WASHINGTON – During a visit to Iowa today, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced a $521,910 grant to assist approximately 90 workers affected by layoffs at Featherlite Inc. located in Cresco, Iowa.

"This grant will help affected workers rejoin the labor force by providing them with top notch training and job-related services," said Secretary Solis. "Iowans are an important part of the nation's workforce, and they can count on the U.S. Department of Labor to ensure they have access to the employment resources they need and deserve."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that nearly 550 workers in auto-related industries in Indiana, Michigan and Pennsylvania are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

"Over the years, our nation has benefited immensely from the work and dedication of those employed in auto-related industries across these states," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Trade Adjustment Assistance is one way we can support these workers as they seek re-employment in promising regional industries that pay family-supporting wages."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that more than 1,750 copper anode production workers from Freeport – McMoran Inc. of Morenci, Ariz., are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

"These workers are in need of good new jobs, and we as a nation are in need of their talent and dedication in our workforce," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "TAA is one tool that can help workers through a dislocation and enter new careers in promising regional industries."

RALEIGH, N.C. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has fined nine farms and 17 farm labor contractors doing business in Bladen and Craven counties, N.C., for violating federal labor law, including employing children as young as eight years old as farm laborers.

The investigation is part of the agency's ongoing agricultural initiative aimed at protecting the rights of farm workers under provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA).

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court of the United States:

"Today is a proud and historic day for our nation. Congress has confirmed its third female Supreme Court Justice and its first Latina woman to the highest court in our land.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the July 2009 Employment Situation report released today:

"Today's unemployment numbers continue to show the challenges of the economic problems that this administration inherited. These figures are a reminder that we still have a lot of work to do on behalf of America's workers.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in an effort to crack down on fraudulent trainers, is continuing to strengthen the integrity of its 36-year-old Outreach Training Program by publishing an "Outreach Trainer Watch List" of those who have had their trainer authorizations either revoked or suspended.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $3,421,645 grant to assist approximately 1,227 workers across the state of Wisconsin affected by layoffs at 11 companies in the manufacturing industry in the northeastern part of the state.

"These Wisconsin workers have made tremendous sacrifices, and they deserve our support," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "This grant will ensure that they receive the training and reemployment services necessary to find new jobs."

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Aug. 1, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 550,000, a decrease of 38,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 588,000. The 4-week moving average was 555,250, a decrease of 4,750 from the previous week's revised average of 560,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.7 percent for the week ending July 25, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.7 percent.

Grants will advance Registered Apprenticeships into 21st century

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded $6,499,992 to assist national industry and employer associations and labor-management organizations in advancing Registered Apprenticeship through the development of innovative programs that utilize an updated 21st century Registered Apprenticeship framework.

Chicago — The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment and order requiring the former president of Chicago-based AA Capital Partners Inc. to restore $50 million in losses to five Michigan pension funds as restitution for misuse of the plans’ assets to benefit the investment firm and himself. The judgment also bars defendant John Orecchio from serving in a fiduciary or service provider capacity to any employee benefit plan governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that almost 2,000 workers in auto-related industries in Michigan, Indiana, South Carolina and Mississippi are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance.

WASHINGTON – The safety of airport traffic control tower personnel is the focus of an inspection targeting program titled "Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Traffic Control Tower Monitoring Program" which monitors how workers clear a control tower in case of fire and other emergencies. The inspection targeting program, conducted by the U.S.

Chattanooga, Tennessee – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment and settlement agreement requiring Tim Manson to restore $35,415 to Standard Coosa Thatcher (SCT) Yarns’ retirement plans for salaried and hourly employees.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded $10 million in funding to organizations that connect older Americans to career opportunities. The Aging Worker Initiative: Strategies for Regional Talent Development is designed to train workers aged 55 and older for jobs in high-growth, high-demand industries, and increase the public workforce system's capacity to effectively serve an aging worker population.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced grants totaling $26.5 million to 25 states to implement or enhance the Re-employment and Eligibility Assessment (REA) Initiative for unemployment insurance (UI) recipients.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $578,574 grant to assist approximately 50 workers affected by layoffs at Sauer Danfoss Inc. in Hillsboro, Ore.

"The professionalism and commitment to quality of the American manufacturing workforce is unparalleled," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "These workers deserve our support as they seek to upgrade current skills or enter training leading to good jobs in growing industries."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $558,591 grant to assist approximately 160 workers affected by layoffs at eight manufacturing companies located in southern New Hampshire.

"The professionalism and commitment to quality of the American manufacturing workforce is unparalleled," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "These workers deserve our support as they seek to upgrade current skills or enter training leading to good jobs in growing industries."

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending July 25, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 584,000, an increase of 25,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 559,000. The 4-week moving average was 559,000, a decrease of 8,250 from the previous week's revised average of 567,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.7 percent for the week ending July 18, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.7 percent.

Washington – The U.S. Department of Labor is soliciting nominations to fill five three-year vacancies on the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, known as the ERISA Advisory Council. The deadline for receipt of nominations is September 15, 2009.