September 27, 2006

U.S. Labor Department Publishes Revised Rule on Union Trust Reporting

Form T-1 Improves Disclosure and Increases Union Transparency

September 27, 2006

Tyson Foods Inc. Agrees to Pay $1.5 Million in Back Pay
for Hiring Discrimination

More than 2500 Minorities and Women Benefit from U.S. Labor Department Action

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) announced today that Tyson Foods Inc., headquartered in Springdale, Ark., has entered into six consent decrees to settle findings of hiring discrimination. More than 2500 women and minorities will receive a total of $1.5 million in back pay.

September 27, 2006

Assistant Secretary of Labor Ann L. Combs to Leave Post at Employee Benefit Security Administration in October

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

September 27, 2006

Labor Department Sues to Appoint Independent Trustee for Abandoned Savings and Investment Plan

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Detroit, Michigan - The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Detroit to appoint an independent trustee for the abandoned savings and investment plan of Michigan Pumping Service Inc., Trenton, Michigan. The company ceased doing business in 2003 after being sold to a new owner.

September 26, 2006

U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Announces Proposed Rule on Default Investment Alternatives for Participant-Directed Plans - First Pension Law Regulation Would Boost 401(k)s

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Washington, DC - U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced a proposed rule to make it easier for fiduciaries of 401(k) plans and other participant-directed defined-contribution plans to adopt automatic enrollment design features. The proposed rule is the first major regulation resulting from the Pension Protection Act signed into law by President Bush on August 17, 2006.

September 25, 2006

Labor Department Sues Officer of Duluth, Minnesota Business For Failing to Administer Retirement Plan

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Duluth, Minnesota - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued the president of Arrowhead Equipment Company, Duluth, Minnesota, for failing to administer and terminate the company’s employee stock ownership plan so that assets could be distributed to plan participants.

September 21, 2006

Labor Department Awards Nearly $5 Million in Grants to Advance Self Employment Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities

WASHINGTON —U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced grants of nearly five million dollars for pilot projects and research to develop systems models designed to increase self-employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

September 21, 2006

Free Health Law Compliance Seminar October 18 and 19 in Pierre, South Dakota

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Pierre, South Dakota - A free compliance assistance seminar focusing on laws that cover health benefits will take place October 18 and 19 in Pierre, South Dakota, at Kings Inn Hotel & Conference Center. The seminar is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) and the South Dakota Division of Insurance.

September 20, 2006

Labor Department Awards $500,000 Grant to Syracuse University to Lead Research into Effect of Employer Practices on Workers with Disabilities

WASHINGTON — U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao has announced a grant of $500,000 to Syracuse University's Burton Blatt Institute: Centers of Innovation on Disability, to lead a national research consortium to study employer practices in employing, retaining and promoting people with disabilities.

September 20, 2006

U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Releases 2006 National Saver Summit Report

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor released the final report of the 2006 National Summit on Retirement Savings. The report, entitled Saving for Your Golden Years: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities, represents the work of 200 summit delegates appointed by the president and congressional leaders.

September 20, 2006

U.S. Labor Department Action To Restore More Than $1 Million in Retirement Funds for Congers, New York Companies’ Employees

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

September 18, 2006

Labor Department Sues Columbus, Ohio Business and Officers To Restore Delinquent Contributions to Company’s Retirement Savings Plans

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Columbus, Ohio - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Team America Corporation, Columbus, Ohio and three individuals who served as fiduciaries to the company’s retirement savings, health and disability programs for failing to forward employee and employer contributions to the plans and to segregate plan contributions from the general operating assets of the company.

September 14, 2006

U.S. Department of Labor Sues Defunct West Middlesex, Pennsylvania Company to Protect 401(k) Participants

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

West Middlesex, Pennsylvania - The U.S Labor Department has sued Coast to Coast Home Equity Corp. to obtain appointment of an independent fiduciary to distribute the assets of the company’s 401(k) plan to plan participants. The defunct West Middlesex, Pennsylvania company is currently in bankruptcy and ceased operations in May 2004.

September 13, 2006

U.S. Labor Department Sues Virginia Company For Pension Plan Violations

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - The U.S. Department of Labor sued Javis Automation & Engineering, Inc., Dumfries, Virginia, and its president, John W. Long, Sr., for failure to remit contributions deducted from employees’ paychecks to the company’s 401(k) profit sharing plan.

September 13, 2006

U.S. Labor Department Gets Court Order Restoring Assets To Former Hebron, Kentucky 401(k) Plan

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Covington, Kentucky - The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment requiring Mitchell Molding Company Inc., Hebron, Kentucky, and its bankrupt former owner to restore delinquent employee contributions to the company’s 401(k) plan.

September 13, 2006

U.S. Department of Labor Files Suit Against Burlington, New Jersey Towing Company To Protect 401(k) Plan Participants

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Burlington, New Jersey - The U.S. Labor Department sued Russell Johnson and Shellene Barker, trustees of the Johnson Specialized Transportation, Inc. 401(k) Plan, for allegedly failing to forward more than $36,000 in employee and matching employer plan contributions plus lost opportunity costs to the plan.

September 8, 2006

U.S. Labor Department Seeks Comments on Independence Guidelines for Employee Benefit Plan Accountants

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced publication of a “request for information” (RFI) to assist the department in updating its guidance on the independence of accountants who audit employee benefit plans. The RFI is to be published in the September 11, 2006 Federal Register.

September 8, 2006

Labor Department Sues Officers of Sherburn, Minnesota, Business For Failing to Properly Administer Retirement Plan

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Sherburn, Minnesota - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued the officers of D&J Transfer Company, Sherburn, Minnesota, for failing to administer and terminate the company’s employee retirement plan so that assets could be distributed to plan participants.

September 7, 2006

U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Releases 2006 National Saver Summit Report

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Washington - The U.S. Department of Labor today released the final report of the 2006 National Summit on Retirement Savings. The report, entitled “Saving for Your Golden Years: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities,” represents the work of 200 summit delegates appointed by the president and congressional leaders.

September 7, 2006

U.S. Department of Labor Announces $12 Million Settlement with the Estate of Kenneth L. Lay

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an agreement with the estate of Kenneth L. Lay granting a $12 million claim against his estate on behalf of participants covered by Enron's pension plans. Lay died on July 5, 2006. This proposed settlement must be formally documented and submitted for approval to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.