March 16, 2011

US Department of Labor sues Los Angeles-based healthcare group to recover retirement contributions and loan repayments owed to hospital workers

LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued USA Star Healthcare Group - East Los Angeles Inc. and executives of ElaStar Community Hospital for failure to remit and timely forward employee contributions and loan repayments to the hospital’s retirement plan in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. The company also operated under the name ElaStar Community Hospital.

March 16, 2011

Miami tool manufacturer agrees to restore more than $107,000 to company’s pension profit sharing plan following US Labor Department investigation

MIAMI – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment that restores more than $107,775 to participants in the Miami-based Michigan Drill Corp. Profit Sharing Plan.

March 14, 2011

US Department of Labor obtains judgment restoring $18,000 to Burnsville, Minn.-based Slate Cement's health, dental and 401(k) plans

BURNSVILLE, Minn. – A federal district court in Minneapolis has ordered Larry Lauterbach, the president and former owner of Slate Cement Inc., a defunct Burnsville construction company, to restore $17,273.18 in unremitted employee contributions and lost opportunity costs to the company's health and dental plan, and $747.20 in unremitted employee contributions to the company's 401(k) plan.

March 11, 2011

Statement by Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on earthquake and tsunami in Japan

WASHINGTON Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the earthquake and tsunami in Japan:

"I send my deepest condolences to the people of Japan, particularly to those who have lost loved ones in the earthquake and tsunami. Disasters like this one have devastating effects on a nation s people, and I m proud that President Obama has acted swiftly in providing attention and support. My thoughts and prayers are with all of Japan's people as they overcome this tragedy."

March 11, 2011

US Labor Department sues trustee of defunct Maine company employee stock ownership plan to restore losses to the plan

BOSTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Stephen Thomas, individually and as trustee of the defunct Gagne Precast Concrete Products Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan, for alleged violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act that cost the plan millions of dollars in losses. ERISA is the federal law that protects the assets and participants of private sector employee benefit plans.

March 11, 2011

US Labor Department sues trustee of defunct Mentor, Ohio, company to recover profit sharing plan assets

MENTOR, Ohio – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued the trustee of the North Coast Wood Products Profit Sharing Plan, Harry Fishleigh III, for improperly transferring $96,837.63 in plan assets to his son, Steven Fishleigh, in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

March 10, 2011

ETA Press Release: Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending March 5, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 397,000, an increase of 26,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 371,000. The 4-week moving average was 392,250, an increase of 3,000 from the previous week's revised average of 389,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.0 percent for the week ending Feb. 26, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.0 percent.

March 10, 2011

US Labor Department action recovers nearly $52,000 from trustees of Premier Properties USA 401(k) Plan

INDIANAPOLIS –– The actions of the U.S. Department of Labor have ensured that $51,933.26 of un-remitted employee contributions and related lost opportunity costs have been returned to the Premier Properties USA Inc. 401(k) plan.

March 9, 2011

US Department of Labor announces Stand Down grants to assist about 10,000 homeless veterans

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service today announced the availability of $600,000 in "Stand Down" grants that will provide an estimated 10,000 homeless veterans with opportunities to reintegrate into society. The grants are being awarded under the department's Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program.

March 9, 2011

US Department of Labor provides funding to assist about 400 dislocated Massachusetts workers with training and employment-related services

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,570,907 grant to assist about 400 workers affected by the closing of Sonoco Packaging Products in Devens, Mass., and layoffs at Debbie's Staffing in Ayer, Mass.

"Many of these workers – who have lost jobs through no fault of their own – face significant language and education barriers to new employment," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "This grant will make available the services they need to re-enter the workforce."

March 8, 2011

Statement by Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on International Womens Day

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding International Women's Day:

"Today people all over the world will celebrate International Women's Day, honoring the power, strength and contributions of all women. Together, we not only recognize the economic, political and social achievements of women, but the struggle and sacrifice it took to get here, too.

March 7, 2011

US Department of Labor announces grant increment to continue training and re-employment services for Idaho workers affected by electronics industry layoffs

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,288,296 National Emergency Grant increment to continue providing re-employment and retraining services to about 1,000 workers affected by layoffs at Micron Technology Inc. located in Boise, Idaho.

March 7, 2011

US Labor Department recovers more than $219,000 in back wages and liquidated damages for 44 misclassified Boston-area restaurant employees

Labor contractor held in contempt of court for failing to cooperate with investigators

March 7, 2011

US Department of Labor makes available Web-based toolkit for federal agencies to increase employment of people with disabilities

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy today posted an online toolkit comprised of resources to assist federal agencies in recruiting, employing and retaining individuals with disabilities. The kit is available at http://www.dol.gov/odep/federal-hire.

March 4, 2011

Statement of Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on February employment numbers

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

"Our nation's labor market improved notably in the month of February. Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 192,000, and the unemployment rate decreased to 8.9 percent – exceeding the consensus forecast and adding 60,000 workers to the labor market. Today's numbers highlight steady, sustained and widespread job growth. The bottom line: The policies and programs of this administration are working.

March 3, 2011

ETA Press Release: Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Feb. 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 368,000, a decrease of 20,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 388,000. The 4-week moving average was 388,500, a decrease of 12,750 from the previous week's revised average of 401,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.0 percent for the week ending Feb. 19, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's revised rate of 3.1 percent.

March 3, 2011

US Labor Department seeks debarment of construction contractor for labor violations at New York City publicly funded housing projects

NEW YORK — The U.S. Department of Labor has taken legal action to seek debarment of Lettire Construction Corp., a New York City general contractor, and Nicholas Lettire, president of the company, from working on future federally funded contracts for a period of three years.

March 2, 2011

US Labor Department to fund transitional jobs programs for low-income non-custodial parents and ex-offenders

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of approximately $40 million for Enhanced Transitional Jobs Demonstration grants to help individuals with significant barriers to employment obtain the skills they need through work opportunities.