WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs is seeking input from the public on ways to strengthen its regulations requiring federal contractors to take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities. In an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to be published in the Federal Register July 23, the agency invites the public to help revise the regulations implementing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

ARLINGTON, Va. – Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration, today issued the following statement on a ruling in the Tiller No. 1 Mine pattern of violations case:

"As a result of today's oral decision* by Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission Judge David Barbour, Massey Energy's Tiller No. 1 Mine in southwestern Virginia cannot be placed on a pattern of violations by MSHA. The result makes clear the need to reform the broken pattern of violations system.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $1.4 million in Trade Adjustment Assistance Technical Assistance and Outreach Partnership Grants to three organizations to provide services in 10 states. The organizations are the AFL-CIO Working for America Institute; the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers; and the Washington State Labor Council AFL-CIO. The grants will be used to support projects that provide technical assistance and outreach to dislocated workers impacted by foreign trade.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $495,238 grant to assist about 90 workers affected by layoffs at Blount Inc. in Portland, Ore., and its subsidiary Carlton Co. Inc. in Milwaukie, Ore.

"The grant is specifically designed to help these workers get back on their feet," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "It will make crucial re-employment and retraining services possible, bringing these Oregonians closer to the type of good jobs that offer stability and opportunities for advancement."

FREMONT, Calif. – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced a $19,042,012 grant to assist some 4,300 workers affected by layoffs at New United Motors Manufacturing Inc. located in Fremont and several of NUMMI's supplier companies. The announcement took place at the NUMMI Re-employment Center.

OPA News Release: [06/04/2010] Contact Name: Bennett Gamble Phone Number: (202) 693-4667 Release Number: 10-0785-NAT

Statement of US Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on May Employment Numbers

Washington U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the May 2010 Employment Situation report released today:

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending May 29, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 453,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 463,000. The 4-week moving average was 459,000, an increase of 1,750 from the previous week's revised average of 457,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.6 percent for the week ending May 22, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.6 percent.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that Tyson Foods Inc. has agreed to a nationwide injunction that will require the company to pay its poultry processing workers for all hours that they work. In addition, Tyson Foods has agreed to pay almost 3,000 workers at its Blountsville, Ala., facility $500,000 in overtime back wages under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Washington – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration will sponsor “Getting It Right – Know Your Fiduciary Responsibilities” webcasts on June 9 and 10. The webcasts are part of the agency’s national fiduciary education campaign to increase awareness and understanding of basic responsibilities associated with operating private sector retirement plans.

MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. – During a visit to the John F. Kennedy Space Center today, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced a grant of $15 million to assist approximately 3,200 workers who will be impacted by the impending retirement of NASAs Space Shuttle Program. The grant will impact workers from major aerospace contractors, including ASRC Aerospace Corp., Boeing and United Space Alliance.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labors Mine Safety and Health Administration this week launched its annual roof fall prevention awareness program aimed at reducing the high number of roof falls that occur in the nations underground coal mines. Statistics show that more accidents and injuries from roof falls occur during the summer months than at any other time of year. As temperatures rise, humidity and moisture increase underground, making it easier for a mine roof or rib to fall.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor is notifying all former Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory employees who worked at the Livermore, Calif., site between Jan. 1, 1950, and Dec. 31, 1973, about a new class of employees added to the Special Exposure Cohort of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. The act provides compensation and medical benefits to workers who became ill as a result of working in the nuclear weapons industry. Survivors of qualified workers may also be entitled to benefits.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor is notifying all former Westinghouse Electric Corp. employees who worked at the Bloomfield, N.J., site between Aug. 13, 1942, and Dec. 31, 1949, about a new class of employees added to the Special Exposure Cohort of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. The act provides compensation and medical benefits to workers who became ill as a result of working in the nuclear weapons industry. Survivors of qualified workers may also be entitled to benefits.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor is notifying all former Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory employees who worked at the Berkeley, Calif., site between Aug. 13, 1942, and Dec. 31, 1961, about a new class of employees added to the Special Exposure Cohort of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. The act provides compensation and medical benefits to workers who became ill as a result of working in the nuclear weapons industry. Survivors of qualified workers may also be entitled to benefits.

Lansdale, Pennsylvania – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Michael G. Morgan, president of defunct Brandywine Mortgage Corp., for failure to remit employee contributions to the company's SIMPLE IRA plan in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

Arlington – Business World Management Inc. of Arlington and its officers must restore $50,950 in plan assets and interest to the company's 401(k) plan under a consent judgment obtained by the U.S. Department of Labor. The company formerly operated as Breil Worldwide Management Inc.

PHOENIX — The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office in Phoenix have agreed to pay overtime back wages totaling $2,059,807 to 1,690 detention officers and sergeants for uncompensated pre-shift meeting time. The meetings were part of the daily routine at six detention facilities throughout Maricopa County.

Keasbey, New Jersey – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued to have an independent fiduciary appointed to oversee the abandoned 401(k) plan of Krajack Tank Lines Inc., a defunct company located in Keasbey.

"We took this action to protect the participants who entrusted their savings to the trustees of the plan," said Jonathan Kay, regional director of the department's Employee Benefits Security Administration in New York. "Employers have a legal obligation to properly manage retirement plans when a company goes out of business."

Valley View, Ohio – A federal district court in Cleveland, Ohio, has entered a consent order and judgment ordering the owner and president of Antares Group Inc. of Valley View to pay $13,063 in lost opportunity costs to the participants and beneficiaries of the company's 401(k) plan.

LOS ANGELES Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the San Francisco health coverage suit: