Date of Action: April 30, 2013

Type of Action: Complaint

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

Date of Action: April 25, 2013

Name(s) of Defendant(s): William Bowman and William Bowman Associates Inc. profit sharing 401(k) plan

Workers' Memorial Day remembers those who died on the job

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced an initiative to further protect temporary employees from workplace hazards. The announcement was made during a program at the department's headquarters marking Workers' Memorial Day – an annual observance to honor workers who have died on the job and renew a commitment to making work sites across the country safer.

WASHINGTON — Kathy Martinez, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy and Paula Alfone, mid-Atlantic director of the Higher Education Recruitment Consortium, today signed an alliance agreement to promote the employment of people with disabilities throughout the higher education community. The two organizations are combining their expertise to increase recruitment, hiring, retention and advancement at colleges, universities, hospitals, research labs, government agencies and related organizations.

Date of Action: April 26, 2013

Type of Action: Complaint

Names of Defendant: Jane E. Lehman, Teletrans Services, Inc., and Teletrans Services, Inc. Savings and Retirement Plan in Green Bay, Wis.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 155 citations and two orders during special impact inspections conducted at eight coal mines and four metal/nonmetal mines last month, representing the lowest number of orders issued during targeted monthly inspections over nearly three years.

WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris today issued the following statement regarding Wednesday's deadly building collapse in Bangladesh:

"Yesterday, well over 200 people, many of them young garment workers, lost their lives in the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in the Savar section of Dhaka, Bangladesh. I join U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh Dan M. Mozena in offering my condolences to the victims, their families and the people of Bangladesh.

Agreement includes more than $130,000 in back wages for 200 male applicants and 18 job offers

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today released a summary of U.S. mining deaths that occurred during the first quarter of calendar year 2013.

WASHINGTON – An April 30 webinar will provide tips and tools to help college seniors and young workers learn to budget for today’s needs and tomorrow’s goals. “Start Early to Take Charge of Your Financial Future” will be held from 3-4 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, April 30.

WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris today announced the availability of $474.5 million to create and expand innovative partnerships between community colleges and businesses to educate and train workers with the skills employers need. This third round of funding since 2009 under the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training grants program brings total investments to nearly $1.5 billion.

Date of Action: April 18, 2013

Type of Action: Consent Order and Judgment

Driver and family lost income, critical health care coverage when company changed hands

PHOENIX — A U.S. district court judge in Phoenix by a consent judgment has ordered that an Arizona delivery driver be offered reinstatement and receive back pay and reimbursement of medical expenses under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The U.S. Department of Labor is suing Empact Medical Services Inc., and its officers Angela Cotter and Elizabeth Gail DeBusk to restore $10,582 in assets to the company’s 401(k) plan that allegedly were mishandled by the defendants in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $770,000 National Emergency Grant increment to continue clean-up and recovery efforts in Vermont following Tropical Storm Irene.

"Vermont continues the difficult, but necessary, work to recover from the damage caused by Tropical Storm Irene," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Jane Oates. "Additional funding from the Labor Department will help Vermont with storm cleanup and also provide temporary work to those in need of employment."

Date of Action: April 9, 2013

Type of Action: Default Judgment

Name(s) of Defendant: Valerie Kreager and Nationwide Wash Systems, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan

Allegations: The complaint alleged that Kreager failed to administer the Plan and authorize distributions on behalf of the Plan participants since the company went out of business. The Plan has three participants with combined assets totaling $29,146.30.

Recovery is among largest in department's history

WASHINGTON — Acting U.S. Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis and acting Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris today announced that the United States and Guatemala have agreed on a robust enforcement plan to resolve concerns raised in a labor case brought by the United States under the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement. The 18-point plan includes concrete actions with specific time frames that Guatemala will implement within six months to improve labor law enforcement.

WASHINGTON — Acting United States Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis and Acting Secretary of Labor Seth Harris today announced that the United States and Guatemala have agreed on a robust enforcement plan to resolve concerns raised in a labor case brought by the United States under the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). The 18-point plan includes concrete actions with specific time frames that Guatemala will implement within six months to improve labor law enforcement.

WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris today released the U.S. Department of Labor's fiscal year 2014 budget request, which supports President Obama's plan to strengthen the economy and grow the middle class through continued investments in training and resources for job seekers.