December 17, 2013

WHD News Release: Hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffet sued by US Labor Department to recover nearly $2 million in unpaid wages and damages for 84 employees [12/17/2013]

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.

December 17, 2013

ETA News Release: Airmen and soldiers from Joint Base Lewis-McChord transitioning to civilian jobs receive more than $5.5M in funding from US Labor Department [12/17/2013]

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.

December 17, 2013

ETA News Release: West Virginia awarded additional funding by US Labor Department to assist with continuing recovery efforts following Hurricane Sandy [12/17/2013]

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.

December 12, 2013

ETA Press Release: Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

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.

December 12, 2013

OPA News Release: African-American literature, authors central to Labor Department's Books that Shaped Work in America project [12/12/2013]

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.

December 11, 2013

US Department of Labor obtains consent judgment in Perez v. LifeCare of Alabama Inc. involving 401(k) plan in Hartselle, Ala.

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

December 11, 2013

US Labor Department sues Enola, Pa., medical practice to recover lost employee contributions to 401(k) plan

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

December 10, 2013

ETA News Release: $12M in grants to expand successful youth skills training and education program to include court-involved youth [12/10/2013]

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.

December 9, 2013

Independent fiduciary appointed to distribute assets of abandoned Specialty Staff Inc. 401(k) Plan in Carmel, Ind.

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.

December 6, 2013

OPA News Release: Statement of Labor Secretary Perez on November employment numbers [12/06/2013]

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.

December 5, 2013

US Labor Department releases advance copies of 2013 Form 5500 annual report

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:

December 5, 2013

MSHA News Release: Statement of MSHA Assistant Secretary Joseph A. Main on National Miners Day [12/05/2013]

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

December 4, 2013

Judge appoints independent fiduciary to distribute nearly $236,000 in assets of Samoa Aviation Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan in Pago Pago, American Samoa

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.

December 3, 2013

MSHA News Release: Maine stone-crushing plant to pay former miner to resolve US Labor Department retaliation charge [12/03/2013]

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.

December 3, 2013

MSHA News Release: Maine stone-crushing plant to pay former miner to resolve US Labor Department retaliation charge [12/03/2013]

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.

December 2, 2013

US Department of Labor obtains consent judgment in Perez v. Covenant Equipment Corp. involving the company’s SIMPLE IRA plan in Rock Hill, SC

Date of Action: Nov. 21, 2013

Type of Action: Consent Judgment and Order

Name(s) of Defendant(s): Covenant Equipment Corp., doing business as Wholesale Fork Lifts Inc., and Mark Sowka

December 2, 2013

US Labor Department obtains court order naming independent fiduciary for employee benefits plan of defunct Long Island, NY, employer

NEW YORK – Following legal action by the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York has appointed M. Larry Lefoldt as independent fiduciary to manage the 401(k) plan of the defunct Windswept Environmental Group Inc. of Holtsville. The department filed suit in December 2012, asking the court to appoint an independent fiduciary to administer the plan and distribute its assets to the plan’s participants and beneficiaries.

November 27, 2013

ETA Press Release: Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending November 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 316,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 326,000. The 4-week moving average was 331,750, a decrease of 7,500 from the previous week's revised average of 339,250.

November 27, 2013

OSHA News Release: Statement by Assistant Secretary of Labor Dr. David Michaels on sentencing in fatal gunpowder plant explosion [11/27/2013]

Editor's Note: This re-issued News Statement clarifies the length of the sentences imposed in the case.