HAMMONTON, N.J. — In two separate actions, administrative law judges have ordered Columbia Fruit Farms Inc., its owners Anthony DiMeo and William DiMeo, and crew leader Sorel Rinvil to pay $28,449 plus interest in civil money penalties to resolve violations found during investigations conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division dating back to 2008.

AUSTIN, Texas — The U.S. Department of Labor today filed a lawsuit against the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services' Child Protective Services Division in Austin for failing to pay 800 current and former investigators and case workers overtime compensation as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act. The suit seeks back wages of more than $1 million, plus liquidated damages.

PORT ARTHUR, Texas - The U.S. Department of Labor has announced that Michael Doggett, business representative for the Carpenters Local Union 502 in Port Arthur, has been sentenced to five months in prison and ordered to make $39,324 in restitution payments for embezzling from a union benefit plan.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the appointment of eight new members to the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health. The committee members will serve two-year terms and represent the interests of the public, employers, employees and government.

The 15-member committee meets at least twice a year. The eight newly appointed members will join seven re-appointed members.

Partnership includes UAW, ACH and MIOSHA

WASHINGTON – Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Dr. David Michaels has signed an agreement renewing OSHA's partnership with Ford Motor Co., the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America and Automotive Component Holdings LLC, and welcoming the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration as a new partner.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $4,276,514 National Emergency Grant to assist with cleanup and recovery efforts after severe storms, tornadoes and flooding struck Kentucky in April.

"People in Kentucky are still reeling from the devastation of recent storms," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "The department's grant will help affected communities as they begin cleanup and repair efforts."

PHILADELPHIA — AstraZeneca, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, will pay $250,000 to 124 women who were subjected to pay discrimination while working at the corporation's Philadelphia Business Center in Wayne, Pa. The action resolves a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Labor in May 2010 alleging that the company discriminated against female sales specialists by paying them salaries that were, on average, $1,700 less than their male counterparts.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2 million National Emergency Grant increment to continue cleanup and recovery efforts that began in October 2010 following destruction in Puerto Rico caused by Tropical Storm Otto.

"Even after months have passed, Puerto Rico is still dealing with the aftermath of Tropical Storm Otto," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "The funding being made available today will continue support efforts to restore the island and help its people get back on their feet."

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the May 2011 Employment Situation report released today:

"Our nation's labor market continued to add jobs in the month of May. Nonfarm payroll employment added 54,000 jobs, while the unemployment rate registered at 9.1 percent.

"While our rate of job growth slowed last month, we added 83,000 private sector jobs in May, and our economy continues to grow. We've now had 15 straight months of private sector job growth and added 2.1 million jobs over this period.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATAIn the week ending May 28, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 422,000, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 428,000. The 4-week moving average was 425,500, a decrease of 14,000 from the previous week's revised average of 439,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.0 percent for the week ending May 21, unchanged from the prior week's revised rate of 3.0 percent.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a one-month period for public comment on a preliminary plan to revise department regulations. Members of the public who wish to provide feedback on the "Preliminary Plan for Retrospective Analysis of Existing Rules" are encouraged to do so via a recently launched Web page — http://www.dol.gov/regulations/regreview.htm — established for that purpose.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced grants of $1,170,000 each to 10 organizations to provide training, employment and support services to adult former inmates returning to their communities after serving time in justice facilities.

"The grants announced today are an investment not just in the futures of former inmates, but also in the communities and families to which they are returning," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced 22 grants totaling more than $9 million to provide approximately 4,000 veterans with job training to help them succeed in civilian careers. The grants are being awarded under the U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans Workforce Investment Program to continue successful programs into second and third years.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced 122 grants totaling more than $28 million to provide approximately 17,000 veterans who are homeless or at risk of being homeless with job training to help them succeed in civilian careers.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $471,150 National Emergency Grant to create temporary jobs for clean-up and recovery efforts in the wake of the severe storms, tornadoes and associated flooding that struck Oklahoma last month.

"Communities in Oklahoma are suffering from the devastation of recent storms," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "This grant will help the many people who have been affected begin to repair their lives."

The funds are being awarded to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of approximately $20 million to fund programs that will improve education, training and employment opportunities for adults and youth with disabilities. A solicitation for grant applications is published in today's edition of the Federal Register.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,690,122 National Emergency Grant increment to continue services to existing participants and to increase the number of workers to be trained in aerospace occupations as a result of the realignment of military installations in Oklahoma. About 885 individuals will be served under this grant.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration has announced that it will publish in tomorrow's Federal Register a notice proposing to extend and align the applicability dates for its retirement plan fee disclosure rules.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $5,822,352 National Emergency Grant to assist with clean-up and recovery efforts in the wake of tornado damage in Missouri, including the May 22 tornado that devastated Joplin.

"The incredible damage that this latest tornado has inflicted on the people of Joplin is unprecedented," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "The Labor Department's grant will assist affected Missouri communities with clean-up efforts that will help lead to a sustained recovery for the region."

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs will publish a revised list of products that federal contractors must certify under Executive Order 13126 are not produced with forced or indentured child labor. The list will appear in the May 31 edition of the Federal Register.