BOSTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration will host a retirement plan compliance assistance seminar in Boston June 6. The seminar is designed to help small business owners understand their fiduciary responsibilities when operating private sector retirement plans. It is free and open to the first 90 registrants.

14 federal agencies collaborate to enhance global competitiveness of US manufacturers and create jobs

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the selection of Dolores Huerta for the Presidential Medal of Freedom:

"As a young girl growing up in La Puente, Calif., I was mesmerized by images of Dolores Huerta. I remember seeing in the newspaper the iconic photo of her holding up the HUELGA sign and seeing her on television, standing behind Robert F. Kennedy just seconds before he was assassinated.

Public asked to vote for runner-up videos

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the selection of Samuel Luna as a "Champion of Change":

"Today, the White House Office of Public Engagement will name Vietnam veteran Samuel Luna one of its 'Champions of Change,' a program created as a part of President Obama's Winning the Future initiative. Each week, a different sector is highlighted and different groups of people are recognized for the unique work they do serving and strengthening their communities.

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued 30 notices of unsafe and unhealthful working conditions for violations found during inspections of four U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities. OSHA began the inspections during November 2011 at the VA hospital in Mather and at outpatient clinics in Martinez, Fairfield and Oakland. All are part of the VA's Northern California Health Care System.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending May 19, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 370,000, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 372,000. The 4-week moving average was 370,000, a decrease of 5,500 from the previous week's revised average of 375,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending May 12, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of $35 million in funds to develop, enhance and promote Self-Employment Assistance programs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In addition, guidance released today clarifies that states may enroll participants who are currently receiving or eligible for federally funded Emergency Unemployment Compensation and Extended Benefits.

3 new members appointed and 5 members re-appointed

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration will hold a meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health June 19-20 in Washington. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis has announced the appointment of three new committee members and the re-appointment of five members.

WEEHAWKEN, N.J. ‒ The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a court order appointing an independent fiduciary to manage the abandoned 401(k) plan of Worldwide Trade Resources Inc., formerly located in Weehawken. As of Jan. 31, 2011, the latest information available, the plan had 52 participants and assets totaling approximately $2.2 million.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced grants totaling $20,518,598 to 18 nonprofit organizations across the country to fund employment-related services for formerly incarcerated adults who are returning to high-poverty, high-crime communities. These grants represent the fifth round of funding under the department's Reintegration of Ex-Offenders-Adult program, through which more than $98 million has been awarded to date.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy today announced the launch of its first disability-related application challenge, which is designed to generate innovative tools that will improve employment opportunities and outcomes for people with disabilities.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $400,000 National Emergency Grant to assist with clean-up and recovery efforts in the wake of the severe storms, flooding and landslides that hit the Hawaiian islands of Kauai and Maui between March 3 and 11.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration has filed a complaint with the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission against Ferraiolo Construction Inc. to reinstate a worker to his former position and provide compensation for wages lost as a result of his being unlawfully fired.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced its intent to establish a Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee. The committee will advise, consult with and make recommendations to the secretary of labor and the assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health on ways to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and transparency of OSHA's administration of whistleblower protections.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending May 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 370,000, unchanged from the previous week's revised figure of 370,000. The 4-week moving average was 375,000, a decrease of 4,750 from the previous week's revised average of 379,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending May 5, unchanged from the prior week's revised rate.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $947,841 National Emergency Grant to provide re-employment services to about 125 workers affected by the closure of Clearwater Paper Corp.'s sawmill in Lewiston, Idaho.

On Nov. 22, 2011, many workers were laid off as a result of the sawmill's closure. Clearwater Paper manufactures products including consumer tissue and bleached paperboard and pulp at 15 locations throughout the United States and Canada.

Online site now opened for veterans to apply for education benefits

WASHINGTON – Unemployed veterans between the ages of 35 and 60 can now apply for new benefits to cover education costs for up to one year through a joint U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Labor program that focuses on retraining 99,000 veterans for high-demand jobs.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $7.2 million National Emergency Grant increment to continue providing re-employment assistance to approximately 3,200 workers in Florida who were affected by layoffs resulting from the termination of NASA's Space Shuttle Program.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho against Matthew D. Hutcheson alleging that he violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. The complaint alleges that, toward the end of 2010, Hutcheson used more than $3.2 million representing the retirement plan savings of workers from multiple employers for his own personal expenses and in an attempt to purchase an interest in the Tamarack Resort — a failed ski and golf resort in Idaho.