 |
|
DOL News Brief December 17, 2009
|
|
What's Hot Department Recovers More Than $1.7 Million in Fringe Benefits The Department's Wage and Hour Division recovered more than $1.7 million for 483 employees of VMT Long Term Care Management Inc., a health care management corporation based in the District of Columbia. Investigators determined that VMT underpaid vacation, holidays and health and welfare benefits over a two-year period to employees — violating the fringe benefits provisions of the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract (SCA). "Contractors have an obligation to pay service employees the proper fringe benefits for the work they perform," said Secretary Solis. "When they don't, the Labor Department will take the proper action to ensure workers receive the benefits to which they are entitled." | |||
|
National News President Discusses Economic Impacts of Home Retrofits
On Tuesday, President Obama discussed the economic impacts of energy-saving home retrofits and solicited ideas from members of the labor, manufacturing, and small business communities during remarks and a meeting at an Alexandria, Va. Home Depot store. In his December 8th speech on job creation and economic growth, the President called on Congress to consider a new program to provide incentives for consumers to become more energy-efficient in order to create jobs, save money for families, and reduce the pollution that threatens our environment. The President on the Economy This week President Obama met with the CEOs of 12 of our nation's largest financial institutions to discuss where we've been, what we expect of them going forward, and how we can work together to accelerate economic recovery. “So my main message in today's meeting was very simple: that America's banks received extraordinary assistance from American taxpayers to rebuild their industry — and now that they're back on their feet, we expect an extraordinary commitment from them to help rebuild our economy,” said President Obama. VP Biden Supports $5 Bil for Clean Energy Manufacturing
Secretary Solis joined Vice President Biden at a Middle Class Task Force meeting to announce the Administration’s support for $5 billion in additional funding for job growth in clean energy manufacturing. “Over the next few months we will continue to roll out $500 million in green jobs training grants from the Recovery Act, paving the way for America to become a leader in the manufacture of green and innovative products,” said Secretary Solis. “That’s why our focus on manufacturing is so important — because it’s about helping the middle class.” The announcement builds on the ideas that the President highlighted during his recent job creation speech and the passage of the Jobs Bill by the US House of Representatives. Lemus Named to Task Force on Puerto Rico’s Status
DOL Senior Advisor and Director of the Office of Public Engagement Gabriela Lemus was recently named to the President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico’s Status. The group will examine and report on the island’s status question, but also expand its focus to include matters affecting Puerto Rico’s economic development. President Obama signed an Executive Order on October 30, 2009 to both preserve the Task Force’s original mission, and to provide advice and recommendations to the President and the Congress on policies that promote job creation, education, health care, clean energy and economic development on the islands.
| |||
DOL Working For You Dislocated Worker Finds Medical Field Employment
Even when she and 1,000 of her co-workers were laid off from the Herrin, Illinois washing machine assembly plant, Shanna Patrick was determined to finish the schooling she had already begun and pursue her dream of working in the medical profession. With some dislocated worker funding and training assistance provided through the Labor Department’s Workforce Investment Act and Trade Adjustment Assistance programs, Shanna graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Illinois' John A. Logan College, receiving a degree in applied sciences and certificates in nursing and phlebotomy. She currently works for a Southern Illinois OBGYN. Today, when she passes the facility where she once worked, Shanna notes “I am a little sad, but I never gave up hope — I always knew I was going to do something special.” | |||
|
DOL in Action Ohio Auto Workers Eligible for TAA Almost 4,000 Northern Ohio workers at the Cleveland Casting Plant and five Delphi auto supplier facilities are eligible to apply for income support, access to health care, job training, and other resources available through the Trade Adjustment Assistance program (TAA), DOL announced this week. “Over the years, our nation has benefited immensely from the work and dedication of those employed in auto-related industries across Ohio,” said Secretary Solis. “Trade Adjustment Assistance is one way we can support these workers as they seek re-employment in promising regional industries that pay family-supporting wages.” Seattle Workers to Receive Almost $1M in Back Wages “It’s the law. Workers are entitled to receive every dollar they are due in wages,” said Secretary Solis. Thanks to the hard work of DOL Wage and Hour investigators and lawyers, 206 employees of HWA Inc. are recovering nearly $1 million in missed pay. The Seattle-based security company began missing payrolls in August 2009, resulting in unpaid back wages totaling $980,121. Watch It! Safety and Health Videos on YouTube
YouTube is just one of the many ways the department is utilizing social media to educate workers about health and safety issues. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently posted two new videos on DOL's channel to ensure proper safety equipment use. The videos review the significant differences between respirators and surgical masks, an important distinction for employees and employers to understand, and also illustrates the correct procedure for donning and doffing a respirator to protect against airborne contaminants in the workplace. | |||
Recovery Highlights $461,300 Grant to Workers Affected by Layoffs at Weyerhaeuser Co. The Department announced a $461,300 grant to assist 65 workers affected by layoffs at Weyerhaeuser Co. – Dallas Lumber, in Dallas, Ore. Awarded to the Oregon Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development, this grant will be operated by the Enterprise for Employment and Education and funded by resources made available for National Emergency Grants under the Recovery Act. Massachusetts Awarded a $3,874,594 Grant The Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development has been awarded a $3,874,594 grant to assist 725 workers affected by layoffs at seven companies in Massachusetts’ financial industry. The grant will provide affected workers with access to dislocated worker services, including, skills assessment, basic skills training, individual career counseling and occupational skills training. | |||
|
Opportunities are Open: My Kind of Town The "Windy City"...the "Second City"...the "City with Big Shoulders." Is Chicago "Your Kind of Town?" If so, explore the three positions below. You can also view all the exciting DOL opportunities.
|
|
Solis Tells Her “American Story”
On Wednesday, Secretary Solis joined Commerce Secretary Gary Locke at the Center for American Progress (CAP) to participate in their on-going series – “American Stories.” The discussion, moderated by CAP President John Podesta, explored how immigrants and their descendants created and continue to contribute to the development of the United States. Both Secretaries Solis and Locke shared their experiences as children of immigrant parents, as well as their perspectives on today’s immigration debate. | |
|
Tribal Newsletter Debuts Tomorrow As part of Secretary Solis' effort to inform the public of her agenda about "Good Jobs for Everyone," DOL is launching a tribal leadership newsletter tomorrow, Friday, December 18. The bimonthly newsletter will provide information about Department initiatives geared to benefit Indian Country as well as resources to enhance employment opportunities for tribal peoples. | |
Green + Safe = Good
David Michaels, Assistant Secretary for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), served as guest speaker at The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) three-day workshop on "Making Green Jobs Safe." Michaels addressed the importance of integrating worker safety and health into short- and long-term decision making in green and renewable industries. “It’s not a matter of choosing either a green future or safe jobs. It’s both. If we don’t pay attention at the dawn of this new green revolution, we’ll be replicating past problems as we move into future industries. I’m making it my mission and OSHA’s mission to ensure this doesn’t happen,” added Michaels. | |
|
Last Chance to Enter the Challenge Assistant Secretary for the Employment and Training Administration Jane Oates sat down with Federal News Radio to speak about the Department’s Tools for America’s Job Seekers Challenge last week. "This is an opportunity for business people and entrepreneurs who haven't started their own business yet, to put their best ideas up for job aggregator tools,” said Oates. More than 300 sites have already shared their employment tools with job seekers. Submissions are still being accepted — so enter NOW! | |
Inclusive Green Jobs
On Wednesday, Assistant Secretary for Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) Kathy Martinez and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Employment Training Administration (ETA) Gerri Fiala participated in a panel discussion focused on creating strategies for inclusion of people with disabilities in the green talent pipeline. Martinez stressed that “ODEP and ETA will work together to ensure that the workforce development system implements universal design strategies for all providers, thus opening doors to many individuals previously untapped as workers in the green economy.” | |
Serving Up Hope; Helping People Thrive
This week Secretary Solis and seven DOL staff members visited Thrive DC to lend a hand in preparing breakfast for more than 130 people. Tasks included chopping vegetables, cooking white rice and jambalaya, serving breakfast and cleaning up. Secretary Solis said she had a great experience and encourages other employees to seek out volunteering opportunities in their community. Thrive DC has been serving the downtown D.C. homeless community for more than 30 years. Its mission is to prevent and end homelessness by providing a variety of services to help them stabilize their lives. | |
Obama Visits One Stop Center On Friday, December 4, President Obama visited the Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania CareerLink Center in Allentown. He talked with job seekers and learned about the employment services that clients are accessing. The President offered his encouragement to those at the center as well as insights into his plans for creating more jobs. The Lehigh Valley Center is one of nearly 3,000 Labor Department funded One-Stop Career Centers nationwide that offer a wide range of employment and training services to job seekers. | |
Solis Faces the Kid Press Corps Will the President’s Recovery Act help put more people to work? This was one question Aaron Kanzer, a teenage reporter, asked of Secretary Solis in an interview with Scholastic Magazine. Secretary Solis spoke about the more than $58 million in green job grants as the pathway to economic stability, and added that another key to recovery — especially for members of our future workforce such as Aaron — will be education. "The more education you have, the more valuable you are," said Secretary Solis. "Today, education is just about essential to any form of success." In addition to being a member of the Scholastic Press Corps — a team of 50 kid reporters around the nation — Kanzer, a budding journalist at Barnstable High School, also occasionally writes for his local paper, the Barnstable Patriot. His writing has appeared in the Cotuit Kettleers and The Boston Red Sox Kid Nation. | |
|
OFCCP —How to Prepare Construction Contractors for an OFCCP Compliance Evaluation OFCCP — Veteran Employment Conference Office of Public Engagement — Tribal Consultation Meetings | |
|
Follow USDOL on Twitter Updates |
Previous Issues | Follow us on Twitter | Subscribe | Send Feedback | Unsubscribe
U.S. Department of Labor, Frances Perkins Building, 200 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20210
www.dol.gov | Telephone: 1-866-4-USA-DOL (1-866-487-2365) (1-866-487-2365) | TTY: 1-877-889-5627 | Contact Us