WASHINGTON U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement today on the passing of Congressman John Murtha:

"The nation lost an advocate for peace. Pennsylvania lost a great champion. And I lost a mentor and great friend.

"I am deeply saddened by the passing of Congressman John Murtha, and my thoughts and prayers are with Mrs. Murtha and her family at this difficult time.

San Francisco – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) will hold two free half-day workshops in Boise, Idaho, on Wednesday, Feb. 17, to help employers and plan administrators of pension and health plans better understand and comply with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

The workshops will be held at the James A. McClure Federal Building/U.S. Courthouse located at 550 West Fort St., Room 311. They will begin at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. MST.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the January 2010 Employment Situation report released today:

"This past January, the economy lost 20,000 jobs, and the unemployment rate dropped to 9.7 percent.

"While today's report shows positive signs that the economy is moving in the right direction, the numbers underscore that we still have work to do to get Americans back to work.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an $880,000 grant to provide an estimated 800 jobless workers in Maine with partial premium payments for health insurance coverage.

"Unemployment and lack of health insurance are twin obstacles for workers who are seeking out new careers," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "This grant will help eligible workers pay for health insurance while they upgrade existing skills or seek out new careers in promising industries."

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Jan. 30, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 480,000, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 472,000. The 4-week moving average was 468,750, an increase of 11,750 from the previous week's revised average of 457,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.5 percent for the week ending Jan. 23, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.5 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 7,200 workers from companies in 15 states – California, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin – are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the results of its Tools for America's Job Seekers Challenge. Recommendations have been tallied, and the top-rated sites in each of six categories – general job boards, niche tools, career tools, career exploration tools, Web 2.0 and "other" – are now available at http://www.careeronestop.org/jobseekertools.

Rules to Live By targets most often cited standards in fatal accident investigations

Warning system could avert pinning, crushing accidents underground

WASHINGTON — A protracted case that started with a U.S. Department of Labor Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) investigation has resulted in an administrative law judge's (ALJ) recommended ruling that Bank of America discriminated against African-American job applicants for entry level positions in Charlotte, N.C., in 1993 and from 2002 to 2005.

Washington – The U.S. Departments of Labor and the Treasury today announced the publication of a request for information (RFI) soliciting public comments to assist the agencies in determining what steps to take to enhance retirement security for workers in employer-sponsored retirement plans through lifetime annuities or other arrangements that provide a stream of income after retiring. The RFI appears in today’s edition of the Federal Register.

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today, through a national online discussion with stakeholder groups, the general public and the news media, outlined the president's fiscal year (FY) 2011 budget request for the U.S. Department of Labor, which is built around the vision of "good jobs for everyone." The budget launches innovative ways to prepare workers for 21st century jobs, and makes new investments in programs that protect workers' rights, safety and health in the new economy.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today called on states to apply for more than $4 billion in unemployment insurance modernization funding made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) for those states that expand access to unemployment benefits. These funds can be used by states to pay unemployment insurance benefits and may be used for other defined purposes if appropriated by state legislatures.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $225 million in additional funding for the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) in fiscal year 2010. This funding was provided in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010 to allow SCSEP grantees to immediately address unmet needs for employment and job training among low-income, older American workers.

WASHINGTON — Officials from the United States and Peru yesterday participated in the first meeting of the Labor Affairs Council that was created under the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA). The meeting took place in Lima, Peru.

Workers to recover more than $1 million in overtime back wages

DALLAS — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the filing of a consent judgment in a case against Pilgrims Pride Corp. the countrys largest poultry processor — recovering $1,001,438 in overtime back wages for 798 former and current processing workers at the companys Dallas facility. The company also agreed to pay for time spent by employees "donning and doffing," or putting on and taking off work-related gear in all processing plants nationwide.

Washington – The U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Treasury today jointly issued new rules providing parity for consumers enrolled in group health plans who need treatment for mental health or substance use disorders.

Washington – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the appointment of five new members and new leadership to the 2010 Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, also known as the ERISA Advisory Council.

“We appreciate the council members’ contribution of time and expertise in working on issues that affect the retirement and health benefits of America’s workers,” said Secretary Solis.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 4,400 workers from companies in nine states – Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Texas – are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

"Through the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, we are leveraging opportunities for displaced workers to acquire the skills needed to secure good jobs in promising areas of their local economies, said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is proposing to revise its Occupational Injury and Illness Recording and Reporting(recordkeeping) regulation by restoring a column on the OSHA Form 300 to better identify work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The rule does not change existing requirements for when and under what circumstances employers must record musculoskeletal disorders on their injury and illness logs.