WASHINGTON — Fulfilling President Obama's commitment to make 2014 a year of action to strengthen the economy and grow the middle class, U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez today announced a proposed rule raising the minimum wage for workers on federal service and construction contracts to $10.10 per hour. The proposed rule implements Executive Order 13658, which was announced by the president on Feb. 12.

WASHINGTON — Lincoln Electric Co. has agreed to settle allegations of hiring discrimination on the basis of race following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. An investigation by OFCCP compliance officers found that the federal contractor violated Executive Order 11246 by using a hiring process that resulted in systemic discrimination against African American applicants.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $5,945,825 in grants for the fourth round of the Workforce Data Quality Initiative. These funds will enable six states to build or expand longitudinal databases that link workforce and education data and help these states to better understand how education and workforce development programs complement each other.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,321,161 grant to assist approximately 200 workers affected by the closure of TRW Integrated Chassis Systems LLC in Saginaw, Michigan.

"As our nation's economic landscape changes, it is critical that hard-working Americans receive retraining that gives them new skills and opportunities to succeed," U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez said. "This grant will do that — sustaining these workers and revitalizing their community."

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $3,444,620 to the commonwealth of Virginia to identify promising practices and to explore, develop and test strategies to improve the employment outcomes of veterans. The initiative is part of the Obama administration's ongoing focus on job-driven training principles that encourage innovation and creativity in developing effective re-employment strategies to help the unemployed return to the workforce.

BOSTON — The U.S. Department of Labor is hosting a free compliance seminar, "How to Do It Right the First Time," at MassBay Community College on Friday, June 20, from 8:50 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. EDT.

LAS VEGAS — The Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority has agreed to pay $425,000 in overtime back wages found due to 77 current and former employees following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division. Investigators found the Las Vegas-based state agency in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act's overtime and record-keeping provisions. The Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority is regulated by the U.S.

GENEVA, Neb. — Bioiberica Nebraska has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 10 — including three willful — safety and health violations for failing to protect workers from moving machine parts during service and maintenance. OSHA proposed penalties of $101,200 and placed the company in the Severe Violator Enforcement Program.

CLEVELAND — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has renewed a two-year alliance with the Cleveland Safety Forum to help protect construction workers from job hazards, such as falls and silica exposure.

ST. FRANCIS, Wis. — Fontarome Chemical Inc. has been cited for 23 safety and health violations — including seven willful, one repeat and 15 serious — by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The company has been placed in OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program, and the citations carry proposed penalties of $449,680.

WOODRIDGE, N.J. — Academia Furniture Industries LLC, which makes furniture for schools, faces $58,100 in proposed penalties for 30 serious safety and health violations cited after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

BOSTON — The U.S. Department of Labor is hosting a free compliance seminar, "How to Do It Right the First Time," at MassBay Community College on Friday, June 20, from 8:50 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. EDT.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a one-time demonstration grant award of $3,224,509 to 14 community service organizations to improve services to low-income older workers through the Senior Community Service Employment Program.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Appalachian Oilfield Services LLC has agreed to pay 25 heavy equipment operators $129,802 in overtime back wages after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found the company was in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. At eastern Ohio drilling locations, the workers provided cleanup services and hauled away muck ejected from wells in the oil fracking process.

VALLEY CITY, Ohio — Following the crushing of a worker's hand in a 150-ton mechanical power press on Nov. 14, 2013, Superior Roll Forming Co. has been cited for four serious safety violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

NEW YORK — SpongeTech Delivery Systems Inc. of New York has been ordered by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration to pay $30,288.54, in back wages, plus interest, to a former employee who was fired after she reported apparent investment fraud to her superiors.

FENTON, Mo. — Gershenson Construction Co. Inc. has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration after a worker suffered a broken vertebra when he was struck by a partially suspended load of sewer pipe and knocked to the bottom of an unprotected 13-foot-deep trench. OSHA has cited the company for 11 safety violations, including one willful and 10 serious, for failing to protect workers from struck-by and trench cave-in hazards.

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Liberty Tire Recycling LLC has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for repeat and serious safety violations for exposing workers to falls, fire/explosion and dangerous, unguarded equipment. OSHA cited the Port St. Lucie recycler following a Site-Specific Targeting inspection in January 2014. Proposed penalties total $45,000.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,064,609 National Emergency Grant to assist approximately 120 workers affected by the closure of the Swank Inc. distribution center located in Taunton, Massachusetts.

Date of Action: June 9, 2014

Type of Action: Consent Order and Judgment

Names of Defendants: Orland Fasel, Bernice Fasel, Edward Fasel, E. L. Fasel & Sons Inc. Profit Sharing Plan

Allegations: Orland Fasel, who was co-owner of E.L. Fasel & Sons Inc. and fiduciary to the E.L. Fasel & Sons Inc. Profit Sharing Plan, improperly transferred funds from the Plan to himself and his wife, Margaret Fasel. Edward Fasel was co-owner of the company and a named trustee of the Plan. Bernice Fasel was also a named trustee of the Plan.