March 22, 2017

OSHA, Operation Engineers, Local 150, renew alliance to train, protect Illinois heavy equipment operators

Participants: U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Apprenticeship and Skill Improvement Program, Operation Engineers, Local 150

Alliance: OSHA and the Apprenticeship and Skill Improvement Program, Operation Engineers, Local 150 in Wilmington, Illinois, have signed a two-year renewal of their alliance to provide information, guidance and access to training resources for heavy equipment employers and workers.

March 22, 2017

US Department of Labor announces up to $36M to help recovery, clean-up efforts after severe storms batter northern California

WASHINGTON – Northern California paid a hefty toll for storms that brought heavy rain and snow in January 2017. The overabundance of moisture led to flooding and mudslides, the downing of large numbers of trees and power lines, and mass evacuations.

The harsh weather also caused the region’s Lake Oroville to rise above flood levels, damaging the spillway of the nation’s tallest dam and leading to the evacuation of more than 180,000 residents. Roads, public parks and other infrastructure also suffered severe and extensive damage.

March 22, 2017

Kentucky to receive up to nearly $4M in additional funding for continued reemployment services to dislocated coal workers

State: Kentucky

Type of Award: National Dislocated Worker Grant supplemental

Additional Amount Awarded: $3,853,620

Total Funds Awarded: $4,952,420

Funding Awarded to: Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet

Number of Workers Served: Approximately 250

March 22, 2017

US Labor Department awards $3M in incremental funding to help Kentucky coal workers affected by layoffs

State: Kentucky

Type of Award: National Dislocated Worker Grant

Initial Amount Approved: $7,494,017

Incremental Amount Awarded: $3,301,271

Funding Awarded to: Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program

Number of Workers Served: Approximately 685

March 21, 2017

US Labor Department announces delay in beryllium rule effective date

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a delay in the effective date of the rule titled “Occupational Exposure to Beryllium,” from March 21, 2017, to May 20, 2017.

March 21, 2017

US Labor Department announces availability of $66M in grants to improve employment opportunities for justice-involved individuals

WASHINGTON – Young adults and adults who exit correctional systems have numerous and diverse challenges that hinder their ability to enter the workforce and achieve successful reentry into their community. Today, the U.S. Department of Labor announced $66 million in available funding to organizations to develop or expand programs to strengthen access to opportunity for these individuals.

March 20, 2017

College, Job Corps team up for culinary arts apprenticeship

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. – The Excelsior Springs Job Corps Center has launched a Culinary Arts Apprenticeship Program at William Jewell College in partnership with Fresh Ideas, a Missouri-based food-service provider.

The apprenticeship designation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship allows culinary arts students at the Job Corps center to obtain industry credentials and improve their culinary skills through valuable hands-on training programs with local employers.

March 20, 2017

Denison Job Corps Center launches apprenticeship for nursing assistants

DENISON, Iowa – The Denison Job Corps Center has launched a Certified Nursing Assistant Apprenticeship Program that will give its students hands-on training and better prepare them for jobs in health care.

The designation by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship allows the center’s CNA students to obtain a certification accepted at any Iowa hospital, nursing home or care center.

March 20, 2017

Florida farm labor contractors, workers may register for free certification in Sebring, Immokalee

ATLANTA – The National Federal Farm Labor Certificate of Registration Unit will hold two mobile processing events in Florida to register farm labor contractors and employees. This free service is being offered by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division.

March 17, 2017

Disney reaches agreement on pay practices with US Department of Labor

ORLANDO, Fla. – The U.S. Department of Labor and two subsidiaries of The Walt Disney Co. have reached an agreement that will provide $3.8 million in back wages to ensure compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act.

March 16, 2017

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending March 11, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 241,000, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 243,000. The 4-week moving average was 237,250, an increase of 750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 236,500.

March 10, 2017

Massachusetts sewing factory reaches settlement agreement with US Labor Department

BOSTON – The U.S. Department of Labor and UnWrapped, Inc. have reached a settlement agreement that will allow employees of the Massachusetts sewing factory to recover $890,021 in back wages and liquidated damages to resolve past violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.

March 9, 2017

US Labor Department announces the availability of nearly $500K in grants to help Native Hawaiians, Alaska Native youth develop STEM job skills

What: The U.S. Department of Labor announces the availability of $497,000 in funding to serve Native Hawaiian and Alaskan Native youth and young adults, ages 14-24, to develop skills needed for high-growth, in-demand occupations and industries.

These grants are designed specifically to provide skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math fields. They aim to increase Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native enrollment in STEM-related certificate and degree programs, as well as provide education mentoring programs and work experience in STEM-related professions.

March 9, 2017

US Labor Department announces availability of funding to provide job, leadership skills to disadvantaged youth

WASHINGTON – For many of our nation’s at-risk youth, getting educated and starting a successful career are goals often out of reach. Across the U.S., YouthBuild programs seek to help these young people reach their full potential by providing critical job skills in construction to help propel them towards professional success.

March 9, 2017

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending March 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 243,000, an increase of 20,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 223,000. The 4-week moving average was 236,500, an increase of 2,250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 234,250.

March 8, 2017

OSHA urges recovery workers, employers and public to safeguard themselves against hazards in storm cleanup

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – As residents recover from the damage caused by the recent tornadoes and severe storms in Missouri and Kansas, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration urges recovery workers, employers and the public to use caution during cleanup and recovery efforts. The agency urges all to be aware of hazards they may encounter, and steps needed to to stay safe and healthy.

March 7, 2017

US Labor Department awards nearly $700K in incremental funding to continue helping Iowa workers affected by John Deere layoffs

State: Iowa

Type of Award: National Dislocated Worker Grant

Incremental Amount Awarded: $691,693

Total Funds Awarded to Date: $1,728,979

Funding Awarded to: Iowa Workforce Development

Number of Workers Served: Approximately 650