ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 321 citations and orders during special impact inspections conducted at 10 coal mines and three metal/nonmetal mines last month. The coal mines were issued 174 citations and 19 orders, while the metal/nonmetal operations were issued 112 citations and 16 orders.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a court judgment and order appointing an independent fiduciary to manage the 401(k) plan of defunct BlueSky Brands Inc. of Westerly, R.I. The judgment and order resolve a lawsuit filed by the Labor Department against the company for violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

DETROIT – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a default judgment removing Intelec Inc., formerly known as Integra Engineering Inc. in Sterling Heights, from its position as fiduciary of the Integra Engineering Inc. Employees 401(k) Plan. The default judgment, entered in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in Detroit, allows the plan’s known assets of $299,598.84 to be distributed to its 23 participants as required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

Date of Action: December 21, 2011

Type of Action: Complaint

Names of Defendants: Jerry Craig, Sr.; Pattie Craig; Spectrum Financial Group, Inc.; Spectrum Financial Group, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $306,838 National Emergency Grant to provide re-employment services to approximately 150 workers affected by the closure of Ocean Logistics LLC's Dunmore, Pa., facility. Ocean Logistics LLC is a warehousing and distribution service for general merchandise as well as health and beauty items. The layoffs occurred in September and October 2011.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending January 14, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 352,000, a decrease of 50,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 402,000. The 4-week moving average was 379,000, a decrease of 3,500 from the previous week's revised average of 382,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.7 percent for the week ending January 7, a decrease of 0.2 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The U.S. Department of Labor is suing Garrison Enterprises’ former chief executive officer and chairman of the board, Cameron Garrison, to restore $103,481.37 to the Web development company’s 401(k) pension plan. The lawsuit follows an investigation by the department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration that found employees’ contributions to the 401(k) plan had been commingled with the general assets of the company, a violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

Employees of New England grocery chain exposed to fall and laceration dangers

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $5 million National Emergency Grant increment to continue providing temporary jobs for eligible dislocated workers. They will assist with cleanup and recovery efforts following severe storms and floods in April and May 2011 that affected southeastern Ohio.

Mandated full-time unpaid leave violated Family and Medical Leave Act

SAN ANTONIO — Bexar County Hospital District, doing business as University Health System in San Antonio, has agreed to pay a former employee $7,915 in back wages after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found that the hospital had placed the worker on full-time unpaid leave, in violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act.

OSHA found airline violated whistleblower protection provision of AIR21

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2 million National Emergency Grant supplemental award, in the form of a National Emergency Grant, to provide an estimated 1,175 additional jobless workers in North Carolina with partial premium payments for health insurance coverage. The state qualified for funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the availability of $20.6 million in grant funds to assist adult former offenders who are returning to their communities after serving time in justice facilities. The U.S. Department of Labor expects to award 17 grants of approximately $1.21 million each to organizations that will provide these individuals with employment-focused services and support.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $165,000 National Emergency Grant increment to continue providing re-employment and training services to about 175 workers affected by the closure of Joe's Sports, Outdoor, Auto/Truck and More based in Wilsonville, Ore. The company, known as Joe's, supplied sporting goods, outdoor equipment, automotive supplies and general merchandise until it closed its corporate offices, distribution center and retail stores in 2009.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending January 7, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 399,000, an increase of 24,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 375,000. The 4-week moving average was 381,750, an increase of 7,750 from the previous week's revised average of 374,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9 percent for the week ending December 31, unchanged from the prior week's revised rate.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor is notifying former workers of 17 facilities associated with the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act about compensation and medical benefits potentially available to them under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act, which is administered by the department's Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation. Survivors of qualified workers also may be entitled to benefits.

HOUSTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs today announced that government contractor JacintoPort International LLC has agreed to settle allegations of hiring discrimination on the basis of race involving 48 African-American and 21 Caucasian job applicants who were rejected for longshoreman positions at the company's cargo facility in Houston.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration today announced the availability of the 2011 Form M-1 annual report for multiple employer welfare arrangements. MEWA administrators may use EBSA's online filing system to expedite processing of the form.

AUSTIN, Texas — The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment and order resolving a lawsuit against Austin-based HBMG Inc. and Manuel Zarate, the company's president. The suit alleged that the defendants violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

CLEVELAND – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent order and judgment requiring Harry Fishleigh III, president and part owner of defunct North Coast Wood Products Inc. in Mentor, to restore a total of $114,176.86 to the company’s profit-sharing plan, for which he was the trustee. The order and judgment, entered in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio in Cleveland, resolve a lawsuit filed by the department alleging violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.