ATCHISON, Kan. – Bartlett Grain Co. L.P. faces five willful and eight serious safety violations cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration following an October 2011 grain elevator explosion in Atchison that killed six workers and left two others hospitalized.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded a $514,800 National Emergency Grant to create temporary jobs for eligible dislocated workers to assist with cleanup and recovery efforts after severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, mudslides and landslides struck West Virginia in February and March.

"The storm-battered citizens of West Virginia need our help," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "The department's funding is part of the federal government's commitment to support the people of West Virginia as they rebuild their communities."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,793,475 National Emergency Grant to assist approximately 570 workers who were affected by layoffs between Dec. 15, 2011, and March 31, 2012, that resulted from the closure of the Kimberly-Clark Corp. paper mill in Everett, Wash.

"Any time a major employer shuts its doors, a community suffers," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "This federal grant will help Everett by providing these workers the services they need to transition to jobs in growing local industries."

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending April 7, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 380,000, an increase of 13,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 367,000. The 4-week moving average was 368,500, an increase of 4,250 from the previous week's revised average of 364,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending March 31, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.6 percent.

Interested parties may submit comments through April 30

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has extended the comment period for its proposed rule to implement new statutory amendments to the Family and Medical Leave Act that would expand military family leave provisions and incorporate a special eligibility provision for airline flight crew employees.

WASHINGTON – As part of National Financial Capability Month, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration will host a webinar designed to help college seniors and young workers get on track to pay down debt and start saving for retirement. “Key Financial Steps for College Seniors and Young Workers” will be held from 4-5:15 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 18.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor invites news organizations interested in participating in its press lock-ups to request credentials, which will be valid beginning on Friday, July 6, with the release of The Employment Situation report. The lock-ups facilitate the media's ability to provide the public with informed summaries and analysis of critical economic data concurrent with their release by providing pre-release access to the data reports.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded a National Emergency Grant increment of $375,200 that will fund 200 temporary jobs for eligible workers to continue cleanup and recovery efforts in North Carolina following Hurricane Irene, which struck in August 2011.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the death of Mark Ayers, president of the Building and Construction Trades Department of the AFL-CIO:

"The American trade union movement lost a great leader yesterday. And I lost a friend.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the March 2012 Employment Situation report released today:

"Our nation's labor market added 121,000 private sector jobs in the month of March, while the unemployment rate fell to 8.2 percent.

"For 25 consecutive months, we've registered private sector job growth. Some months we are seeing tremendous job gains, while other months we are seeing more modest gains. But the trend line is clear: Our economy is growing, and our recovery is durable.

Agency worked jointly with FBI to develop course work to improve skills

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced a new National Emphasis Program for Nursing and Residential Care Facilities to protect workers from serious safety and health hazards that are common in medical industries. OSHA develops national emphasis programs to focus outreach efforts and inspections on specific hazards in an industry for a three-year period. Through this NEP, OSHA will target nursing homes and residential care facilities in an effort to reduce occupational illnesses and injuries.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of approximately $1.8 million for up to six grants through the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations program.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending March 31, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 357,000, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 363,000. The 4-week moving average was 361,750, a decrease of 4,250 from the previous week's revised average of 366,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending March 24, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.6 percent.

ARLINGTON, Va. – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the second anniversary of the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster:

"Tomorrow marks the second anniversary of the worst U.S. coal mine disaster in nearly four decades, as well as the single most heartbreaking day of my tenure as secretary of labor. I will never forget the 29 men who perished in an explosion that ripped through the mine, or the two miners who were seriously injured, or their loved ones.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced that it is seeking applications from nonprofit organizations for authorization to provide standard classroom instruction on occupational safety and health as part of the OSHA Training Institute Education Centers Program. The national program serves private sector workers, supervisors and employers within OSHA's jurisdiction.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is soliciting applications under the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program to fund training for workers and employers in recognizing workplace hazards and control measures, and understanding their rights and responsibilities. A total of $1.2 million is available to nonprofit, community and faith-based organizations; employer associations; labor unions; joint labor/management associations; and colleges and universities.

SAN FRANCISCO – Fresno-based Explore General Inc. and Jaime M. Gonzalez have been ordered to restore $519,601 to the company’s 401(k) profit-sharing plan, according to the terms of a judgment and order entered in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.

Rule will lead to enhanced protection of miners health and safety

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,341,383 National Emergency Grant to provide re-employment assistance for about 400 workers affected by layoffs from multiple environmental cleanup contractors including CH2MHILL Plateau Remediation Co., Materials and Energy Corp., Mission Support Alliance and 13 others – at the U.S. Department of Energy's Hanford Site in southeastern Washington.