All national news releases from the U.S. Department of Labor http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/ U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the January 2010 Employment Situation report released today: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20100179.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20100179.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an $880,000 grant to provide an estimated 800 jobless workers in Maine with partial premium payments for health insurance coverage. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20100154.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20100154.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the results of its Tools for America's Job Seekers Challenge. Recommendations have been tallied, and the top-rated sites in each of six categories — general job boards, niche tools, career tools, career exploration tools, web 2.0 and "other" — are now available at http://www.careeronestop.org/jobseekertools. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20100146.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20100146.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 7,200 workers from companies in 15 states — California, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin — are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20100164.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20100164.htm In the week ending Jan. 30, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 480,000, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 472,000. The 4-week moving average was 468,750, an increase of 11,750 from the previous week's revised average of 457,000. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20100138.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20100138.htm A protracted case that started with a U.S. Department of Labor Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) investigation has resulted in an administrative law judge's (ALJ) recommended ruling that Bank of America discriminated against African-American job applicants for entry level positions in Charlotte, N.C., in 1993 and from 2002 to 2005. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ofccp/ofccp20100126.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ofccp/ofccp20100126.htm The U.S. Departments of Labor and the Treasury today announced the publication of a request for information (RFI) soliciting public comments to assist the agencies in determining what steps to take to enhance retirement security for workers in employer-sponsored retirement plans through lifetime annuities or other arrangements that provide a stream of income after retiring. The RFI appears in today's edition of the Federal Register. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20091571.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20091571.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) announced that a request for information on proximity detection systems for underground mines was published in the Federal Register on Feb. 1. Proximity detection is an existing technology that uses electronic sensors to detect motion or the locations of objects and persons but its use on mobile equipment in underground mines is a fairly new concept. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/MSHA20100155.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/MSHA20100155.htmL The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) today announced it has launched a new outreach and enforcement program designed to strengthen efforts to prevent mining fatalities. "Rules to Live By" will spotlight the safety and health standards most frequently cited during fatal accident investigations through outreach efforts with the mining industry and focused enforcement by federal mine inspectors. MSHA formally will kick off the initiative Feb. 11 in Austin, Texas, and Feb. 12 in Charleston, W.Va. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/MSHA20100152.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/MSHA20100152.htm Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today, through a national online discussion with stakeholder groups, the general public and the news media, outlined the president's fiscal year (FY) 2011 budget request for the U.S. Department of Labor, which is built around the vision of "good jobs for everyone." The budget launches innovative ways to prepare workers for 21st century jobs, and makes new investments in programs that protect workers' rights, safety and health in the new economy. It reaches out to diverse audiences to ensure that all people from all communities are included in the jobs of the future. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/oasam/OASAM20100145.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/oasam/OASAM20100145.htm Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the appointment of five new members and new leadership to the 2010 Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, also known as the ERISA Advisory Council. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20100109.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20100109.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the filing of a consent judgment in a case against Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. – the country’s largest poultry processor – recovering $1,001,438 in overtime back wages for 798 former and current processing workers at the company’s Dallas facility. The company also agreed to pay for time spent by employees “donning and doffing,” or putting on and taking off work-related gear in all processing plants nationwide. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/whd/whd20100073.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/whd/whd20100073.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today called on states to apply for more than $4 billion in unemployment insurance modernization funding made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) for those states that expand access to unemployment benefits. These funds can be used by states to pay unemployment insurance benefits and may be used for other defined purposes if appropriated by state legislatures. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20100115.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20100115.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $225 million in additional funding for the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) in fiscal year 2010. This funding was provided in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010 to allow SCSEP grantees to immediately address unmet needs for employment and job training among low-income, older American workers. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20100124.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20100124.htm Officials from the United States and Peru yesterday participated in the first meeting of the Labor Affairs Council that was created under the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA). The meeting took place in Lima, Peru. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ilab/ILAB20100148.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ilab/ILAB20100148.htm The U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Treasury today jointly issued new rules providing parity for consumers enrolled in group health plans who need treatment for mental health or substance use disorders. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20100151.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20100151.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 4,400 workers from companies in nine states — Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Texas — are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20100129.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20100129.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is proposing to revise its Occupational Injury and Illness Recording and Reporting(recordkeeping) regulation by restoring a column on the OSHA Form 300 to better identify work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The rule does not change existing requirements for when and under what circumstances employers must record musculoskeletal disorders on their injury and illness logs. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20100135.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20100135.htm In the week ending Jan. 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 470,000, a decrease of 8,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 478,000. The 4-week moving average was 456,250, an increase of 9,500 from the previous week's revised average of 446,750. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20100096.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20100096.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $2,354,098 National Emergency Grant supplemental award to continue to provide services to about 1,400 workers affected by layoffs in the automotive industry of Rock County, Wis. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20100070.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20100070.htm The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued three Mueller Industries Inc. subsidiaries in Fulton 128 citations for allegedly exposing workers to safety and health hazards. The privately-held corporation headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., owns and operates 20 facilities located in eight states and two foreign countries. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20100075.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20100075.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today made six high-value datasets publicly available — twice the number designated as the first target in the Obama Administration's Open Government Initiative. The datasets released today include information from the department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which will make it possible for anyone in the public to better track health and safety conditions in the American workplace. Earlier this month — two weeks ahead of schedule — the Labor Department launched its own transparency Web page (http://www.dol.gov/open). The page tracks the department's efforts to comply with the administration's Open Government Directive. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20100108.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20100108.htm Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement regarding the Bureau of Labor Statistics report released today on Union Members in 2009: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20100105.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20100105.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 4,800 workers from companies in 14 states — Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington — are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20100103.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20100103.htm In the week ending Jan. 16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 482,000, an increase of 36,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 446,000. The 4-week moving average was 448,250, an increase of 7,000 from the previous week's revised average of 441,250. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20100064.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20100064.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has released three model notice packages that will enable group health plans and employers to provide notice on the availability of the extension of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) continuation coverage premium reductions under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act). A free webcast will be held on Jan. 22, from 1 to 3 p.m. (EST) to help employers, plan administrators and service providers comply with the notice requirements. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20100076.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20100076.htm Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced nearly $190 million in green jobs training grants, as authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). The State Energy Sector Partnership and Training Grants are designed to teach workers the skills required in emerging industries, including energy efficiency and renewable energy. This set of green grants is the third awarded in as many weeks by the U.S. Department of Labor. Less than a month into 2010, the department's investment in this growing area of the job marketplace is close to the $440 million mark. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20100078.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20100078.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,661,173 grant to assist about 600 workers affected by layoffs at the Taylor, Bean and Whitaker Mortgage Corp. and its subsidiary companies in north/central Florida. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20100017.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20100017.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today announced a public meeting, "OSHA Listens," to solicit comments and suggestions from OSHA stakeholders on key issues facing the agency. The meeting is scheduled for Feb. 10 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST in Washington, D.C. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20100063.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20100063.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 3,900 workers from companies in 15 states — California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin — are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20100065.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20100065.htm In the week ending Jan. 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 444,000, an increase of 11,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 433,000. The 4-week moving average was 440,750, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week's revised average of 449,750. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20100007.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20100007.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the publication of a final rule to protect employee contributions deposited to small pension and welfare benefit plans with fewer than 100 participants by providing a safe harbor period of seven business days following receipt or withholding by employers. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20100056.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20100056.htm Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced $150 million in green jobs training grants, as authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). The “Pathways Out of Poverty” grants — as the group of funding awards is known — will support programs that help disadvantaged populations find ways out of poverty and into economic self-sufficiency through employment in energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20100039.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20100039.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has sued the owners of bankrupt Mid-States Express Inc. of Aurora, Ill., for allegedly failing to protect the interests of the participants and beneficiaries in the company's 401(k) and health plans. The department's lawsuit alleges that Bruce Hartmann failed to disclose to employees that their medical bills were not likely to be paid, even as the company continued to take deductions from their paychecks for medical coverage. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20100033.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20100033.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the December 2009 Employment Situation report released today: This past December, the economy lost 85,000 jobs, and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 10 percent. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20100030.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20100030.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 1,100 workers from companies in seven states — Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, North Carolina and Ohio — are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20100013.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20100013.htm In the week ending Jan. 2, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 434,000, an increase of 1,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 433,000. The 4-week moving average was 450,250, a decrease of 10,250 from the previous week's revised average of 460,500. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20100002.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20100002.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the death of Agustin "Bobby" Salcedo: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20100006.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20100006.htm Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced nearly $100 million in green jobs training grants, as authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). The grants will support job training programs to help dislocated workers and others, including veterans, women, African Americans and Latinos, find jobs in expanding green industries and related occupations. Approximately $28 million of the total funds will support projects in communities impacted by auto industry restructuring. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091526.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091526.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,201,214 grant to assist about 500 workers affected by layoffs at multiple companies in the construction and manufacturing industries in central and southeastern Texas. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091586.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091586.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,398,800 grant to assist about 1,000 workers affected by layoffs at Micron Technology Inc. in Boise, Idaho. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091587.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091587.htm Preliminary data from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) released today indicate that mine fatalities in 2009 fell to an all-time low for the second straight year. Coal mines recorded 18 mining deaths, and metal/nonmetal mines recorded 16 mining deaths, for a combined total of 34 mining deaths nationwide and a significant drop from last year’s total of 52 deaths. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/MSHA20091588.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/MSHA20091588.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today issued CES Environmental Services Inc. willful and serious citations after an investigation into a fatal explosion at the company's Griggs Road facility in Houston. Proposed penalties total $1,477,500. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20091557.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20091557.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the "Explore and Recommend" phase of its "Tools for America's Job Seekers Challenge." A first of its kind effort, the challenge brings together a plethora of online resources for job seekers. It also allows them, and workforce professionals, to vote for their favorite job search and career sites. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091575.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091575.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $1,238,564 National Emergency Grant award to assist clean-up and recovery efforts after the October severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that affected much of Arkansas. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091585.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091585.htm In the week ending Dec. 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 432,000, a decrease of 22,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 454,000. The 4-week moving average was 460,250, a decrease of 5,500 from the previous week's revised average of 465,750. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091574.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091574.htm The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) today commemorated the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 (Mine Act), which instituted the strongest and most comprehensive occupational safety and health protections that had ever been enacted in the country. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/MSHA20091578.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/MSHA20091578.htm The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced the availability of the 2009 Form M-1 annual report for multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs). Plan administrators may use EBSA’s online filing system to expedite processing of the form. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20091572.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20091572.htm In the week ending Dec. 19, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 452,000, a decrease of 28,000 from the previous week's unrevised figure of 480,000. The 4-week moving average was 465,250, a decrease of 2,750 from the previous week's revised average of 468,000. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091562.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091562.htm The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Walt Disney World for safety violations following the fatality of a monorail driver in July and issued a recommendation letter concerning the death of an actor during a stage production at the theme park in August. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20091554.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20091554.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $945,820 National Emergency Grant increment to Oregon to continue to provide services to about 813 workers affected by layoffs at Hynix Semiconductor Manufacturing America Inc. in Eugene, Ore. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091566.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091566.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment barring the purported financial advisor to National Football League (NFL) player Michael D. Vick and his company, MV7 LLC, from serving in a fiduciary capacity to any employee benefit plan governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20091563.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20091563.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $3,874,594 grant to assist about 725 workers affected by layoffs at seven companies in Massachusetts' financial industry. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091540.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091540.htm In the week ending Dec. 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 480,000, an increase of 7,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 473,000. The 4-week moving average was 467,500, a decrease of 5,250 from the previous week's revised average of 472,750. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091538.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091538.htm An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has recovered almost $1 million in back wages for 206 employees of a Seattle-based security company, the department announced today. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/whd/whd20091447.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/whd/whd20091447.htm VMT Long Term Care Management Inc. has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor for underpaying employees’ health and welfare fringe benefits, violating the fringe benefits provisions of the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA).  http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/whd/whd20091415.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/whd/whd20091415.htm On Dec. 11, the Interagency Council on Veterans Employment held its first meeting to discuss ways of expanding the participation of veterans in the nation's federal workforce. The meeting was co-chaired by Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. John Berry, director of the Office of Personnel Management, serves as the council's vice chair and chief operating officer. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/vets/VETS20091546.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/vets/VETS20091546.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $461,300 grant to assist about 65 workers affected by layoffs at Weyerhaeuser Co. — Dallas Lumber, in Dallas, Ore. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091530.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091530.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that nearly 4,000 workers in auto-related industries across Ohio are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091543.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091543.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Wage and Hour Division today signed an alliance with the Consulate General of Mexico in New York as part of an effort to promote the labor and human rights of Mexican and other Hispanic workers. The New York State Department of Labor (NYS DOL) and the Catholic Migration Office (CMO) of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn are also part of the alliance. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20091519.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20091519.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 2,300 workers from companies in seven states — Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin — are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091539.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091539.htm The U.S. Department of Labor will participate in three consultation sessions over the next few weeks to develop — in coordination with tribal governments — a plan of action for the implementation of Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments. On Nov. 5, President Obama issued an executive memorandum directing federal agencies to conduct such activities. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20091528.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20091528.htm In the week ending Dec. 5, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 474,000, an increase of 17,000 from the previous week's unrevised figure of 457,000. The 4-week moving average was 473,750, a decrease of 7,750 from the previous week's revised average of 481,500. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091498.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091498.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has announced a proposed exemption that, if granted, would allow the Ford Motor Co. to transfer company securities to a voluntary employee beneficiary association (VEBA) trust, which would fund a new health plan established to provide health benefits for the company's retirees. The new health plan would cover in excess of 285,000 retirees and their dependents, and a small number of active employees. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20091510.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20091510.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a broad array of efforts designed to improve the public's accessibility to its agencies and ensure the department can function more effectively. The work is part of the Obama Administration's continued commitment to improved accountability, transparency and service to the American public. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20091493.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20091493.htm SSM Health Care, a medical corporation comprised of seven health care centers and hospitals in the St. Louis area, has paid more than $1.7 million in back wages following a Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/whd/whd20091461.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/whd/whd20091461.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has sued the trustees of the employee stock ownership plans and eligible individual account plans of DirecTECH Holding Co. Inc. and its former subsidiaries, DirecTECH Inc., Michigan Microtech Inc., JBM Inc. and DirecTECH Southwest Inc., the companies’ boards of directors and the parties who sold stock at inflated prices to the plans for alleged violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).  http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20091376.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20091376.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 2,300 workers from companies in seven states — Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Tennessee — and Puerto Rico are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091505.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091505.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the November 2009 Employment Situation report released today: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20091508.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20091508.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a grant of up to $831,423 to assist approximately 75 workers affected by layoffs at Hampton Affiliates' Tillamook Lumber in Tillamook, Ore. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091416.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091416.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the kickoff of the first phase of the "Tools for America's Job Seekers Challenge." The challenge will connect workers with online career resources, and offer businesses and other organizations an opportunity to showcase their best products. Providers of online job search engines, job boards and career exploration sites can learn more and submit their products at http://www.dol.gov/challenge. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091471.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091471.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) today announced a multifaceted, comprehensive strategy to end new cases of black lung among the nation's coal miners. Black lung is a collection of debilitating and potentially fatal diseases from respirable coal mine dust exposure. These diseases have been on the rise in recent years. MSHA's initiative to curb black lung will include focused enforcement, targeted education and training, rulemaking and collaboration with stakeholders. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/MSHA20091491.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/MSHA20091491.htm In the week ending Nov. 28, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 457,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 462,000. The 4-week moving average was 481,250, a decrease of 14,250 from the previous week's revised average of 495,500. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091476.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091476.htm Eurofresh Inc. of Willcox, Ariz., has reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division to pay $937,460 in back wages and interest to 587 U.S. workers following an investigation into company practices related to hiring temporary, non-immigrant foreign agricultural workers. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/whd/whd20091203.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/whd/whd20091203.htm "Finding new employment is a challenging enough task without having to worry about lacking health coverage for yourself or your family. This funding will help eligible workers avoid that prospect by helping them pay for health insurance while they look for a job," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091423.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091423.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of an updated version of its popular Employment Law Guide, an online publication that describes the major employment laws administered by the department. The Guide helps the public — workers and employers — understand many of the laws affecting the workplace. For instance, it helps small businesses develop wage, benefit, safety and health, and nondiscrimination policies. It also benefits employees and employee representatives who need information about worker rights and responsibilities under federal employment laws. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/asp/oasp20091467.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/asp/oasp20091467.htm In the week ending Nov. 21, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 466,000, a decrease of 35,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 501,000. The 4-week moving average was 496,500, a decrease of 16,500 from the previous week's revised average of 513,000. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091453.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091453.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that workers from New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI) in Fremont, Calif., are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091469.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091469.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $741,502 grant to assist approximately 164 workers affected by layoffs at 15 companies in multiple industries in the Oregon counties of Jackson and Josephine. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091417.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091417.htm The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Wage and Hour Division together have fined Tempel Grain Elevators LLP of Wiley, Colo., more than $1.6 million following the May 29 death of a teenage worker at the company’s Haswell, Colo., grain storage operation. The youth suffocated after being engulfed by grain in one of the facility bins. The company also exposed three other teenage workers to the cited hazards. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20091419.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20091419.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the increased enforcement and outreach efforts of the department's Wage and Hour Division http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/whd/whd20091452.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/whd/whd20091452.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced the publication of a notice withdrawing the final rule on the provision of investment advice under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act's prohibited transaction provisions. The regulatory action is expected to be published in the Nov. 20 edition of the Federal Register. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20091444.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20091444.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $4,442,207 National Emergency Grant supplemental award to assist approximately 1,630 workers affected by layoffs at businesses at the Wilmington Air Park in Wilmington, Ohio. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091384.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091384.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $2.5 million National Emergency Grant increment to Texas to continue to provide services to approximately 1,472 military and civilian defense workers impacted statewide by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) actions. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091409.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091409.htm In the week ending Nov. 14, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 505,000, unchanged from the previous week's revised figure of 505,000. The 4-week moving average was 514,000, a decrease of 6,500 from the previous week's revised average of 520,500. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091410.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091410.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced nearly $55 million in green jobs grants, as authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The grants will support job training and labor market information programs to help workers, many in underserved communities, find jobs in expanding green industries and related occupations. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091439.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091439.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20091424.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20091424.htm The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has prepared a fact sheet providing crowd control guidelines for retailers to protect workers during major sales events. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20091426.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20091426.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a legal action with its Office of Administrative Law Judges against Total Enterprise Inc. and company President, Kyong M. Kim and Vice President, Frederick S. Kahl for alleged violations of the prevailing wage and fringe benefits provisions of the Service Contract Act (SCA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/whd/whd20091345.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/whd/whd20091345.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has revised its acetylene standard. A final rule replaces references to outdated industry standards with updated references reflecting current industry practices. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20091421.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20091421.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) welcomes the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) report on the under-reporting of workplace injuries and illnesses and OSHA's audit process. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20091418.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20091418.htm Li Jin Yang and Dong Lin, a wife and husband operating five Oriental Forest restaurants, headquartered in Grandville with locations across the western part of Michigan, have been ordered by a federal court judge to pay $2,030,430 in minimum wage and overtime pay and damages owed to 129 workers following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/whd/whd20091924.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/whd/whd20091924.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091407.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091407.htm In the week ending Nov. 7, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 502,000, a decrease of 12,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 514,000. The 4-week moving average was 519,750, a decrease of 4,500 from the previous week's revised average of 524,250. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091367.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091367.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20091389.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20091389.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $394,617 grant to assist about 60 workers affected by layoffs at The Hinckley Co., a leading producer of pleasure boats and yachts, in Trenton, Maine. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091348.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091348.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued commonsense fact sheets that employers and workers can use to promote safety during the current H1N1 influenza outbreak. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20091375.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20091375.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the October 2009 Employment Situation report released today: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20091377.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20091377.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 5,500 workers from companies in 16 states — Alabama, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin — are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091370.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091370.htm Tyson Foods Inc., one of the nation's largest poultry producers, has been found in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) at its Blountsville, Ala., facility. The jury's verdict in federal court in Birmingham resulted from a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Labor against the company. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20091232.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20091232.htm In the week ending Oct. 31, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 512,000, a decrease of 20,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 532,000. The 4-week moving average was 523,750, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week's revised average of 526,750. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091337.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091337.htm Employers jailed for failing to comply with court order to pay back wages to Southland cleaning service workers http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20091092.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20091092.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $108,455,561 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the commonwealth of Massachusetts. Massachusetts qualified for the remaining two-thirds of its share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing unemployed workers enrolled in training to receive unemployment compensation as a result of its long standing dependents' allowance provisions, and by expanding its provisions allowing workers enrolled in approved training programs to receive unemployment compensation. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091350.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091350.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an $827,616 grant to assist about 135 workers in the commonwealth of Massachusetts affected by the closure of Jabil Circuit Inc. in Billerica, Mass. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091319.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091319.htm Caribbean International News Corp. has been ordered by a federal court to restore more than $1.2 million to the El Vocero de Puerto Rico Union Employees Savings and Investment Plan, a retirement plan established for the benefit of the company’s unionized employees. The corporation does business as El Vocero de Puerto Rico, a newspaper based in San Juan. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20091235.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20091235.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the AFL-CIO and American Rights at Work report “ICED OUT: How Immigration Enforcement Has Interfered with Workers’ Rights.” http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20091342.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20091342.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the AFL-CIO and American Rights at Work report “ICED OUT: How Immigration Enforcement Has Interfered with Workers’ Rights.” http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20091342.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20091342.htm The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today announced it is issuing $87,430,000 in proposed penalties to BP Products North America Inc. for the company’s failure to correct potential hazards faced by employees. The fine is the largest in OSHA’s history. The prior largest total penalty, $21 million, was issued in 2005, also against BP. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20091311.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20091311.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 8,600 workers from companies in 16 states — Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin — are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091327.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091327.htm Jordan Barab, acting assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), today told a Congressional committee that the serious shortcomings discovered during his agency's evaluation of the Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration's safety program raised concerns about federal OSHA's monitoring of all state plan states. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20091334.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20091334.htm Today the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced that injury and illness rates among private industry employers are down from a total case rate of 4.2 in 2007 to 3.9 in 2008. BLS also reported a decline in non-fatal occupational injuries and illnesses from 4 million cases in 2007 to 3.7 million cases in 2008. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20091332.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20091332.htm In the week ending Oct. 24, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 530,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's unrevised figure of 531,000. The 4-week moving average was 526,250, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week's unrevised average of 532,250. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091299.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091299.htm Phyllis C. Borzi, assistant secretary of labor for the U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), today testified before the Senate Special Committee on Aging on the use of target date funds as investment options for 401(k)-type plans. An estimated 75 percent of 401(k) plans offer so-called life cycle or target date funds as investment options for retirement plans. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20091325.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20091325.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the award of $138 million in federal funds to NV Energy for smart grid technology. Matching funds increase the value of this project to $298 million. These funds will help transition an electric distribution system to a smarter, more efficient and reliable electric system, and spur the creation of clean energy jobs across Nevada. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20091326.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20091326.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $6 million grant to provide an estimated 1,550 jobless workers in Kentucky with partial premium payments for health insurance coverage. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091291.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091291.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $372,839 grant to assist about 65 workers affected by layoffs at General Electric Security Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Electric Co. in Pittsfield, Maine. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091290.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091290.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 4,500 workers from companies in 17 states — Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin — are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091298.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091298.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $3,319,718 grant to assist approximately 600 workers affected by layoffs at nine companies in Massachusetts' information, manufacturing, retail and transportation industries. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091275.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091275.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,412,920 grant to assist approximately 328 workers in the state of Oregon affected by layoffs from Cessna Aircraft Co. in Bend, Ore. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091276.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091276.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $3,850,268 in grants to assist about 1,430 workers in the state of Oregon affected by layoffs from Monaco Coach Corp. locations in Coburg and Hines. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091277.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091277.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the creation of a new Unemployment Benefit Estimation Tool that allows mortgage companies and housing counselors to project a homeowner's unemployment insurance income for loan modification purposes. The tool was created as part of collaborative effort among the Labor Department, the U.S. Department of Treasury, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Federal Reserve Bank and the Hope Now Alliance. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091288.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091288.htm In the week ending Oct. 17, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 531,000, an increase of 11,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 520,000. The 4-week moving average was 532,250, a decrease of 750 from the previous week's revised average of 533,000. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091273.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091273.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $447 million in funding allocations for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for states to assist workers who lose their jobs due to outsourcing and foreign trade. These are the initial allocations for fiscal year 2010 and represent approximately 65 percent of the total amount available for TAA for this year. The remaining funds are being held in reserve by the Labor Department for distribution as needed throughout the year. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091283.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091283.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $24,857,608 National Emergency Grant award to assist clean-up and recovery efforts in the wake of a tsunami that struck American Samoa on Sept. 29. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091257.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091257.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released a report on Nevada's occupational safety and health program that reveals a number of serious concerns with the program's operation, including failure to issue appropriate willful and repeat citations, poorly trained inspectors and lack of follow-up to determine whether hazards were abated. The comprehensive evaluation of the Nevada OSHA plan points to an urgent need for corrections in oversight and changes in all phases of its workplace safety and health program. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/asp/oasp20091267.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/asp/oasp20091267.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will publish an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) in the Oct. 21 edition of the Federal Register as an initial step in development of a standard to address the hazards of combustible dust. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/asp/oasp20091074.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/asp/oasp20091074.htm Beginning today, in observance of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is hosting an art exhibit at the department's headquarters building located at 200 Constitution Ave. NW in Washington. The exhibit, which will remain until Oct. 30, displays the works of apprentices in the WVSA ARTs connection's ARTiculate Employment Training and Outreach Program. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091285.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091285.htm DOL's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) today announced it has proposed $504,900 in civil penalties against UAE Coalcorp Associates, which operates the Harmony Mine in Northumberland County, Pa. Five violations were cited as the result of a fatal roof fall accident in June 2008 and assessed under the flagrant violation provision of MSHA's civil penalty regulation. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/MSHA20091279.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/MSHA20091279.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20091281.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20091281.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today certified the release of $84,979,841 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Colorado. The state qualified for the remaining two-thirds of its share of funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by making it easier for unemployed workers seeking part-time work and those unemployed for compelling family reasons to be eligible for benefits. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091262.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091262.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 2,329 workers from companies in 14 states — Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin — are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091268.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091268.htm In the week ending Oct. 10, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 514,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 524,000. The 4-week moving average was 531,500, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week's revised average of 540,500. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091244.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091244.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $13,017,176 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Montana. The state qualified for the remaining two-thirds of its share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by adding provisions that allow part-time workers and individuals who are upgrading skills to receive unemployment compensation. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091230.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091230.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 8,600 workers from companies in 17 states — Arizona, Arkansas, California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin — are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091245.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091245.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered more than $1.4 million in back wages for 237 employees of Computer Sciences Corp., a contractor for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Vermont Service Center at various locations in St. Albans and Essex Junction, Vt. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20091243.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20091243.htm In the week ending Oct. 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 521,000, a decrease of 33,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 554,000. The 4-week moving average was 539,750, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week's revised average of 548,750. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091213.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091213.htm The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) today announced that 10 mine operators from around the country have received letters putting them on notice that each has a potential pattern of violations of mandatory health or safety standards under Section 104(e) of the federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/MSHA20091227.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/MSHA20091227.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis leads the U.S. delegation to Buenos Aires, Argentina, for the 16th Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor. Today Secretary Solis addresses the labor minister attendees in a plenary session titled "Coordination of Policies and Programs for Promoting Employment: a Guiding Framework in Facing the Crisis." http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ilab/ILAB20091186.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ilab/ILAB20091186.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $553,237 grant to assist about 100 workers in the state of Maine affected by layoffs at WestPoint Home in Biddeford. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091221.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091221.htm DOL provides nearly $775,000 to continue severe storm recovery efforts in Illinois [10/06/2009] http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091214.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091214.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) joined President Obama today in underscoring the administration's commitment to serving every American worker, including the 54 million people across the nation living with disabilities. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/ODEP20091228.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/ODEP20091228.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced a proposed exemption that, if granted, would allow the New Chrysler Corp. to transfer approximately $4.59 billion promissory note and company securities to a Voluntary Employees Benefit Association (VEBA) Plan established to provide health benefits for the company's retirees. The retiree health plan would cover about 120,000 retirees and dependents when it becomes effective on Jan. 1, 2010. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20091210.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20091210.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the September 2009 Employment Situation report released today: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20091222.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20091222.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today held a national listening session on the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) for a broad range of stakeholders. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Kathy Martinez and Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Jane Oates heard comments from workforce investment systems personnel, representatives of the disability community, leaders of nonprofit organizations, academic professionals and members of the general public. Approximately 700 people attended in person, by webinar and via conference call. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/ODEP20091211.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/ODEP20091211.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 7,200 workers from companies in 17 states — Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin — are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091212.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091212.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is initiating a national emphasis program (NEP) on recordkeeping to assess the accuracy of injury and illness data recorded by employers. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090775.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090775.htm In the week ending Sept. 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 551,000, an increase of 17,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 534,000. The 4-week moving average was 548,000, a decrease of 6,250 from the previous week's revised average of 554,250. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091185.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091185.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $1,507,168 National Emergency Grant supplemental award to continue clean-up and recovery efforts in the wake of flooding that occurred in Ohio in 2007. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091195.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091195.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has awarded a cooperative agreement to Cornell University's Employment and Disability Institute, School of Industrial and Labor Relations in Ithaca, N.Y., to establish a national technical assistance center for employers on employment of people with disabilities. The purpose of the center will be to conduct innovative research, assist ODEP in developing demand-side policy, and share best practices with employers on the recruitment, hiring, retention and advancement of people with disabilities. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/ODEP20091196.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/ODEP20091196.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered more than $1.5 million in back wages for 272 employees of SI International SEIT Inc., a contractor for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Vermont Service Center, at various locations in St. Albans and Essex Junction, Vt. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20091205.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20091205.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced $6.4 million in grant awards to implement projects promoting adherence to international core labor standards and support the rights of workers. Another $131,130 in contracts has been awarded to study topics related to international labor standards. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ilab/ILAB20091204.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ilab/ILAB20091204.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Women's Bureau has awarded a $265,690 contract to Public Policy Associates Inc. in Lansing, Mich., which will partner with Wider Opportunities for Women (WOW), a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., in the development of a publication designed to increase women's access to high-growth and emerging industry occupations in the green jobs sector nationwide. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/wb/wb20091200.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/wb/wb20091200.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment requiring NFL player Michael D. Vick and his company, MV7 LLC, to repay at least $416,461.10 in restitution to a pension plan sponsored by the company and ordering Vick to forfeit any rights to benefits from the plan. The defendants also agreed to pay a civil monetary penalty imposed by the Labor Department. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20091133.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20091133.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced three National Emergency Grants totaling $38,033,600 to assist workers affected by documented layoffs from multiple companies in three defined regional economies throughout Michigan. These grants will provide flexibility to serve 2,161 workers currently displaced and those affected by future layoffs occurring within these regions during the grants' 12-month period of performance. Based on state of Michigan estimates, about 13,291 total workers ultimately will be served. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091193.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091193.htm U.S. Department of Labor Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs Sandra Polaski spoke at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Labor and Employment Ministerial taking place this week in Paris on the topic of "The Jobs Crisis: the Labor Market and Social Policy Response." http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ilab/ILAB20091170.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ilab/ILAB20091170.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,066,981 grant to assist approximately 300 workers affected by 2009 layoffs from RR Donnelley in Wells, Maine. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091161.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091161.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,066,981 grant to assist approximately 300 workers affected by 2009 layoffs from RR Donnelley in Wells, Maine. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091162.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091162.htm Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced nearly $59 million in grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor in fiscal year 2009 to combat exploitive child labor in 19 countries. The grants will help rescue more than 85,000 children from exploitive labor, and offer them hope for the future through education and training. The grants will also help improve collection and analysis of child labor data and support for the development and implementation of national action plans to address the problem. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ilab/ILAB20091113.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ilab/ILAB20091113.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $164.5 million to 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to make technology upgrades that will improve the operation and security of unemployment insurance systems. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091184.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091184.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) today announced it has allocated more than $8.3 million in health and safety training grants for fiscal year 2009, up from last year's distribution of $8.2 million. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/MSHA20091164.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/MSHA20091164.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that workers from General Motors in Wilmington, Del., are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091176.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091176.htm In the week ending Sept. 19, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 530,000, a decrease of 21,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 551,000. The 4-week moving average was 553,500, a decrease of 11,000 from the previous week's revised average of 564,500. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091163.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091163.htm Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the success of the Summer Youth Employment Program for the nation's youth: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091183.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091183.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today awarded more than $6.8 million in Susan Harwood Training Grants to 30 recipients, encompassing labor unions, employer associations, colleges and universities, and other nonprofit organizations. The training grants cover a two-year period. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20091165.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20091165.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 4,700 workers from companies in 13 states — Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wisconsin — are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091157.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091157.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $323,565 grant to assist workers affected by layoffs at NewPage Corp.’s Rumford Paper Mill in Rumford, Maine. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091121.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091121.htm The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced a proposed exemption that, if granted, would allow the General Motors Co. (GM) to transfer company securities including common stock, preferred stock and a $2.5 billion promissory note, to a health plan established for the company’s retirees. The retiree health plan will cover approximately 700,000 retirees and dependents when it becomes effective on Dec. 31, 2009. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20091148.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20091148.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has awarded cooperative agreements to The Workplace Inc. in Bridgeport, Conn., and the SkillSource Group Inc. in Vienna, Va., to lead consortia to develop innovative models of providing inclusive registered apprenticeship training to youth and young adults with disabilities. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/ODEP20091107.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/ODEP20091107.htm In the week ending Sept. 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 545,000, a decrease of 12,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 557,000. The 4-week moving average was 563,000, a decrease of 8,750 from the previous week's revised average of 571,750. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091122.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091122.htm The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) today announced it has awarded $500,000 in grant funds to six organizations that provide education and training within the mining industry. The Brookwood-Sago grants program was established through a provision in the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006, and fiscal year 2009's funding will target the development and implementation of training and training materials for mine emergency preparedness and haulage safety. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/MSHA20091140.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/MSHA20091140.htm The Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans (known as the ERISA Advisory Council) will convene by teleconference Sept. 29 to discuss reports and recommendations on topics to be submitted to the secretary of labor. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20091132.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20091132.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $11,058,877 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of West Virginia. West Virginia qualified for a portion of its share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091033.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20091033.htm Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding Sen. Tom Harkin as chairman of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20091109.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20091109.htm In the week ending Sept. 5, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 550,000, a decrease of 26,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 576,000. The 4-week moving average was 570,000, a decrease of 2,750 from the previous week's revised average of 572,750. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091096.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091096.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) today released three reports on child labor and/or forced labor in countries around the globe. The documents include the initial "List of Goods Produced by Child or Forced Labor" required by the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 (TVPRA List). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ilab/ILAB20090946.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ilab/ILAB20090946.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today released three reports on child labor and forced labor around the world. The reports, which can be downloaded at http://www.dol.gov/ilab include a list of 122 goods — from 58 countries — made using child labor and forced labor. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ilab/ILAB20091111.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ilab/ILAB20091111.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $42,489,921 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Colorado. Colorado qualified for a portion of its share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20091015.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20091015.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today published in the Federal Register a final rule revising the personal protective equipment (PPE) sections of its general industry, shipyard employment, longshoring and marine terminals standards concerning requirements for eye- and face-protective devices, and head and foot protection. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090968.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090968.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,096,423 grant to assist approximately 178 workers affected by layoffs at Alcoa North American Rolled Products in Bettendorf, Iowa, and John Deere Davenport Works in Davenport, Iowa. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20091093.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20091093.htm Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement for Labor Day: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20091103.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20091103.htm Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the August 2009 Employment Situation report issued today. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20091100.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20091100.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $20,934,147 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of New Hampshire. New Hampshire qualified for the remaining two-thirds of its share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by making it easier for unemployed workers seeking part-time work and those unemployed for family reasons to be eligible for benefits. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20091073.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20091073.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has proposed a regulation to assess civil penalties against plan sponsors of multiemployer defined benefit pension plans that fail to adopt a funding improvement or rehabilitation plan in accordance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) as amended by the Pension Protection Act (PPA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20091076.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20091076.htm In the week ending Aug. 29, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 570,000, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 574,000. The 4-week moving average was 571,250, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's revised average of 567,250. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091059.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091059.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $200,767,125 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Illinois. Illinois qualified for the remaining two-thirds of its share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by including certain family-friendly provisions in its UI law. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20091034.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20091034.htm A survey of 4,387 workers in low-wage industries across the three largest U.S. cities — Chicago, Los Angeles and New York — found that the core workplace protections many Americans take for granted are failing significant numbers of workers. A report issued today and jointly funded by the Ford, Joyce, Haynes and Russell Sage Foundations examines the right to be paid at least the minimum wage, the right to be paid for overtime hours, the right to take meal breaks, access to workers' compensation when injured and the right to advocate for better working conditions. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20091083.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20091083.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today encouraged public and private community organizations to participate in the 4th annual Drug-Free Work Week, which will occur Oct. 19 to 25. This public awareness campaign, held each October, emphasizes the importance of drug-free workplace programs to help prevent workplace alcohol and drug use, and encourage workers with alcohol and drug problems to seek help. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/asp/oasp20091071.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/asp/oasp20091071.htm Illinois today became the newest state to receive approval from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to administer its own occupational safety and health plan for public employees in the state. A notice appears in today's edition of the Federal Register. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090695.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090695.htm Mine rescue teams may be tapped to battle mine fires, contain underground floods and rescue their colleagues trapped beneath layers of rock following an explosion. They undergo rigorous training to develop skills they hope they will never need to use. From Aug. 31 to Sept. 3, those skills will be put to the test during the 2009 National Mine Rescue, First Aid, Bench and Preshift Competition at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville. Nearly 90 teams from 13 states will compete in the biennial event sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/MSHA20091064.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/MSHA20091064.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 3,200 workers from specific companies in 14 states — Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin — are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20091053.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20091053.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $89,289,386 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Wisconsin. Wisconsin qualified for the remaining two-thirds of its share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by updating its UI program to reflect the 21st century workforce. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20091014.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20091014.htm In the week ending Aug. 22, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 570,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 580,000. The 4-week moving average was 566,250, a decrease of 4,750 from the previous week's revised average of 571,000. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091018.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20091018.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $3,446,051 National Emergency Grant increment to continue to assist workers across the state of Minnesota affected by layoffs from five companies in the manufacturing and retail industries: Celestica, Hutchinson Technology Inc., International Business Machines (IBM), Seagate Technology Inc. and Target. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20091037.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20091037.htm Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20091047.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20091047.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $316,458 grant to assist approximately 80 workers affected by layoffs at Formed Fiber Technologies Inc. located in Auburn, Maine. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090961.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090961.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 1,400 workers laid off from specific companies in five states — Alabama, Connecticut, Michigan, Ohio and South Dakota — are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20091027.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20091027.htm In response to today's Bureau of Labor Statistics report announcing the preliminary Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries of 5,071 fatal work injuries in 2008 — down from a total of 5,657 fatal work injuries reported in 2007 — U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20091011.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20091011.htm In the week ending Aug. 15, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 576,000, an increase of 15,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 561,000. The 4-week moving average was 570,000, an increase of 4,250 from the previous week's revised average of 565,750. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090983.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090983.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) announced Gerber Products Co. has agreed to settle findings of hiring discrimination against 1,912 rejected minority and female applicants for entry-level positions. The agreement settles the department's allegations that Gerber engaged in hiring discrimination against minority and female applicants for one year. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090969.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090969.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has sued defunct Vinyl-Mark Products Inc. of Hueytown, Ala., and the company's pension and profit sharing plan trustees for allegedly misusing $898,259.69 in plan assets to pay the operating expenses of the company. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20090970.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20090970.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,000,000 grant to provide approximately 1,800 jobless workers with partial premium payments for health insurance coverage. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090920.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090920.htm IIn the week ending Aug. 8, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 558,000, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 554,000. The 4-week moving average was 565,000, an increase of 8,500 from the previous week's revised average of 556,500. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090940.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090940.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced that Dr. Esther Johnson, national director of Job Corps, will be leaving her position effective today. Dr. Johnson will undertake new duties as a senior advisor in the Office of the Deputy Secretary of Labor. In her stead, Lynn Intrepidi, former director of the Philadelphia Region of Job Corps will become acting director of the program. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20090971.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20090971.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court of the United States: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20090974.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20090974.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $20,351,150 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Hawaii. Hawaii qualified for these funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by including certain family-friendly provisions in its UI law.  http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090912.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090912.htmf Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the death of Eunice Kennedy Shriver: “This morning we lost a leader and advocate for youth and children, and a woman whose spirit transcended our society in countless ways.  http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20090967.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20090967.htmf The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that more than 1,750 copper anode production workers from Freeport – McMoran Inc. of Morenci, Ariz., are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090965.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090965.htmf The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that nearly 550 workers in auto-related industries in Indiana, Michigan and Pennsylvania are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090964.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090964.htmf The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has fined nine farms and 17 farm labor contractors doing business in Bladen and Craven counties, N.C., for violating federal labor law, including employing children as young as eight years old as farm laborers. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090863.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090863.htmf During a visit to Iowa today, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced a $521,910 grant to assist approximately 90 workers affected by layoffs at Featherlite Inc. located in Cresco, Iowa. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090919.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090919.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the July 2009 Employment Situation report released today: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20090950.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20090950.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court of the United States: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20090947.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20090947.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $3,421,645 grant to assist approximately 1,227 workers across the state of Wisconsin affected by layoffs at 11 companies in the manufacturing industry in the northeastern part of the state. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090921.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090921.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in an effort to crack down on fraudulent trainers, is continuing to strengthen the integrity of its 36-year-old Outreach Training Program by publishing an "Outreach Trainer Watch List" of those who have had their trainer authorizations either revoked or suspended. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090917.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090917.htm In the week ending Aug. 1, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 550,000, a decrease of 38,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 588,000. The 4-week moving average was 555,250, a decrease of 4,750 from the previous week's revised average of 560,000. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090907.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090907.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment and order requiring the former president of Chicago-based AA Capital Partners Inc. to restore $50 million in losses to five Michigan pension funds as restitution for misuse of the plans' assets to benefit the investment firm and himself. The judgment also bars defendant John Orecchio from serving in a fiduciary or service provider capacity to any employee benefit plan governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20090906.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20090906.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded $6,499,992 to assist national industry and employer associations and labor-management organizations in advancing Registered Apprenticeship through the development of innovative programs that utilize an updated 21st century Registered Apprenticeship framework. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090916.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090916.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that almost 2,000 workers in auto-related industries in Michigan, Indiana, South Carolina and Mississippi are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090922.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090922.htm Facilities that could potentially release highly hazardous chemicals resulting in toxic fire or explosion hazards are the focus of a national emphasis program (NEP) developed by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090839.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090839.htm The U.S. Department of Labor is soliciting nominations to fill five three-year vacancies on the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, known as the ERISA Advisory Council. The deadline for receipt of nominations is Sept. 15, 2009. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20090905.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20090905.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $578,574 grant to assist approximately 50 workers affected by layoffs at Sauer Danfoss Inc. in Hillsboro, Ore. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090895.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090895.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $558,591 grant to assist approximately 160 workers affected by layoffs at eight manufacturing companies located in southern New Hampshire. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090896.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090896.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced grants totaling $26.5 million to 25 states to implement or enhance the Re-employment and Eligibility Assessment (REA) Initiative for unemployment insurance (UI) recipients. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090893.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090893.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded $10 million in funding to organizations that connect older Americans to career opportunities. The Aging Worker Initiative: Strategies for Regional Talent Development is designed to train workers aged 55 and older for jobs in high-growth, high-demand industries, and increase the public workforce system's capacity to effectively serve an aging worker population. The department also has launched a unique private-public partnership with the Atlantic Philanthropies, which will invest an additional $3.6 million in this effort. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090890.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090890.htm In the week ending July 25, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 584,000, an increase of 25,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 559,000. The 4-week moving average was 559,000, a decrease of 8,250 from the previous week's revised average of 567,250. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090876.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090876.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that almost 1,000 workers in auto-related industries in Michigan are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090900.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090900.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $28,231,263 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Maine. Maine qualified for its full share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act or ARRA) by providing for a variety of provisions that make it easier for recent entrants to the workforce, workers seeking part time work and people who are upgrading their skills to be eligible for benefits. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090884.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090884.htm Facilities that could potentially release highly hazardous chemicals resulting in toxic fire or explosion hazards are the focus of a national emphasis program (NEP) developed by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090791.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090791.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that more than 600 workers from Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. in Union City, Tenn., are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090894.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090894.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that it has paid more than $5 billion in compensation and medical benefits to more than 52,600 claimants nationwide under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). This milestone coincides with the eighth anniversary of the Labor Department's administration of the EEOICPA, which provides compensation and medical benefits to employees who became ill as a result of working in the nuclear weapons industry. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090863.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090863.htm QuikTrip Corp. has agreed to pay $747,729 in overtime back wages for 3,819 current and former convenience store workers following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division's Arkansas-Oklahoma District Office. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090809.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090809.htm In conjunction with the 19th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the U.S. Department of Labor has re-named and re-launched DisabilityInfo.gov as Disability.gov. Available at http://www.disability.gov, the site offers comprehensive information about programs and services to better serve more than 50 million Americans with disabilities, their family members, veterans, employers, educators, caregivers and anyone interested in disability-related information. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/ODEP20090834.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/ODEP20090834.htm Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the 19th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA): http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/ODEP20090865.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/ODEP20090865.htm Partners HealthCare Systems Inc. and its affiliated hospitals and health care companies throughout eastern Massachusetts have agreed to pay 700 employees more than $2.7 million in overtime back wages to resolve a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Labor alleging violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090438.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090438.htm In the week ending July 18, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 554,000, an increase of 30,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 524,000. The 4-week moving average was 566,000, a decrease of 19,000 from the previous week's revised average of 585,000. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090846.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090846.htm During a visit to the Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, Iowa, today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced a $335,853 Recovery Act grant to assist approximately 125 workers affected by the closure of Atwood Mobile Products in West Union, Iowa. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090858.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090858.htm During a visit to the Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, Iowa, today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced a $664,074 Recovery Act grant to assist approximately 121 workers affected by layoffs at the RR Donnelley print plant in Spencer, Iowa. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090859.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090859.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that more than 900 workers from Delphi Steering in Saginaw, Mich., are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090866.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090866.htm During a visit to the Shawnee County Community Health Center as a stop on the Obama administration's Rural Tour, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced a $220 million competition to fund projects that prepare workers for careers in the health care and other high-growth industries. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090860.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090860.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $1,442,099 National Emergency Grant increment to continue clean-up and recovery efforts following a 2009 ice storm in Arkansas. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090810.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090810.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $57,049,761 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Oregon. Oregon qualified for these funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by enacting certain UI provisions. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090838.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090838.htm The U.S. Department of Labor reminds employers and employees that the federal minimum wage will increase to $7.25 on Friday, July 24. With this change, employees who are covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) will be entitled to pay no less than $7.25 per hour. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090821.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090821.htm In the week ending July 11, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 522,000, a decrease of 47,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 569,000. The 4-week moving average was 584,500, a decrease of 22,500 from the previous week's revised average of 607,000. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090817.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090817.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $59,969,332 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Arkansas. Arkansas qualified for its full share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by making it easier for recent entrants to the workforce, workers seeking part time work and those unemployed for family reasons to be eligible for benefits. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090829.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090829.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $141,808,031 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Tennessee. Tennessee qualified for its full share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by providing for a variety of family friendly provisions that assist recent entrants to the workforce, workers seeking part time work and workers with children. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090822.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090822.htm The U.S. Department of Labor would like to notify all former Tyson Valley Powder Farm workers about a new class of employees added to the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act's (EEOICPA) Special Exposure Cohort (SEC). The EEOICPA provides compensation and medical benefits to employees who became ill as a result of working in the nuclear weapons industry. Survivors of qualified employees may also be entitled to benefits. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090803.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090803.htm The U.S. Department of Labor would like to notify all former Westinghouse Atomic Power Development Plant workers about a new class of employees added to the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act's (EEOICPA) Special Exposure Cohort (SEC). The EEOICPA provides compensation and medical benefits to employees who became ill as a result of working in the nuclear weapons industry. Survivors of qualified employees may also be entitled to benefits. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090802.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090802.htm The U.S. Department of Labor would like to notify all former Hood Building workers about a new class of employees added to the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act's (EEOICPA) Special Exposure Cohort (SEC). The EEOICPA provides compensation and medical benefits to employees who became ill as a result of working in the nuclear weapons industry. Survivors of qualified employees may also be entitled to benefits. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090801.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090801.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today announced the publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking in today's Federal Register to approve a new Illinois state public employee protection plan. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090793.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090793.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $275,161,405 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of New York. New York qualified for these funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by making it easier for unemployed workers seeking part-time employment and those unemployed for family-related reasons to be eligible for benefits. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090819.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090819.htm In the week ending July 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 565,000, a decrease of 52,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 617,000. The 4-week moving average was 606,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's revised average of 616,000. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090782.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090782.htm The Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans (also known as the ERISA Advisory Council) will meet July 21-23, 2009 in Washington, D.C., at the U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., Room N-3437A-B. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20090773.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20090773.htm Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the death of former Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20090794.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20090794.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the June 2009 Employment Situation report released today: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20090783.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20090783.htm In the week ending June 27, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 614,000, a decrease of 16,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 630,000. The 4-week moving average was 615,250, a decrease of 2,750 from the previous week's revised average of 618,000. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090759.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090759.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $3,026,914 National Emergency Grant increment to continue assisting 1,063 California workers affected by mass layoffs and closures in the mortgage and banking industries. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090750.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090750.htm Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced 17 grants, totaling more than $7.5 million dollars, to provide approximately 3,000 veterans with job training to help them succeed in civilian careers. The grants are being awarded under the U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Workforce Investment Program (VWIP). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090747.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090747.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a second and final increment of a National Emergency Grant, in the amount of $7,933,200, to assist in the continued clean-up and recovery efforts in Texas following Hurricane Ike. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090749.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090749.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has announced an $11,646,300 grant to create approximately 641 temporary jobs to continue the clean-up and recovery efforts necessary as a result of the 2008 severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in Iowa. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090769.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090769.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,203,292 National Emergency Grant increment to continue to assist approximately 1,515 Wisconsin workers impacted by automotive industry layoffs and plant closures in Rock County, Wis. >http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090767.htm >http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090767.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded $2,212,751 to assist state apprenticeship agencies in the development of strategies to better serve dislocated workers and other unemployed individuals through expanded partnerships with the Registered Apprenticeship system, which is administered by the department's Employment and Training Administration. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090757.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090757.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,624,000 National Emergency Grant increment to continue to assist Illinois workers impacted by layoffs and plant closures at 31 companies across the state. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090768.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090768.htm Atlantic Auto Care Center Inc. of Brooklyn; 109th and First Avenue Corp. of Manhattan; 3808 Boston Road Car Wash Inc., 2434 CW Corp. and Boulevard Car Wash of N.Y. Inc., all of the Bronx; Michael's Car Wash Inc. and Howard Beach Car Wash Corp., both of Queens; 613 Car Wash Corp. of New Rochelle; Lage Management Corp., the parent corporation located in Pelham Manor, N.Y.; and corporate president John Lage have agreed to pay 1,187 current and former employees a total of $3.4 million in back wages and liquidated damages to resolve their part of a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Labor alleging violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090528.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090528.htm Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced 10 grants totaling $18,715,780 to fund projects that will support young offenders seeking to enter the workforce. Funding announced today is focused on three areas: 1) young offender re-entry planning grants, 2) juvenile offender implementation grants for state and local government partnerships and 3) one intermediary re-entry grant to an organization with experience in conducting project demonstrations in multiple cities. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090766.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090766.htm Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today addressed the annual gathering of the American Society of Safety Engineers. She applauded the efforts of the nation's safety and health professionals, and announced that the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will launch a major construction safety initiative in Texas to prevent workplace injuries and fatalities. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090751.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090751.htm Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced 98 grants, totaling more than $25 million, to provide approximately 15,000 veterans with job training to help them succeed in civilian careers. The grants are being awarded under the U.S. Department of Labor's Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/vets/VETS20090744.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/vets/VETS20090744.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $5,206,411 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Alaska. Alaska qualified for a portion of its share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090736.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090736.htm Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the death of retired Maj. Gen. David F. Wherley Jr., who served as a member of the U.S. Department of Labor's Job Corps Advisory Committee: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20090740.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20090740.htm In the week ending June 20, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 627,000, an increase of 15,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 612,000. The 4-week moving average was 617,250, an increase of 500 from the previous week's revised average of 616,750. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090707.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090707.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today announced that it is continuing its nationwide program to emphasize workplace safety and health for federal workers and for those contractors whose work is supervised on a daily basis by federal agency personnel. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090718.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090718.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $6,508,588 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Montana. Montana qualified for a portion of its share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090732.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090732.htm During a visit to Memphis today, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced five grant competitions, totaling $500 million, to fund projects that prepare workers for green jobs in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090725.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090725.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $75,886,483 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Oklahoma. Oklahoma qualified for its full share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by providing for a variety of provisions that assist recent entrants to the workforce, part time workers, and people who become unemployed because of compelling family reasons. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090719.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090719.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $44,644,693 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Wisconsin. Wisconsin qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090699.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090699.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $405,000 grant to assist approximately 80 workers affected by layoffs at the Freightliner Trucks manufacturing facility in Portland, Ore. Freightliner Trucks is a division of Daimler Trucks North America, the largest manufacturer of heavy duty vehicles in North America and a leading manufacturer of medium-duty vehicles. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090712.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090712.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $469,694 grant to assist approximately 60 workers affected by layoffs at ACE Precision Castings LLC and Lennox Industries Inc. located in Marshalltown, Iowa. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090693.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090693.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the certification of 20 petitions for benefit eligibility for workers under the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program, which provides training and employment services for workers who have lost their jobs due to competitive foreign trade. These are the first certifications under the new TAA law that took effect on May 18, 2009, which, among other changes, expanded program access to previously ineligible service industry workers. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090711.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090711.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis today participated in the "green" refurbishing and painting of a Los Angeles low-income residence with high school students and adult volunteers through LA CAUSA, a youth leadership and community development organization that is a grantee of the Labor Department's nationwide YouthBuild program. The effort was part of a kick-off for United We Serve, President Obama's summer service initiative to create meaningful change in America's communities through long-term volunteer involvement. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20090715.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20090715.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Milk Specialties Co. in Whitehall with violations of federal workplace safety and health standards and proposed $1,145,200 in penalties. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090694.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090694.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $643,661 grant to assist approximately 90 workers affected by layoffs at GE Security Inc. located in Tualatin, Ore. On Jan. 8, the company announced the permanent modification of operations at the Tualatin facility, resulting in significant layoffs. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090690.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090690.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today announced that it will address problems identified in its Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) in response to a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs: Improved Oversight and Controls Would Better Ensure Program Quality. The report recommends improved oversight and additional controls to ensure participating companies maintain effective workplace safety and health management systems. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090693.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090693.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $69,427,524 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Michigan. Michigan qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090697.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090697.htm In the week ending June 13, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 608,000, an increase of 3,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 605,000. The 4-week moving average was 615,750, a decrease of 7,000 from the previous week's revised average of 622,750. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090685.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090685.htm The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) today published a final rule in the Federal Register for mine rescue teams regarding underground coal mines. The final rule amends existing standards published Feb. 8, 2008, in accordance with the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act of 2006. The United Mine Workers of America challenged that rule and, on Feb. 10, 2009, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued its decision. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/MSHA20090684.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/MSHA20090684.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $4,768,700 grant to assist approximately 1,109 workers affected by layoffs at five companies in the manufacturing and retail industries. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090682.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090682.htm Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis has announced the award of approximately $114 million to 183 community groups to provide education and training to young people across the United States. This amount is an initial increment for two years of grant operations. A remaining increment may be awarded pending the availability of additional funding. Among today's awardees, 62 are current Department of Labor YouthBuild grantees, and 121 are new to the department. The YouthBuild program assists out-of-school youth in obtaining their diplomas or GEDs while providing occupational training in the construction industry. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090649.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090649.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has entered into settlement agreements with Aloha Airlines Inc., Bank of Hawaii and First Hawaiian Bank, which agreed to pay $9,545,454 to the airline's three pension plans for losses the plans suffered on investments in stock of the airline's holding company. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20090652.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20090652.htm Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the death of Stephen Tyrone Johns: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20090686.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20090686.htm In the week ending June 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 601,000, a decrease of 24,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 625,000. The 4-week moving average was 621,750, a decrease of 10,500 from the previous week's revised average of 632,250. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090636.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090636.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $720,000 grant to create approximately 40 temporary jobs for eligible workers to assist in clean-up and recovery efforts resulting from flooding in southern West Virginia. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090647.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090647.htm Oil refineries nationwide have received letters from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) emphasizing the need to comply with all applicable OSHA standards, particularly the Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals (HHCs). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090637.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090637.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today released more than $450 million in Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) funding to states to provide career training, and employment and case management services to workers who lose their jobs due to outsourcing and foreign trade. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090637.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090637.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today marked the 2009 World Day Against Child Labor by hosting a roundtable discussion at the department with Sen. Tom Harkin; Tina Tchen, executive director of the White House Council on Women and Girls; representatives of many U.S. companies, unions, employer groups, nongovernmental and international organizations, and academia; and dozens of other experts and activists. The event focused on this year's World Day theme of "Give Girls a Chance — End Child Labor." http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ilab/ILAB20090589.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ilab/ILAB20090589.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is soliciting applications for nearly $7 million in Susan Harwood Training Grants available to nonprofit, community and faith-based organizations. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090639.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090639.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $25,645,804 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Nevada. Nevada qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090641.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090641.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $220,286,144 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Georgia. Georgia qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by providing for a variety of provisions that assist recent entrants to the workforce, part time workers and people who are upgrading their skills. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090642.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090642.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $28,524,880 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Oregon. Oregon qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090628.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090628.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued a statement on the May 2009 Employment Situation report released today. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20090644.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20090644.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $48,864,609 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Washington. Washington qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090619.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090619.htm Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued a statement on the death of John F. Henning saying that today American workers lost a tireless advocate, and she lost a dear a friend. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20090640.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/opa20090640.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $9,210,994 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the District of Columbia. The District of Columbia qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090627.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090627.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $70,814,387 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Iowa. Iowa qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by enacting new provisions that assist recent entrants to the workforce, part-time workers and people who are upgrading their skills. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090618.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090618.htm In the week ending May 30, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 621,000, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 625,000. The 4-week moving average was 631,250, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's revised average of 627,250. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090592.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090592.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,416,970 grant to assist approximately 200 workers affected by layoffs at Boise Cascade LLC in St. Helens, Ore. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090605.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090605.htm While in Ohio, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced nearly $18 million in funds that will assist this state’s workers affected by recent layoffs. Of that amount, $16 million represents newly authorized Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) funds to assist workers who have lost their jobs as a result of foreign trade. The remaining $1,657,746 is an increase modification to an existing grant to assist approximately 700 additional workers affected by layoffs at the Chrysler Twinsburg Stamping Plant. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090598.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090598.htm While in Perrysburg with Gov. Ted Strickland today, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced that the U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $88,169,529 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds for the state of Ohio. The state qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits. Ohio's approved application will be posted at the department's Employment and Training Administration Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/recovery. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090610.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090610.htm While in Romulus today touring the General Motors Romulus Engine Plant, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced that the U.S. Department of Labor is releasing an additional $49.9 million to the state of Michigan to provide career training and employment and case management services to workers whose jobs are impacted for trade-related reasons, as well as for associated administrative costs. Combined with the original fiscal year 2009 allocations, Michigan now has nearly $60 million available to assist trade-affected workers. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090611.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090611.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced 13 grants totaling $9,899,200 aimed at providing young parents with employment and training opportunities to provide a better future for themselves and their families. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090600.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090600.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $32,260,831 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Idaho. Idaho qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by providing for a variety of provisions that assist recent entrants to the workforce, part time workers and people who are upgrading their skills. Idaho's approved application will be posted at the department's Employment and Training Administration Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/recovery. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090584.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090584.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $4,639,299 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Vermont. Vermont qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits. Vermont's approved application will be posted at the department's Employment and Training Administration Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/recovery. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090583.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090583.htm In the week ending May 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 623,000, a decrease of 13,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 636,000. The 4-week moving average was 626,750, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week's revised average of 629,750. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090569.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090569.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on President Obama's nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court of the United States: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/OPA20090578.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/OPA20090578.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Wal-Mart Stores Inc. for inadequate crowd management following the Nov. 28, 2008, death of an employee at its Valley Stream, N.Y., store. The worker died of asphyxiation after he was knocked to the ground and trampled by a crowd of about 2,000 shoppers who surged into the store for its annual "Blitz Friday" pre-holiday sales event. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090556.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090556.htm The Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans (also known as the ERISA Advisory Council) will meet June 11 in Washington at the U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. N.W., Room S-2508. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20090572.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20090572.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that it has paid more than $500 million in compensation and medical benefits to 4,798 current and former employees of the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant and their survivors under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). The EEOICPA was created to assist individuals who became ill as a result of working in the atomic weapons industry. Survivors of such individuals may also be eligible for benefits. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090562.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090562.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that it has paid more than $1 billion in compensation and medical benefits to 9,134 Tennessee residents under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). The act was created to assist those individuals who became ill as a result of working in the atomic weapons industry. Survivors of such individuals may also be eligible for benefits. Since the implementation of the act, the Labor Department has paid 51,331 claimants more than $4.8 billion in compensation and medical benefits nationwide. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090554.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090554.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that it has received its ninth successive Certificate of Excellence in Accountability Reporting (CEAR) Award from the Association of Government Accountants (AGA) for the department's outstanding fiscal year (FY) 2008 Performance and Accountability Report. Associate Deputy Chief Financial Officer for Fiscal Integrity Yoko Albayrak accepted the award on behalf of the department at a National Press Club ceremony last night in Washington. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ocfo/OCFO20090533.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ocfo/OCFO20090533.htm The federal minimum wage will increase for employees in American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), effective May 25 and May 26 respectively. With the increase, the new minimum wage rates in American Samoa, which vary by industry, will range from $4.18 for garment manufacturing to $5.59 for certain types of shipping and transportation. Employees who work in the CNMI can expect to receive $4.55 per hour. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090573.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090573.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced publication of a notice further extending the applicability and effective dates of the final rule on investment advice under the Pension Protection Act to Nov. 18, 2009. The notice is expected to be published in the May 22 edition of the Federal Register. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20090567.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20090567.htm In the week ending May 16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 631,000, a decrease of 12,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 643,000. The 4-week moving average was 628,500, a decrease of 3,500 from the previous week's revised average of 632,000. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090539.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090539.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in an effort to crack down on fraudulent trainers, is strengthening the integrity of its 36-year-old Outreach Training Program by improving how trainers become authorized to teach and ensuring these trainers are in compliance with OSHA program guidelines. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090540.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090540.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,320,100 grant to assist approximately 307 workers across the state of Minnesota affected by layoffs from 27 companies in the retail, service and manufacturing sectors of the declining automotive industry. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090560.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090560.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) today announced that an administrative law judge of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission has approved a settlement between MSHA and Tri-Star Mining Inc. regarding an April 2007 highwall failure that resulted in the death of two coal miners at Tri-Star Mining's western Maryland surface operation. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/msha20090564.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/msha20090564.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $462,096 grant to assist approximately 100 workers affected by layoffs at True Textiles Inc. located in Guilford and Newport, Maine. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090534.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090534.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $10,175,575 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Hawaii. Hawaii qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to be eligible for benefits. Hawaii's approved application will be posted at the department's Employment and Training Administration Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/recovery/. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090544.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090544.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $62,817,683 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the commonwealth of Virginia. Virginia qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to be eligible for benefits. Virginia's approved application will be posted at the department's Employment and Training Administration Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/recovery/. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090541.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090541.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $137,580,702 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of New York. New York qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to be eligible for benefits. New York's approved application will be posted at the department's Employment and Training Administration Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/recovery/. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090535.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090535.htm In the week ending May 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 637,000, an increase of 32,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 605,000. The 4-week moving average was 630,500, an increase of 6,000 from the previous week's revised average of 624,500. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090508.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090508.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $725,075 grant increment to help Illinois officials with continued cleanup and recovery following the state's June 2008 severe storms and flooding. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090531.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090531.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis released a statement after today's Social Security and Medicare Board of Trustees meeting stating that today's report is a wake-up call and reminder of the importance to ensure that this social safety-net is available to all Americans and future generations. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20090526.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20090526.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that it has paid more than $400 million in compensation and medical benefits to Colorado residents under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). The act was created to assist those individuals who became ill as a result of working in the atomic weapons industry. Survivors of such individuals may also be eligible for benefits. Since the implementation of the act, the Labor Department has paid 50,574 claimants more than $4.7 billion in compensation and medical benefits nationwide. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090496.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090496.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the release of $4,125,000 in National Emergency Grant funds to continue helping approximately 1,500 workers affected by permanent closures and mass layoffs in Michigan's automotive industry. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090520.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090520.htm The U.S. Department of Labor continued to demonstrate excellence in reporting on program and financial performance by earning a number one ranking in an annual competition of the 24 largest federal agencies. George Mason University's Mercatus Center announced the results of its 10th annual Performance Report Scorecard on May 5. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/oasam/OASAM20090505.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/oasam/OASAM20090505.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the April 2009 Employment Situation report released today: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/OPA20090518.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/OPA20090518.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today released $101 million to help states provide career training, job search and relocation assistance to U.S. workers who lose their jobs for trade-related reasons. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090494.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090494.htm Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today, through a national online discussion with stakeholder groups, the general public and the news media, will outline the president's fiscal year (FY) 2010 budget for the U.S. Department of Labor, which begins to restore worker protection programs and revitalize employment opportunities for the American workforce. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/oasam/OASAM20090489.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/oasam/OASAM20090489.htm In the week ending May 2, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 601,000, a decrease of 34,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 635,000. The 4-week moving average was 623,500, a decrease of 14,750 from the previous week's revised average of 638,250. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090476.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090476.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $130,063,620 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Minnesota. Minnesota qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits. Minnesota’s approved application will be posted at the department’s Employment and Training Administration Web site at http://www.dol.gov/recovery. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090499.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090499.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has fined Demon Demo Inc. a child labor civil money penalty following an investigation into the death of a teenage worker at the company's Gwinnett Place mall demolition site from a second floor fall. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090357.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090357.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $771,713 National Emergency Grant increment award to assist workers affected by automotive layoffs from Chrysler LLC in Fenton, Mo.; Integram St. Louis Seating in Pacific, Mo.; and Yushin USA in Kirksville, Mo. This funding represents the second and final installment of a $1,730,321 grant approved on April 23, 2008. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090477.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090477.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has issued a closure order under Section 104(b) of the Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act) to Snapco Inc. of Buchanan County, Va., after the mine operator failed to pay $396,576.84 in delinquent penalties and then ignored a demand to correct the failure. The order closes production at the company's Mine Number 2; the penalties stem from at least 360 violations cited at that operation. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/MSHA20090465.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/MSHA20090465.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,047,844 grant to assist approximately 240 workers affected by the closure of Fleetwood Enterprises Inc. manufacturing plants located in the rural communities of La Grande and Pendleton, Ore. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090415.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090415.htm In the week ending April 25, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 631,000, a decrease of 14,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 645,000. The 4-week moving average was 637,250, a decrease of 10,750 from the previous week's revised average of 648,000. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090452.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090452.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is initiating a comprehensive rulemaking on combustible dust. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090475.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090475.htm GovBenefits.gov, a collaborative effort of 17 federal agencies with content on more than 1,000 benefits and assistance programs, today is launching a Twitter account to provide continuous updates about the Web site’s resources. In this time of economic uncertainty, it is more important than ever to meet citizen demand for information about available benefits. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/oasam/OASAM20090460.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/oasam/OASAM20090460.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $3 million grant to create approximately 300 temporary cleanup and recovery jobs because of Florida's recent severe storms and flooding. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090453.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090453.htm During a groundbreaking ceremony for a workers’ memorial monument held today at the National Labor College in Silver Spring, Md., Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis paid tribute to the men and women who have lost their lives on the job. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090432.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090432.htm Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced that the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will convene a Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) panel May 5 on a draft proposed rule on occupational exposure to diacetyl and food flavorings containing diacetyl. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090431.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090431.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today made the following statement on equal pay: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/wb/wb20090458.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/wb/wb20090458.htm The U.S. Departments of Labor, Treasury, and Health and Human Services today announced publication of a request for information (RFI) soliciting public comments in advance of developing rulemakings on group health plans. The RFI is published in today's Federal Register. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20090458.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20090458.htm Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the appointment of Sandra Polaski as deputy undersecretary for international affairs at the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ilab/ILAB20090433.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ilab/ILAB20090433.htm For the 11th consecutive year, the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) today launched its annual "Stay Out — Stay Alive" public safety campaign to warn outdoor enthusiasts — especially children — about the dangers of playing on mine property. Since 1999, nearly 300 people have lost their lives in recreational accidents at mine properties. Almost half of all victims are 15 to 25 years of age, and the most common cause of death is drowning in a quarry. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/MSHA20090434.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/MSHA20090434.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,520,633 grant to assist approximately 300 workers affected by the closure of MPC Computers LLC in Nampa, Idaho. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090443.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090443.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $627,961 grant to assist approximately 87 workers affected by the sudden closure of Wood Structures Inc. headquartered in Biddeford, Maine, with a manufacturing facility in Saco, Maine. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090442.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090442.htm In the week ending April 18, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 640,000, an increase of 27,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 613,000. The 4-week moving average was 646,750, a decrease of 4,250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 651,000. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/ETA20090417.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/ETA20090417.htm The following is the written statement for the record of U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis, who today testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions regarding green jobs skills training for workers. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/OPA20090435.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/OPA20090435.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $54,227,780 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the commonwealth of Massachusetts. Massachusetts qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits. Massachusetts' approved application will be posted at the department's Employment and Training Administration Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/recovery. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090420.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090420.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $100,383,562 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Illinois. Illinois qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits. Illinois’ approved application will be posted at the department’s Employment and Training Administration Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/recovery. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090418.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090418.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $271,075 grant to assist approximately 75 workers affected by the closure of GE Lighting located in Willoughby, Ohio. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090392.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090392.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,680,000 grant to create approximately 140 temporary jobs in Minnesota related to the Red River flood cleanup and recovery effort. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090403.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090403.htm In the latest of a series of court actions pursued by the U.S. Department of Labor, a federal judge has ordered a Southern California cleaning service and its owners to pay $227,791 in post-judgment interest plus $2,400 in daily fines for failing to follow a 2007 order to pay nearly $3.5 million in back wages plus more than $1 million in liquidated damages to 385 workers. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090351.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090351.htm In the week ending April 11, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 610,000, a decrease of 53,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 663,000. The 4-week moving average was 651,000, a decrease of 8,500 from the previous week's revised average of 659,500. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090394.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090394.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $10,467,073 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of New Hampshire. New Hampshire qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits. New Hampshire’s approved application will be posted at the department’s Employment and Training Administration Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/recovery. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090401.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090401.htm In the week ending April 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 654,000, a decrease of 20,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 674,000. The 4-week moving average was 657,250, a decrease of 750 from the previous week's revised average of 658,000. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090360.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090360.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,409,877 grant to assist approximately 815 workers affected by mass layoffs and plant closures at 11 companies across three regions in southern Missouri. These include the Ozark region, the southeast region and the south central region. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090373.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090373.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has ordered Southern Air Inc., a Norwalk, Conn.-based air cargo carrier, to withdraw a lawsuit it filed against nine former employees and pay them more than $7.9 million in wages, damages and legal fees. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090346.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090346.htm IFCO Systems North America Inc., doing business as IFCO Systems, based in Houston has paid $1,602,267 in back wages to its employees after investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found that 1,751 employees in 17 states had not been properly paid for the overtime hours that they worked as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The Wage and Hour Division also fined the company $963,050 in civil money penalties. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090154.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090154.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $29,270,446 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Connecticut. Connecticut qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits. Connecticut's approved application will be posted at the department's Employment and Training Administration Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/recovery. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090372.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090372.htm "Our economy lost another 663,000 jobs in March, bringing the total number of Americans that have lost their jobs to 5.1 million since this recession began last year. The overall unemployment rate has increased to 8.5 percent. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/OPA20090364.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/OPA20090364.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $5,882,545 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of South Dakota. South Dakota qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits. South Dakota’s approved application will be posted at the department’s Employment and Training Administration Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/recovery. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090356.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090356.htm In the week ending March 28, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 669,000, an increase of 12,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 657,000. The 4-week moving average was 656,750, an increase of 6,500 from the previous week's revised average of 650,250. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090333.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090333.htm Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued a statement in commemoration of Cesar E. Chavez's birthday paying special tribute to the legacy of Cesar E. Chavez for championing the rights of farm laborers and all working people. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/OPA20090350.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/OPA20090350.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has revised its Field Operations Manual to provide OSHA compliance officers with a single comprehensive resource of updated guidance in implementing the agency's mission to more effectively protect employees from occupational injuries, illnesses and fatalities. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090338.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090338.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $254,516 grant to assist approximately 73 workers affected by layoffs at Wausau Paper Specialty Products LLC located in Jay, Maine. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090326.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090326.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an $8,342,254 grant to assist approximately 2,428 workers affected by layoffs at the General Motors Corp. truck assembly plant in Moraine, the Chrysler north assembly plant in Toledo, the GM Lordstown plant in Warren and 12 other supplier companies located in Ohio. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090329.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090329.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $757,678 grant to assist approximately 160 workers affected by layoffs at American Airlines Overhaul Base Facility located in Kansas City, Mo. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090330.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090330.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the American automotive industry: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/OPA20090345.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/OPA20090345.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1 million supplement to a previously awarded grant to the state of Minnesota to create approximately 50 temporary jobs to assist in continued clean-up efforts as a result of flash floods. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090317.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090317.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $329,652 grant to assist approximately 50 workers affected by layoffs at Boise Cascade LLC in La Grande, Ore. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090321.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090321.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,027,190 grant to Washington state to create approximately 130 temporary jobs to assist in flood cleanup efforts. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090300.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090300.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $986,796 grant to assist approximately 249 workers affected by layoffs at Hewlett-Packard (HP) Co. in Corvallis, Ore. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090309.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090309.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the release of $206,823,364 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of New Jersey. New Jersey qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by making state unemployment benefits available to part time workers, extending benefits for UI beneficiaries in training and allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090335.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090335.htm In the week ending March 21, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 652,000, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 644,000. The 4-week moving average was 649,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's revised average of 650,000. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090308.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090308.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Newport News, alleging that former National Football League (NFL) player Michael Vick and others violated federal employee benefits law by making a series of prohibited transfers from a pension plan sponsored by one of his companies. The department also simultaneously filed an adversary complaint in federal bankruptcy court to prevent Vick from discharging his alleged debt to the MV7 retirement plan. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20090319.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20090319.htm "I take the issues raised by the Government Accountability Office investigation regarding past Wage and Hour Division enforcement very seriously." http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090324.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090324.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the release of $4,900,171 in grant funds to create 534 temporary jobs in Texas to help clean up the state following Hurricane Dolly. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090310.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090310.htm The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) published in the March 20, 2009, edition of the Federal Register a notice extending to May 22, 2009, the applicability and effective dates of the final rule on investment advice under the Pension Protection Act (PPA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20090307.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20090307.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has issued policy guidance to grantees of the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) for the implementation of an additional $118,800,000 under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). This critical investment is designed to increase services and training for unemployed, low-income seniors. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090293.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090293.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,167,099 grant to the state of Arkansas to create approximately 151 temporary jobs related to cleanup after a winter storm. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090283.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090283.htm In a settlement filed with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in Detroit, Ecolab Inc. has agreed to pay $118,000 to a returning Iraq war veteran to resolve a Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) complaint investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/vets/VETS20090252.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/vets/VETS20090252.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today released four model notice packages that will enable group health plans and employers to provide notice on the availability of premium reductions and additional election opportunities under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20090292.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20090292.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $5,231,200 grant to the commonwealth of Kentucky to create approximately 503 temporary jobs related to cleanup after a severe winter storm. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090282.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090282.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an $877,096 grant to assist approximately 150 workers affected by layoffs at Northwood Manufacturing located in LaGrande, Ore. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090284.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090284.htm Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued a statement regarding the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) and the premium reduction under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20090301.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20090301.htm In the week ending March 14, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 646,000, a decrease of 12,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 658,000. The 4-week moving average was 654,750, an increase of 3,750 from the previous week's revised average of 651,000. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090275.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090275.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today will make available to employers nationwide a free database of 1,921 job candidates with disabilities seeking employment in a wide variety of fields. Federal employers can tap into this ongoing recruitment resource online at https://WRP.gov, and private sector, other government and nonprofit employers can request unlimited searches by calling a toll-free telephone number. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/ODEP20090290.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/opa/media/press/odep/ODEP20090290.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today issued policy guidance to states and outlying areas for the implementation of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) investments in core employment and training programs. This critical investment of $3,514,500,000 in the nation"s workforce system and network of One-Stop Career Centers is intended to help unemployed Americans upgrade their skills and get back to work. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090265.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090265.htm Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the withdrawal of an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) for occupational exposure to food flavorings containing diacetyl. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090227.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090227.htm The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) today announced the proposed suspension for nine months of a final rule implementing changes to the H-2A program, which allows U.S. agricultural businesses to employ foreign workers in temporary or seasonal agricultural jobs. The department’s proposed action is open for public comment for 10 days. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090243.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090243.htm In the week ending March 7, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 654,000, an increase of 9,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 645,000. The 4-week moving average was 650,000, an increase of 6,750 from the previous week's revised average of 643,250. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090240.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090240.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Penn-Mont Benefit Services Inc. of Bridgeport; its owner, John Koresko V; Koresko's law firms; and an attorney for the firms over alleged improper administration of death benefit plans marketed nationwide. The defendants allegedly underpaid benefits to participants, improperly withdrew more than $1 million in plan assets from the plans' trust, and illegally used assets to pay unreasonable and unnecessary lobbying expenses. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20090229.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20090229.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $299,232 grant to assist approximately 52 workers affected by layoffs at Bayliner Marine in Roseburg, Ore. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090257.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090257.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced to states and outlying areas their allotment levels for Labor Department-administered employment and training programs funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090249.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20090249.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Wirtz Labor Library has been selected by the American Library Association as the winner of the 2009 John Sessions Memorial Award, which honors a library or library system’s significant work with the labor community that has brought recognition to the history and contributions of the labor movement toward the development of the United States. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/oasam/OASAM20090202.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/oasam/OASAM20090202.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a settlement agreement with Consulting Services Group (CSG) of Memphis, Tenn., and its affiliated broker-dealer providing for restitution to plan clients as well as implementation of reforms and disclosures on compensation and fee arrangements with plan clients in the future. CSG already has paid $277,802.78 and agreed to pay a $27,780 in civil penalty. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20090250.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/EBSA20090250.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued a statement on the February 2009 Employment Situation report released today. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/OPA20090251.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/OPA20090251.htm In the week ending Feb. 28, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 639,000, a decrease of 31,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 670,000. The 4-week moving average was 641,750, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week's revised average of 639,750. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090220.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090220.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced its notification to former Metallurgical Laboratory workers about a new class of employees added to the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act's (EEOICPA) Special Exposure Cohort (SEC). The EEOICPA provides compensation and medical benefits to employees who became ill as a result of working in the nuclear weapons industry. Survivors of qualified employees may also be entitled to benefits. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090201.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090201.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $523,935 grant to assist approximately 130 workers affected by layoffs at JD Lumber Inc. in Priest River, Idaho; Sterling Mining Co. in Kellogg, Idaho; and U.S. Silver Corp. in Wallace, Idaho. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090188.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090188.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $500,000 grant to assist approximately 275 workers affected by layoffs at International Paper in Bastrop, La. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090191.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090191.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an $880,286 grant to assist approximately 165 workers affected by layoffs at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, Conn. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090187.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090187.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,199,132 grant to assist approximately 574 workers affected by layoffs from automotive industry suppliers across Missouri and in nearby Kansas. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090190.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090190.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has notified all former Mallinckrodt Chemical Co., Destrehan Street Plant workers about a new class of employees added to the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act's (EEOICPA) Special Exposure Cohort (SEC). The EEOICPA provides compensation and medical benefits to employees who became ill as a result of working in the nuclear weapons industry. Survivors of qualified employees may also be entitled to benefits. A worker who is included in a designated SEC class of employees, and who is diagnosed with one of 22 specified cancers, may receive a presumption of causation under the act. To date, more than $80 million in compensation and medical benefits has been paid to eligible Mallinckrodt Chemical Co., Destrehan Street Plant employees and more than $4.6 billion in compensation and medical benefits has been paid to eligible claimants nationwide under the act. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090200.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090200.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has announced that all former Vitro Manufacturing workers have now been added to the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act's (EEOICPA) Special Exposure Cohort (SEC). The EEOICPA provides compensation and medical benefits to employees who became ill as a result of working in the nuclear weapons industry. Survivors of qualified employees may also be entitled to benefits. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090199.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090199.htm Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced a weekly increase in unemployment compensation, as provided for in the stimulus legislation, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, enacted on Feb. 17. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090196.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090196.htm In the week ending Feb. 21, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 667,000, an increase of 36,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 631,000. The 4-week moving average was 639,000, an increase of 19,000 from the previous week's revised average of 620,000. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090179.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090179.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited A-1 Excavating Inc., Bloomer, Wis., for alleged willful violations of federal workplace safety standards, proposing nearly $700,000 in penalties for numerous life-threatening violations at a trenching operation in Weston, Wis. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090164.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090164.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited St. Louis, Mo.-based G.S. Robins and Co., doing business as Ro-Corp Inc., for alleged willful, repeat and serious violations of federal workplace safety standards, proposing more than $1.2 million in penalties for numerous violations relating to the handling of hazardous chemicals at the company's facility in East St. Louis. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090159.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090159.htm In the week ending Feb. 14, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 627,000, unchanged from the previous week's revised figure of 627,000. The 4-week moving average was 619,000, an increase of 10,500 from the previous week's revised average of 608,500. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090163.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090163.htm In the week ending Feb. 7, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 623,000, a decrease of 8,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 631,000. The 4-week moving average was 607,500, an increase of 24,000 from the previous week's revised average of 583,500. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090135.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090135.htm Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Edward C. Hugler issued the following statement on the January 2009 Employment Situation report released today: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/OPA20090146.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/OPA20090146.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $22 million grant to assist approximately 7,400 workers affected by financial industry layoffs in the New York, Connecticut and New Jersey Tri-State area. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090139.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20090139.htm The U.S. Department of Labor will, for the first time, release employment and unemployment data on people with disabilities on Friday, Feb. 6. This information will assist the nation in understanding how changing labor market conditions affect Americans with disabilities. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/ODEP20090133.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/ODEP20090133.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has announced that all former Connecticut Aircraft Nuclear Engine Laboratory (CANEL) workers have now been added to the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act’s (EEOICPA) Special Exposure Cohort (SEC). The EEOICPA provides compensation and medical benefits to employees who became ill as a result of working in the nuclear weapons industry. Survivors of qualified employees may also be entitled to benefits. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090113.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090113.htm In the week ending Jan. 31, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 626,000, an increase of 35,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 591,000. The 4-week moving average was 582,250, an increase of 39,000 from the previous week's revised average of 543,250. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/current.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090106.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that it has paid more than $100 million in compensation and medical benefits to Florida residents under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). The act was created to assist those individuals who became ill as a result of working in the atomic weapons industry. Survivors of such individuals may also be eligible for benefits. Since the implementation of the act, the Labor Department has paid 48,510 claimants more than $4.5 billion in compensation and medical benefits nationwide. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090112.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20090112.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will hold an informal public hearing on the proposed cranes and derricks in construction standard published in the Oct. 9, 2008, edition of the Federal Register (73 FR 59713). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090099.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/osha20090099.htm In the week ending Jan. 24, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 588,000, an increase of 3,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 585,000. The 4-week moving average was 542,500, an increase of 24,250 from the previous week's revised average of 518,250. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090084.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090084.htm In the week ending Jan. 17, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 589,000, an increase of 62,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 527,000. The 4-week moving average was 519,250, unchanged from the previous week's revised average of 519,250. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090066.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090066.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced publication of a final rule to make investment advice more accessible for millions of Americans in 401(k) type plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs). The final rule will be published in the Jan. 21, 2009, edition of the Federal Register. The rule includes a regulation that implements the new statutory exemption for investment advice added to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) by the Pension Protection Act (PPA) and a related class exemption. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/archive/ebsa20090051.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/archive/ebsa20090051.htm The Jan. 21 edition of the Federal Register will contain a U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on occupational exposure to diacetyl and food flavorings containing diacetyl. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/archive/osha20090072.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/archive/osha20090072.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded nearly $123 million to 68 community colleges and community-based institutions that competed successfully under the President's Community-Based Job Training Grants Initiative. Awardees were chosen from among 274 applications received in response to a competition announced Oct. 10, 2008. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090068.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090068.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $250,000 Regional Innovation Grant to a 12-county area encompassing western Kentucky, northwestern Tennessee and southern Illinois. Led by the West Kentucky Workforce Investment Board, area leaders will establish a regional strategic plan that promotes economic growth and is prepared for dislocation events. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090060.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090060.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) today announced that on Jan. 21 a final regulation will be published in the Federal Register to update the Form LM-2. The changes will ensure that relevant information on union finances is provided to rank-and-file union members to better ensure transparency and accountability as required by the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (LMRDA). The final rule continues the administration's commitment to transparency and accountability for corporations, pension funds and labor unions. The changes also reinforce the importance of timely and accurate reporting by establishing a procedure whereby the privilege to file the simplified report Form LM-3, which is designed for unions with receipts less than $250,000, may be revoked when warranted. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/archive/esa20090065.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/archive/esa20090065.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Frances Perkins Building, a two million-square-foot office building, recently was cited for earning the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) prestigious Energy Star, the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/oasam/archive/oasam20090052.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/oasam/archive/oasam20090052.htm A U.S. Department of Labor-led interagency work group to increase the number of people with disabilities in the federal workforce was formed this week as part of a continuing commitment to encouraging opportunities for workers with disabilities. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/archive/odep20090062.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/archive/odep20090062.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,891,738 grant to assist approximately 651 trade-affected workers of Hynix Semiconductor Manufacturing America Inc. in Eugene, Ore. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090059.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090059.htm Nestle Prepared Foods Co., a division of Nestle U.S.A., has paid nearly $5.1 million in back wages to more than 6,000 current and former workers following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/archive/esa20081886.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/archive/esa20081886.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $6 million grant to the state of California to fund approximately 353 temporary jobs to assist with continued cleanup efforts following the 2008 Southern California wildfires. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090058.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090058.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced nearly $5.5 million in awards to 18 faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs) as part of the President's Prisoner Re-entry Initiative (PRI). Each chosen group was awarded more than $300,000. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090061.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090061.htm Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs Charlotte M. Ponticelli today announced that the U.S. Department of Labor is presenting the first annual Iqbal Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labor to Maria Cecilia Flores-Oebanda of the Philippines. Flores-Oebanda, president and executive director of the Visayan Forum Foundation Inc. (VFF) based in Quezon City, Philippines, has dedicated her life to combating the use of child domestic workers and the trafficking of women and children for domestic servitude and commercial sexual exploitation in the Philippines and internationally. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ilab/archive/ILAB20090015.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ilab/archive/ILAB20090015.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $528,722 grant to assist workers affected by layoffs at Prime Tanning Co. Inc. in Berwick, Maine. Layoffs occurred on Sept. 29, 2008, and all production has since ceased at the Berwick facility. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090050.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090050.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $720,000 grant to the state of Indiana to create temporary jobs for cleanup and recovery efforts as a result of storms and flooding in September. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090030.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090030.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced $10 million in grants to increase access to technology-based learning. Twenty projects were selected from a pool of 193 applications. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090022.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090022.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) today announced the selection of five federal contractor establishments as the first recipients of the Good Faith Initiative for Veterans Employment (G-FIVE) program. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/archive/esa20090018.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/archive/esa20090018.htm Sandia Corp., doing business as Sandia National Laboratory in Albuquerque, has agreed to pay $2,077,248 in overtime back wages to 2,657 research employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation found violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/archive/esa20081638.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/archive/esa20081638.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) today announced its criminal enforcement data for December 2008. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/archive/esa20090014.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/archive/esa20090014.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today published in the Federal Register final changes to its Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) that, among other enhancements, allow participation by companies with mobile workforces. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/archive/osha20090006.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/archive/osha20090006.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) today released findings of the most extensive survey in history of employers' actions and attitudes toward employing people with disabilities. The report is available at www.dol.gov/odep. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/archive/odep20090011.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/archive/odep20090011.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao issued the following statement on the December 2008 employment situation report released today: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/archive/opa20090025.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/archive/opa20090025.htm Preliminary data from the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) released today show that mine fatalities in 2008 fell to an all-time low recording a 31 percent drop from 2007. Metal/nonmetal mines recorded the lowest level of fatalities in that sector of mining since statistics were first recorded in 1910, and the fatality level in coal mines was the lowest recorded number since 2005. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/archive/MSHA20090017.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/archive/MSHA20090017.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that it will launch an online digital library to archive its Web sites under a contract with the San Francisco-based Internet Archive. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/oasam/archive/oasam20091865.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/oasam/archive/oasam20091865.htm In the week ending Jan. 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 467,000, a decrease of 24,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 491,000. The 4-week moving average was 525,750, a decrease of 27,000 from the previous week's revised average of 552,750. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090005.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20090005.htm In fiscal year (FY) 2008, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) won a record $67,510,982 in back pay, salary and benefits for an unprecedented 24,508 American workers who had been subjected to unlawful employment discrimination. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/archive/esa20091868.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/archive/esa20091868.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) today announced its enforcement data for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008. In FY 2008, WHD recouped back wages totaling $185,287,827 for 228,645 workers. This represents a 40 percent increase over the FY 2001 figure. Since FY 2001, WHD has recouped more than $1.4 billion back wages for over two million workers. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/archive/esa20090001.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/archive/esa20090001.htm In the week ending Dec. 27, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 492,000, a decrease of 94,000 from the previous week's unrevised figure of 586,000. The 4-week moving average was 552,250, a decrease of 5,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 558,000. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081873.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081873.htm In the week ending Dec. 20, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 586,000, an increase of 30,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 556,000. The 4-week moving average was 558,000, an increase of 13,750 from the previous week's revised average of 544,250. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081855.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081855.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,019,861 grant to assist approximately 475 Missouri workers laid off from several companies in metropolitan St. Louis, including Continental AFA Dispensing Co., Macy's Inc., TRUE Fitness Technology and Western Union. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081864.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081864.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) continued to exceed enforcement goals during Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 according to data released today. The agency's emphasis on identifying and eliminating serious safety and health hazards has resulted in an unprecedented 80 percent of all violations issued being in the most serious categories. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/archive/osha20081859.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/archive/osha20081859.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today issued the following statement in response to the announcement that President-elect Barack Obama intends to nominate U.S. Rep. Hilda Solis as the next U.S. Secretary of Labor. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/archive/opa20081857.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/archive/opa20081857.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) today announced the publication of a final rule on priority of service for veterans and eligible spouses. The new regulations apply to "any workforce preparation, development or delivery program or service that is directly funded, in whole or in part, by the Department of Labor," as provided by the Jobs for Veterans Act (P.L. 107-288), enacted in 2002. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/vets/archive/vets20081862.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/vets/archive/vets20081862.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $10 million competition to connect workers 55 years and older to career opportunities in local industries. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081851.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081851.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has reached an agreement with Cintas Inc. that the company will pay almost $3 million in penalties to resolve six cases currently pending before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. All of the cases involve citations OSHA issued to Cintas for failing to lock out hazardous energy sources on industrial laundry equipment while employees were servicing the equipment. One case arose from OSHA's investigation of a fatal accident in which an employee fell into a dryer while attempting to correct a jammed conveyor. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/archive/osha20081853.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/archive/osha20081853.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and Employment Standards Administration (ESA) today published a final rule that modernizes the H-2A program for employing foreign workers in temporary or seasonal agricultural jobs, and enhances important worker protections. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081856.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081856.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has issued a final rule that enhances workers' protections and modernizes the application process under the H-2B temporary labor certification program. These changes and others finalized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security fulfill the administration's August 2007 pledge to review and update the foreign worker program regulations. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081820.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081820.htm In the week ending Dec. 13, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 554,000, a decrease of 21,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 575,000. The 4-week moving average was 543,750, an increase of 2,750 from the previous week's revised average of 541,000. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081822.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081822.htm Bradford P. Campbell, assistant secretary of labor for the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), today announced record-breaking cumulative monetary results of $11.9 billion for pension and other employee benefits plans in the last eight years. During that same time, 907 individuals were indicted for crimes related to employee benefit plans. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/archive/ebsa20081847.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ebsa/archive/ebsa20081847.htm Today U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao hosted the 20th Labor Hall of Fame induction ceremony of honorees Leonard F. Woodcock, former president of the United Auto Workers (UAW) and first U.S. Ambassador to the People's Republic of China, and John Willard "Bill" Marriott, the founder of Marriott International Inc. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/archive/opa20081845.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/archive/opa20081845.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) today announced its criminal enforcement data for November 2008. During the month, OLMS obtained five convictions and eight indictments, and payments or orders of restitution totaled more than $891,000. The office's November results bring its totals for fiscal year 2009, which began on Oct. 1, 2008, to 18 indictments, 15 convictions and payments or orders of restitution of $1,516,522. The bulk of the cases involved the embezzlement of union funds. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/archive/esa20081844.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/archive/esa20081844.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $3,190,122 grant to Oklahoma to provide services to approximately 550 civilian defense workers impacted statewide by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) actions. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081824.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081824.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an $859,829 grant to assist approximately 464 Florida workers affected by manufacturing layoffs at 12 companies within Citrus, Levy and Marion counties. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081816.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081816.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $4 million grant to the state of California to provide services to more than 700 U.S. Department of Defense civilian workers and private contractors affected locally by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) actions. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081787.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081787.htm In the week ending Dec. 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 573,000, an increase of 58,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 515,000. The 4-week moving average was 540,500, an increase of 14,250 from the previous week's revised average of 526,250. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081789.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081789.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) today announced that in the first year of the agency's 100 Percent Plan, the agency achieved its goal of completing every mandated regular inspection for the year. This success marks the first time in the agency's 31-year history that every mandated regular inspection was completed within the year. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/archive/MSHA20081800.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/archive/MSHA20081800.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao issued the following statement on the November employment situation report released today: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/archive/opa20081786.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/archive/opa20081786.htm In the week ending Nov. 29, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 509,000, a decrease of 21,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 530,000. The 4-week moving average was 524,500, an increase of 6,250 from the previous week's revised average of 518,250. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081763.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081763.htm 888 Consulting Group Inc., a Dedham, Mass., temporary employee placement company doing business as TAC Worldwide, has agreed to pay 973 employees across the country a total of $1,866,943 in overtime back wages to resolve a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Labor alleging violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/archive/esa20081734.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/archive/esa20081734.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $5 million grant to the state of Texas to assist approximately 3,727 U.S. Department of Defense civilian employees impacted statewide by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) actions. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081752.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081752.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao's statement on the November employment situation report. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/archive/opa20081786.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/archive/opa20081786.htm In the week ending Nov. 29, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 509,000, a decrease of 21,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 530,000. The 4-week moving average was 524,500, an increase of 6,250 from the previous week's revised average of 518,250. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081763.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081763.htm 888 Consulting Group Inc., a Dedham, Mass., temporary employee placement company doing business as TAC Worldwide, has agreed to pay 973 employees across the country a total of $1,866,943 in overtime back wages to resolve a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Labor alleging violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/archive/esa20081734.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/archive/esa20081734.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $5 million grant to the state of Texas to assist approximately 3,727 U.S. Department of Defense civilian employees impacted statewide by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) actions. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081752.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081752.htm In the week ending Nov. 22, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 529,000, a decrease of 14,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 543,000. The 4-week moving average was 518,000, an increase of 11,000 from the previous week's revised average of 507,000. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081741.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081741.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced the appointment of five members to the 12-person National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH). The committee, established under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, advises the Secretaries of labor and health and human services on occupational safety and health programs. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/archive/osha20081751.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/archive/osha20081751.htm Officials from the United States, Central America and the Dominican Republic today held the first meeting of the Labor Affairs Council established under the Dominican Republic–Central America–United States Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ilab/archive/ILAB20081749.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ilab/archive/ILAB20081749.htm U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today issued the following statement on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses showing a continued decline in nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/archive/osha20081737.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/archive/osha20081737.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $3,877,672 grant to assist approximately 386 workers affected by layoffs in the Wilmington Air Park area in Wilmington, Ohio. The layoffs occurred at DHL Express, ABX Air Inc. and ACS Business Process Solutions. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081739.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081739.htm Ceres Environmental Services Inc., headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., has agreed to pay $1,500,718 in back wages to 2,256 former debris removal workers. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/archive/esa20081528.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/archive/esa20081528.htm In the week ending Nov. 15, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 542,000, an increase of 27,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 515,000. The 4-week moving average was 506,500, an increase of 15,750 from the previous week's revised average of 490,750. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081696.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20081696.htm The U.S. Department of Labor today announced five awards worth nearly $10 million to build regional workforce investment system capacity to support careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/ETA20081639.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/ETA20081639.htm The U.S. Department of Labor has joined with the U.S. Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to launch a Web-based National Resource Directory to help wounded warriors identify resources available to assist them in transitioning back to civilian life. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/archive/odep20081727.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/archive/odep20081727.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) today announced its criminal enforcement data for October 2008. During the month, OLMS obtained 10 convictions and nine indictments, and restitution totaling more than $625,000 was paid or ordered by the courts. http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/archive/esa20081724.htm http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/archive/esa20081724.htm