June 18, 2012

Norfolk Southern Railway Co. ordered by US Labor Department's OSHA to pay more than $800,000 after terminating injured workers

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found that Norfolk Southern Railway Co. violated the whistleblower protection provisions of the Federal Railroad Safety Act and consequently has ordered the company to pay three whistleblowers $802,168.70 in damages, including $525,000 in punitive damages and attorneys' fees.

June 18, 2012

US Labor Departments OSHA cites Tribe Mediterranean Foods for safety violations following death of a worker in Taunton, Mass.

BRAINTREE, Mass. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Tribe Mediterranean Foods, a subsidiary of Nestle SA that manufactures Tribe brand hummus products, for 18 alleged violations of workplace safety standards following the death of a worker at its Taunton production plant. OSHA's South Boston Area Office opened an inspection on Dec.

June 18, 2012

US Department of Labor provides grant increment for continued assistance to New Jersey workers affected by pharmaceutical industry layoffs

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,583,093 increment of a National Emergency Grant to continue employment-related services for about 960 workers affected by layoffs from pharmaceutical companies in northern New Jersey.

June 18, 2012

US Labor Department provides grant increment to continue assistance for workers affected by layoffs and closings in Massachusetts and Connecticut

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded a $203,555 National Emergency Grant increment to continue employment-related services for about 600 workers affected by layoffs and closings at 11 companies in Massachusetts and one in Connecticut across a variety of industries.

June 18, 2012

US Labor Department announces guidance to state Unemployment Insurance agencies on implementing short-time compensation or work sharing

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced guidance to state agencies responsible for Unemployment Insurance regarding short-time compensation, commonly referred to as "work sharing." Today's announcement is the latest in a series of innovative reforms to the UI program made possible by the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 signed by President Obama in February.

June 18, 2012

Former CEO of defunct Southern California electrical contractor agrees to restore more than $570,000 in 401(k) funds to employees

LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Department of Labor has reached an agreement with the former president and CEO of Aliso Viejo-based Journey Electrical Technologies Inc., a defunct electrical contractor, to restore $570,983 to the company’s 401(k) plan. According to a partial consent judgment and order, Mark Dell Donne of San Clemente has agreed to restore $472,235 to the plan.

June 15, 2012

Statement by Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on deferred action process for young people who are low enforcement priorities

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the deferred action process for young people who are low enforcement priorities:

"The major change to our nation's immigration policy announced today by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will not only benefit young immigrants, who know no other country than this as their own, but our economy and our nation as a whole.

June 14, 2012

US Department of Labor provides additional funding to help Pennsylvania recover from damage caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded a $3,330,000 National Emergency Grant increment to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry to assist the commonwealth with continuing clean-up and recovery efforts following Hurricane Irene, which struck Aug. 26-30, 2011, and Tropical Storm Lee, which struck Sept. 3, 2011. The funds will support temporary jobs in affected areas.

June 14, 2012

US Labor Department awards nearly $147 million in Workforce Innovation Fund grants, announces 'Pay for Success' funding

Grants will support, enhance and evaluate innovative employment and training opportunities

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced nearly $147 million in grants to develop and expand innovative strategies to help Americans return to work by delivering services more efficiently, facilitating cooperation across programs and funding streams, and focusing on partnerships with specific employers or industry sectors to develop programs that reflect current and future skill needs.

June 14, 2012

ETA Press Release: Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending June 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 386,000, an increase of 6,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 380,000. The 4-week moving average was 382,000, an increase of 3,500 from the previous week's revised average of 378,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending June 2, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

June 14, 2012

US Department of Labor obtains preliminary injunction against Matthew D. Hutcheson and Hutcheson Walker Advisors LLC

WASHINGTON — On June 13, the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho granted the U.S. Department of Labor's motion for preliminary injunction against Matthew D. Hutcheson and Hutcheson Walker Advisors LLC. The court found that the department had "demonstrated the type of immediate and irreparable injury necessitating entry of a preliminary injunction."

June 13, 2012

Assistant secretary of labor kicks off seminar on achieving a culture of prevention in the mining industry

Enhanced enforcement strategies are working, says MSHAs Joseph Main

June 12, 2012

US Department of Labor to offer free trainings on prevailing wage requirements for federal contracts

Trainings to be held in Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia and Seattle

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division today announced that it will host four free trainings throughout the United States to provide outreach on the rules concerning prevailing wage requirements under the Davis-Bacon Act, the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act and the labor standards provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

June 12, 2012

US Labor Department suit results in court order requiring Chicago-area investment service provider to restore $1.2 million to worker retirement plans

CHICAGOFollowing an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor and resulting lawsuit, a federal court has issued a default judgment against the co-founder and director of the now defunct Elmhurst-based investment management company Results One Financial LLC. Steven Salutric has been ordered to restore $1,211,902.25 to four pension plan client accounts from which he allegedly withdrew funds from 2005 through 2009 in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

June 11, 2012

Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis and ambassadors of Honduras, the Philippines, Peru and Ecuador sign agreements on migrant worker rights

WASHINGTON — During a ceremony today at U.S. Department of Labor headquarters in Washington, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis signed partnership agreements with ambassadors representing the embassies of Honduras, the Philippines, Peru and Ecuador.

"Migrant workers make important contributions to our economy," said Secretary Solis. "Today's agreements help ensure these workers are aware of the right to safe workplaces and to receive full payment of the wages owed to them under the laws of the United States."

June 8, 2012

US Labor Department, Missouri Department of Insurance to offer free health benefits law compliance seminar June 13-14 in St. Louis

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration and the Missouri Department of Insurance will host a two-day health benefits laws compliance seminar for small- and mid-sized employers, third-party administrators and insurers in the St. Louis area. The seminar is designed to provide practical information, helpful tips, and clarification regarding federal and state laws. The free event is open to the public and the media, and interested parties are encouraged to register early.

June 7, 2012

US Department of Labor announces nearly $12 million in grants to states to improve quality of workforce data

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced approximately $12 million in grants awarded through the second round of funding under the Workforce Data Quality Initiative. The funds will enable 12 additional states to build or expand longitudinal databases of workforce data and link them to education data to help improve the overall performance of workforce development programs.