November 1, 2013

US Department of Labor files suit to recover $39,000 in employee contributions to the Welding Unlimited Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan in Agua Dulce, Calif.

Date of Action: Oct. 1, 2013

Type of Action: Complaint

Names of Defendants: Welding Unlimited Inc.; David R. Shields; Welding Unlimited Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan

October 31, 2013

Department of Labor files suit to recover over $44,000 for the retirement plan and health plan sponsored by Sunset Golf LLC in Loudonville, Ohio

Date of Action: Oct. 29, 2013

Type of Action: Complaint

Names of Defendants: Daniel Deighan, Timothy Deighan, Sunset Golf LLC, Revolution Golf LLC, Sunset Golf LLC 401(k) Employee Retirement Plan, and Sunset Golf LLC Group Health Plan

October 31, 2013

MSHA News Release: MSHA announces results of September impact inspections [10/31/2013]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 130 citations and 13 orders during special impact inspections conducted at nine coal mines and one metal/nonmetal mine last month.

October 31, 2013

MSHA News Release: MSHA issues warning to coal mine operators about winter hazards [10/31/2013]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration this week launched its annual "Winter Alert" campaign, which warns coal mine operators and miners of the numerous hazards colder winter weather may cause for working miners. Statistics show that deadly mine explosions historically occur more often during October through March than during warmer periods.

October 31, 2013

EBSA News Release: Judge orders restoration of more than $1.6 million to Sunkist Growers Inc. retirement plans [10/31/2013]

LOS ANGELES — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that Sunkist Growers Inc. and fiduciaries for the company's retirement plans were required to restore $1,620,420 in losses to employee benefit plans under the terms of a consent judgment and order. The decision, entered in the U.S.

October 30, 2013

OFCCP News Release: DC-area construction contractor to pay $875,000 to settle discrimination case with US Labor Department [10/30/2013]

DULLES, Va.  The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that federal construction contractor M.C. Dean Inc. has settled allegations that it failed to provide equal employment opportunity to 381 African American, Hispanic and Asian American workers who applied for jobs at the company's Dulles headquarters.

October 30, 2013

MSHA News Release: US Labor Department's MSHA designates Oct. 30 as Mine Rescue Day [10/30/2013]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration announced today that it is recognizing Oct. 30 as Mine Rescue Day. The date was selected because of its historic significance. On Oct. 30, 1911, the first national mine rescue demonstration was held in the U.S. It was organized by Dr. Joseph A. Holmes, who in 1910 was appointed as the first director of the U.S. Bureau of Mines by President William Howard Taft. Holmes and Taft attended the inaugural event at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, Pa.

October 29, 2013

OSHA News Release: US Labor Department seeks more than $300,000 for Idaho whistleblower [10/29/2013]

SEATTLE — The U.S. Department of Labor filed a whistleblower complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho against Clearwater Paper Corp. in Lewiston, Idaho, for allegedly retaliating against an employee who raised workplace safety and health concerns.

October 25, 2013

OSHA News Release: OSHA extends comment period on proposed silica rule to provide additional time for public input [10/25/2013]

WASHINGTON — The U.S Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is extending the public comment period for an additional 47 days on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Occupational Exposure to Crystalline Silica.

In response to requests for an extension, the deadline to submit written comments and testimony is being extended from Dec. 11, 2013, to Jan. 27, 2014, to allow stakeholders additional time to comment on the proposed rule and supporting analyses.

October 24, 2013

OSHA News Release: OSHA releases new resources to better protect workers from hazardous chemicals [10/24/2013]

WASHINGTON — Each year in the United States, tens of thousands of workers are made sick or die from occupational exposures to the thousands of hazardous chemicals that are used in workplaces every day. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today launched two new web resources to assist companies with keeping their workers safe.

October 24, 2013

MSHA News Release: MSHA issues first POV notices under new rule [10/24/2013]

1 mine in Kentucky and 2 mines in West Virginia receive notices

October 23, 2013

OPA News Release: Update on economic data being released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics [10/23/2013]

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today issued the following statement about previously scheduled economic data:

"Because of the Oct. 1-16 lapse in appropriations, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has revised its calendar for releases. The updated schedule includes:

October 23, 2013

EBSA News Release: US Labor Department recovers more than $4 million for employee stock ownership plan [10/23/2013]

SAN FRANCISCO — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that it obtained a consent order requiring the fiduciaries of the Parrot Cellular Employee Stock Ownership Plan to pay $4,181,818 to the plan. The settlement resolves a suit filed in April 2012 after an investigation by the department's Employee Benefits Security Administration found violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. The department alleged that plan fiduciaries caused or permitted the ESOP to purchase Parrot Cellular stock for more than fair market value.

October 22, 2013

California magazine publisher ordered by US Department of Labor to restore nearly $364,000 to employee pension plan

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — The U.S. Department of Labor has secured a consent judgment with former magazine publisher Twelve Signs Inc. and its president, Richard Housman. An investigation by the department's Employee Benefits Security Administration established that Housman, acting as the sole fiduciary to the employee pension plan, violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by mismanaging plan assets, resulting in the loss of $617,839. The judgment requires Housman to restore all losses caused to the plan, less his share.

October 22, 2013

Fiduciary to restore more than $12,000 to Spencer & Associates LLC Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plan in Springfield, Ohio

Date of Action: Oct. 22, 2013

Type of Action: Consent Order and Judgment

Names of Defendants: Bruce E. Spencer, Tannile Elizabeth Ortiz and Paul Olzeski, as fiduciaries to the Spencer & Associates, LLC Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plan.

October 22, 2013

OPA News Release: Statement of Labor Secretary Perez on September employment numbers [10/22/2013]

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement about the September 2013 Employment Situation report released today:

October 22, 2013

ETA News Release: Obama administration awards $20.5 million for Make it in America Challenge grants to spur business investment and job creation [10/22/2013]

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny S. Pritzker, U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez and Delta Regional Authority Federal Co-Chairman Christopher A. Masingill today announced the 10 winners of the Make it in America Challenge, an Obama administration initiative to accelerate job creation and encourage business investment in the United States.

October 22, 2013

EBSA News Release: ERISA Advisory Council to hold open meeting Nov. 4-5 [10/22/2013]

WASHINGTON — A meeting of the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, known as the ERISA Advisory Council, will take place Monday, Nov. 4 from 1 p.m. — 5 p.m. EST. The meeting is open to the public and will be held in room 4 of suite C-5521, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20210. On Tuesday, Nov. 5, the meeting will be split into two sessions: the morning session will continue in room 4 of suite C-5521 from 8:30 a.m.

October 20, 2013

ETA News Release: Washington community recovering from flooding and mudslides awarded more than $625K in additional funding from US Labor Department [10/20/2013]

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $626,159 National Emergency Grant incremental award to continue providing temporary employment for eligible individuals assisting with the clean-up and recovery efforts following the flooding and mudslides that occurred in Snohomish County, Washington, on March 22. The funds are being awarded to the Washington State Employment Security Department.

October 17, 2013

Perez v. New Generations Furniture Co. involving abandoned plan in McKenzie, Tenn.

Date of Action: Sept. 26, 2013

Type of Action: Complaint

Name(s) of Defendant(s): New Generations Furniture Co., New Generations Employee Retirement and Savings Plan, and Ben J. Gaines.