WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 3,200 workers from specific companies in 14 states – Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin – are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Aug. 22, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 570,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 580,000. The 4-week moving average was 566,250, a decrease of 4,750 from the previous week's revised average of 571,000.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $89,289,386 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Wisconsin. Wisconsin qualified for the remaining two-thirds of its share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by updating its UI program to reflect the 21st century workforce.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy:

"Last night we lost a hero, and I lost a friend. The passing of Sen. Edward Kennedy is an indescribable loss for our nation and the world.

"In 2000, I had the great honor of being presented the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award by the senator. And, I will always remember his insights and advice during my confirmation hearing.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $3,446,051 National Emergency Grant increment to continue to assist workers across the state of Minnesota affected by layoffs from five companies in the manufacturing and retail industries: Celestica, Hutchinson Technology Inc., International Business Machines (IBM), Seagate Technology Inc. and Target.

Boston – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a default judgment appointing Corporate Benefits Co. (CORBCO) of Boston, Massachusetts, as the independent fiduciary to manage the abandoned 401(k) plan of defunct TRITECH Information Strategies Inc., formerly of Kennebunk, Maine.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $316,458 grant to assist approximately 80 workers affected by layoffs at Formed Fiber Technologies Inc. located in Auburn, Maine.

"These workers now will have access to employment-related services that will lead to new careers in promising regional industries," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Auto workers have borne the brunt of the recent economic downturn and are deserving of our support as they seek re-employment."

Atlanta – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued ZNET Financial Services, Abby Paschal and Farbod Zohouri for violating provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

Workers in Alabama, Connecticut, Michigan, Ohio and South Dakota covered

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 1,400 workers laid off from specific companies in five states – Alabama, Connecticut, Michigan, Ohio and South Dakota – are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance.

Somerset, Pennsylvania — A federal district court has found James Sujansky, trustee of the Super City Sports Sales Inc. 401 (k) Profit Sharing Plan, in contempt of court for failing to comply with a court order directing him to produce documents subpoenaed during an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Aug. 15, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 576,000, an increase of 15,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 561,000. The 4-week moving average was 570,000, an increase of 4,250 from the previous week's revised average of 565,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.7 percent for the week ending Aug. 8, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.7 percent.

WASHINGTON – In response to today's Bureau of Labor Statistics report announcing the preliminary Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries of 5,071 fatal work injuries in 2008 – down from a total of 5,657 fatal work injuries reported in 2007 – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement:

"With every one of these fatalities, the lives of a worker's family members were shattered and forever changed. We can't forget that fact.

FORT SMITH, Ark. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) announced Gerber Products Co. has agreed to settle findings of hiring discrimination against 1,912 rejected minority and female applicants for entry-level positions. The agreement settles the department's allegations that Gerber engaged in hiring discrimination against minority and female applicants for one year.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,000,000 grant to provide approximately 1,800 jobless workers with partial premium payments for health insurance coverage.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Aug. 8, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 558,000, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 554,000. The 4-week moving average was 565,000, an increase of 8,500 from the previous week's revised average of 556,500.

Atlanta — The U.S. Department of Labor has sued defunct Vinyl-Mark Products Inc. of Hueytown, Alabama, and the company’s pension and profit sharing plan trustees for allegedly misusing $898,259.69 in plan assets to pay the operating expenses of the company.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced that Dr. Esther Johnson, national director of Job Corps, will be leaving her position effective today. Dr. Johnson will undertake new duties as a senior advisor in the Office of the Deputy Secretary of Labor. In her stead, Lynn Intrepidi, former director of the Philadelphia Region of Job Corps will become acting director of the program.

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:

"Now that Justice Sonia Sotomayor has been confirmed, I want to congratulate her for this achievement and for her grace under fire as she had her judicial record closely scrutinized over the past 10 weeks. She handled herself with poise, but with her keen intellect and impeccable record, she won over the hearts and minds of members of Congress.

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $20,351,150 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Hawaii. Hawaii qualified for these funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by including certain family-friendly provisions in its UI law.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the death of Eunice Kennedy Shriver: