WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today inducted the essential workers of the coronavirus pandemic into the Department of Labor’s Hall of Honor in recognition of their sacrifices and continuous efforts to support America’s communities through the pandemic.

Essential workers, including teachers, grocery workers and transportation workers who sustained our economy since 2020 attended the event and spoke about how becoming an essential worker during the pandemic affected their lives and the lives of their families. These workers and their families represent a small part of a much larger group of essential workers now commemorated in the department’s Hall of Honor.

“The Hall of Honor is about people who changed history, and that’s exactly what the essential workers of the coronavirus pandemic did for our country,” said Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “Today, we remember the essential workers who passed away during the pandemic and honor the ongoing labor of all essential workers. I am so grateful for the chance to thank some of them in person during our Hall of Honor induction ceremony, and in my travels around the country.”

“These are the workers who put their heart and soul into helping their communities during the worst days of the pandemic – and whom we continue to depend on every day,” said Deputy Secretary of Labor Julie A. Su. “As we honor these essential workers, we also have a new understanding and appreciation of how our economy and society depends on the tremendous hard work, commitment, creativity, resilience and sacrifices of workers every single day.”

Watch a video honoring the essential workers of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Labor Department’s Hall of Honor was established in 1988 to honor those whose distinctive contributions in the field of labor have elevated working conditions, wages and overall quality of life of America's working families. It is the highest honor bestowed by the department.

Read more from Secretary Walsh on how the department is celebrating the strength of America’s workforce this Labor Day.

Learn more about Labor Day.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor kicked off Labor Rights Week 2022 today with the first in a series of nationwide events at the Consular Section of the Mexican Embassy in Washington. Department representatives met with Ambassador Esteban Moctezuma, Rafael Laveaga, Chief of Consular Section of the Embassy of Mexico, Vanessa Calva, General Director for Consular Protections and Strategic Planning, Jessica Mendoza, Consul General of Guatemala, Lorena Mojica, Vice Consul of El Salvador and Allan Agurcia, Consul from the Consular Section of the Embassy of Honduras.

The meeting marks the start of outreach events throughout the country, sponsored by many U.S. government agencies and U.S. consulates of Mexico and several Central and Latin American countries to raise awareness and inform employers and workers of federal responsibilities and protections. Begun in 2009, Labor Rights Week has grown to include hundreds of local events.

The department’s contingent was led by Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker, Wage and Hour Division Principal Deputy Administrator Jessica Looman and Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs Thea Lee. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission and National Labor Relations Board representatives also participated.

“Labor Rights Week is a time to recommit to our promise of protecting the rights of low-wage and vulnerable workers,” said Wage and Hour Division Principal Deputy Administrator Jessica Looman. “Joining with leaders representing native countries of many of these workers, the U.S. Department of Labor is committed to ensuring employers understand legal responsibilities and that workers know they have protections under to the law to secure their wages, safety and well-being, and to prevent workplace discrimination and harassment.”

“We are working to make sure that all workers, regardless of their citizenship status, the color of their skin, or the language they speak, fully enjoy the right to a safe and healthy workplace,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker. “We are committed to embedding equity in our policies and programs so that all workers know their rights and get the protections they deserve.”

“We want to ensure that every person who comes to the United States seeking work has access to good, safe jobs that pay a decent wage and that they do not face any kind of discrimination or harassment – regardless of their immigration status. This is especially important in essential sectors such as agriculture, where many migrant workers pick, process and put food on our table. This means protecting their rights as workers from the time they are recruited in their home country through their time on the job in the U.S. and their return home,” said Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs Thea Lee. “And, in keeping with our labor commitments under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement, we know that protecting migrant Mexican workers in the U.S. will improve working conditions for all workers, including U.S.-born workers.”

From Aug. 29-Sept. 2, Labor Rights Week events will focus on issues such as wage theft, workplace safety, women’s workplace rights, protections for workers employed under the H-2A and H-2B programs, disability protections and human trafficking.

WASHINGTON – To support the Biden-Harris administration’s progress in advancing environmental justice, the U.S. Department of Labor has added programs to the Justice40 initiative. The Justice40 initiative aims to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of climate, clean energy, training and workforce development, and other federal investments to disadvantaged communities.

In January 2021, President Biden’s Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad directed all federal departments to review programs for inclusion in the Justice40 initiative as part of a whole-of-government initiative to advance environmental justice.

The department added the following existing programs to the Justice40 initiative, all of which are administered by its Employment and Training Administration:

• Reentry Employment Opportunities program
• YouthBuild program
• Job Corps
• Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities program.

“Achieving broad-based economic equity, environmental justice, and good jobs for all is an opportunity that we are privileged to have, and proud to take action on,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “The programs selected for this groundbreaking effort are proven sustainable pathways for communities facing environmental injustices. Their impact will be strengthened by their inclusion in President Biden’s coordinated, whole-of-government Justice40 initiative.” 

In total, hundreds of federal programs, representing billions of dollars in annual investments across the federal government, are being reimagined and transformed to maximize benefits to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved and overburdened by pollution.

Learn more about the Justice40 initiative.

Learn more about department’s environmental justice efforts.

WASHINGTON – Representing the U.S. government, the Department of Labor and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative applauded efforts by the government of Mexico to resolve a Rapid Response Mechanism petition concerning workers’ rights at the Teksid Hierro de México automotive parts manufacturing facility in  Coahuila, Mexico.

On June 6, 2022, Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai made it known that the U.S. had asked Mexico to review denial of worker’s rights of free association and collective bargaining at the facility.

A review of the allegations led the Mexican government to acknowledge the denial of rights and to facilitate an agreement between Los Mineros, an independent labor union, and Teksid, that addresses the claims in the petition. As a result, the company now recognizes the independent union as the workers’ sole bargaining representative, will repay dues owed to Los Mineros for multiple years and has reinstated – with full back pay – 36 workers terminated reportedly for participating in union activity and a peaceful protest at the facility.

“The labor and trade policies of the Biden-Harris administration continue to make workers’ interests a priority, and the outcome at the Teksid auto parts plant shows the benefits of these policies,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “The measures taken after invoking the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement Rapid Response Mechanism will help end eight years of rights violations against Teksid workers and advance their freedom of association and ability to collectively bargain.”

“We appreciate our collaboration with Mexico’s Secretariat of Labor and Social Welfare in the successful closure of the Rapid Response Mechanism petition and will continue to monitor the situation with our Mexican counterparts,” Secretary Walsh added.

During investigation of the allegations, attachés from the department’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs visited Frontera to interview stakeholders, conduct worker testimony and collect evidence that helped lead to the successful resolution. The Teksid Hierro facility develops, industrializes and manufactures cylinder heads and cylinder blocks for industrial vehicles, including Cummins, Volvo and Mack trucks.

“This resolution is yet another example of the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to defending the rights of workers. This successful outcome demonstrates that we are creating a more competitive North American economy where workers and unions can operate on a level playing field,” said Ambassador Katherine Tai. “The actions announced today reflect the shared intent of the United States and Mexico to ensure that trade benefits workers on both sides of the border. We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with the Government of Mexico to defend the rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining.”

Filed under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the Teksid petition marks the fourth time the U.S. government has successfully used the mechanism to benefit workers.

Learn more about the department’s international work.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Deputy Secretary of Labor Julie Su today met with Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi and other workforce leaders and stakeholders to discuss how the department can align systems, strengthen partnerships and leverage resources to connect workers to good jobs in critical in-demand industries.

Deputy Secretary Su’s visit is the latest demonstration of the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to support Puerto Rico’s long-term recovery and renewal.

“The U.S. Department of Labor’s investments in training and collaborative initiatives with public and private employers and labor will help Puerto Rico connect trained workers with the employers who need them,” said Deputy Secretary of Labor Julie Su. “Workers in Puerto Rico deserve equitable access to good jobs and this visit builds on the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to deliver on the vision of creating jobs where workers are paid wages that allow them to support their families and where they feel safe, secure and empowered.”

Deputy Secretary Su discussed the administration and the department’s prioritization of improving federal, state and local workforce partnerships to create opportunities for workers in Puerto Rico, while meeting the needs of employers. During her meeting with the governor, the Deputy Secretary also emphasized the need for cross-agency collaboration – among federal agencies as well as between Puerto Rico’s governmental agencies – for an all of government approach to deliver on the good jobs vision.

In addition to the meeting with Gov. Pierluisi, Deputy Secretary Su also visited Luma College to learn how they have leveraged labor management partnerships and developed registered apprenticeships to build talent pipelines for people on the island. The Deputy Secretary also met with workforce training providers to discuss implementation of successful workforce strategies at the local level.  

WASHINGTON – The U.S. government today requested the Mexican government review whether the rights of free association and collective bargaining have been denied to workers at the VU Manufacturing parts facility in Piedras Negras, Coahuila. 

The Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement – co-chaired by the Department of Labor and the U.S. Trade Representative – recommended the request, citing a USMCA Rapid Response Labor Mechanism petition received on June 21, 2022, from a Mexican labor union and a worker advocacy group. The petition – filed by Liga Sindical Obrera Mexicana and the Comité Fronterizo de Obreras – alleges VU Manufacturing interfered with the workers’ ability to choose their union, a violation of their rights to associate and collectively bargain.

“In keeping with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the U.S. Department of Labor seeks to level the playing field for workers and businesses on both sides of the border and to promote growth and stability in the region,” said Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “We recognize the ongoing efforts of the Mexican government to work with us to resolve concerns and to ensure workers may choose their union freely and collectively bargain.”

After its review of the allegations, the Interagency Labor Committee found sufficient and credible evidence that workers’ rights were denied at VU Manufacturing, which enabled the good faith invocation of the Rapid Response Labor Mechanism. The Mexican government has 10 days to determine whether to conduct a review and 45 days to investigate the claims and present its findings.  

VU Manufacturing is an automotive soft trim supplier based in Troy, Michigan, with manufacturing and support facilities in the U.S. and Mexico.

The USMCA Rapid Response Labor Mechanism allows the U.S. to take enforcement action based on the labor situation at an individual factory in Mexico if that facility fails to comply with domestic freedom of association and collective bargaining laws. The Piedras Negras petition is the fifth request filed under the mechanism.

Learn more about the department’s international work.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh and Spain’s Second Vice President and Minister of Labor and Social Economy Yolanda Díaz Pérez met in Washington on July 20, 2022, to sign a Memorandum of Understanding that reasserts both countries’ commitment to addressing a wide range of concerns affecting workers and underserved populations. 

“The Memorandum of Understanding between the labor departments in the U.S. and Spain signifies our shared commitment to giving workers a stronger voice, protecting workers’ rights, ensuring equity for vulnerable populations, and addressing climate change and the increased risks of heat illness,” explained Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “This partnership is testament to the strength of our relationship and an indication that our joint efforts to protect working people in both countries is paramount.”

Learn more about the department’s international work.

WASHINGTON – At today’s National Cyber Workforce and Education Summit at the White House, Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the 120-Day Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint, an effort to support numerous industries’ use of Registered Apprenticeships to develop and train a skilled and diverse cybersecurity workforce.

The 120-Day Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint supports the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to expand Registered Apprenticeships to meet industry’s need for talent and to connect underserved communities to good jobs. Improving the nation’s cybersecurity apparatus is critical to the nation’s economic and national security, and today’s announcement will ensure enough qualified applicants are prepared for these careers.

“The 120-Day Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint will increase awareness of current successful cybersecurity-related Registered Apprenticeship programs while recruiting employers and industry associations to expand and promote Registered Apprenticeships as a means to provide workers with high-quality, earn-as-you-learn training for good-paying cybersecurity jobs,” said Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “These newly trained workers will help protect our critical infrastructure, advance our digital way of life, strengthen our economy and improve access to cybersecurity career paths for underrepresented communities, especially women, people of color, veterans and people with disabilities.”

“Right now, we have hundreds of thousands of critical cybersecurity jobs open, and Registered Apprenticeships are key to training new workers and connecting them to these opportunities,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “The Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint will help build employer-led partnerships that will meet the industry’s need for talent and allow Americans to access quality, high-paying jobs. By using the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity, employers will ensure that all apprentices benefit from a standardized approach to cybersecurity education and training.”

The partnership between the departments of Labor, Commerce, other federal agencies and the White House Office of the National Cyber Director seeks to recruit employers, industry associations, labor unions, educational providers, community-based organizations and others to establish Registered Apprenticeship programs or to join existing programs to ensure the nation’s economic sectors have greater numbers of qualified cybersecurity workers. The sprint will continue until National Apprenticeship Week, Nov. 14-20, 2022.

There are currently 714 registered apprenticeship programs and 42,260 apprentices in cybersecurity-related occupations. Since Jan. 20, 2021, 199 new programs have been created – a 28 percent increase during the Biden-Harris administration. The 120-Day Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint will build upon this progress and focus on creating new pathways for workers in cybersecurity or a related field through partnerships with K-12, higher education, workforce partners and training programs. Introducing more employers to the potential of cybersecurity Registered Apprenticeships is essential to fill the nearly 700,000 open cybersecurity jobs, which span all industries.

Registered Apprenticeship is an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience with a mentor, classroom instruction and a portable, nationally recognized credential. Registered Apprenticeships are an effective recruitment, retention and training strategy to build a skilled and diverse workforce. 

Learn more about the Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint and Registered Apprenticeships.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh issued the following statement on the June 2022 Employment Situation Report:

“Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the American economy added 372,000 jobs in the month of June, and the unemployment rate remained at 3.6 percent for the fourth consecutive month. Since President Biden took office America has added over nine million jobs, and the private sector economy has now more than fully recovered from its pandemic-era job losses – a major milestone that reflects both the success of the administration’s economic policies and the profound resilience of America’s businesses and workers.

“Building on the historically strong recovery made possible by the American Rescue Plan, the economy is transitioning into steady, stable job growth that benefits America’s workers. Unemployment remains low and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is investing billions of dollars into communities and creating good jobs all across the country. In addition, the manufacturing sector is now fully recovered and the hard-hit childcare services and nursing and residential care sectors are growing. This economy is working for working families.

"Many of the workers most adversely affected by the pandemic – particularly women, people of color, people with disabilities, lower-wage workers and workers from other historically marginalized communities – are benefitting from this recovery through higher wages and more job opportunities. However, they still face barriers to finding quality jobs. The Department of Labor is directly addressing these longstanding inequities via its Good Jobs Initiative, including through the expansion of equity-focused workforce development. This week the department awarded nearly $122 million in Apprenticeship Building America grants to programs across the country that provide diverse workers with new skills and guaranteed pathways into good, in-demand jobs. We also announced up to $140 million in funding available through Quality Jobs, Equity, Strategy and Training grants to provide jobs and employment training and services for America’s unemployed and underemployed workers. We are committed to empowering all workers morning, noon and night to take advantage of this strong economy and achieve equitable pathways into the middle class.”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh issued the following statement regarding the termination of the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers Program:

“Since it was first established by the Trade Act of 1974, the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers Program has provided training, income support, employment and case management services, job search and relocation allowances to eligible, certified worker groups for benefits due to job losses or wage reductions resulting from global trade. TAA has helped more than 2.5 million workers obtain the skills, training, resource and support they need to become reemployed in quality jobs.

“The termination of TAA affects nearly 100,000 workers annually who depend on adjustment assistance. Additionally, thousands of workers who experience layoffs after June 30, 2022, and would have been entitled to receive benefits will no longer be eligible for TAA – even if they have a certified petition. The department is assessing how other Employment and Training Administration workforce programs can support these workers.

“Only Congress can affirm the importance of TAA and reauthorize the program. Until then, the department will continue to work with state officials to administer all entitlements under the TAA for Workers Program until the last worker leaves.

“The Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers Program expired last night at 11:59 p.m. ET and the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration has begun phasing-out activities. The termination provisions under Section 285(a) of the Trade Act of 1974 require the department to cease making determinations on petitions immediately. The department may continue to make determinations on requests to amend previously certified petitions.

“The department recently published a training and employment guidance letter to explain the operation status of petitions and investigations, fiscal funding and the administration of benefits and services for participants after June 30, 2022. Fiscal Year 2022 program training funds will be available to states through 2025.”