A bright future and good jobs in clean energy

In Michigan on Tuesday, Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su joined Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, UAW President Shawn Fain, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Rep. Elissa Slotkin to announce new training guidelines for apprentices and workers in battery manufacturing. This will prepare workers to get into good union jobs while working towards the clean energy transition, as well as helping ensure America’s businesses and workers remain at the forefront of the global economy. Su also met with women working in clean energy, highlighting the need to make sure everyone has an opportunity to help build our clean energy future. 

On Wednesday, Acting Secretary Su visited a GILLIG transit bus production facility in Northern California that is manufacturing battery electric and low-emission hybrid buses. While there, she met with leaders to discuss their commitment to union labor and collective bargaining for more than 700 workers. With Interior Secretary Deb Haaland she also toured an offshore wind project in Humboldt Bay that's putting workers on the path to high-quality, good-paying jobs while building a clean energy future.

Our investigators found Tuff Torq Corp. – a Tennessee parts manufacturer for major companies including John Deere, Toro and Yamaha – employed children in dangerous jobs and violated workers’ rights. In addition to paying a $296,951 civil money penalty, the company must also set aside $1.5 million in profits from child labor and compensate the affected children. 

We recovered over $1.5 million for more than 400 workers on a multi-billion-dollar federal program at a California Navy base. 

At the National Association of Workforce Board’s Annual Forum, Acting Secretary Su highlighted the Biden-Harris administration’s investments in the workforce and job quality initiatives. She also challenged attendees to ensure artificial intelligence is used in a way that combats inequity and makes life better for workers. "It's up to all of us to make sure that as technology leaps forward, people are not left behind,” she said.

A new resource aims to boost the participation of people with disabilities in competitive integrated employment.

We awarded more than $3 million in grants this week, including:

• Over $2.9 million to continue clean-up and recovery efforts after Northern California’s 2021 wildfires 
• $175,000 to continue disaster-relief employment for Mississippi residents following severe weather in March 2023

OSHA found that an Alabama forklift parts manufacturer could have prevented a 38-year-old foundry worker’s fatal injuries by following established safety rules.

We’ve filed a complaint against an Illinois tree service company for overtime violations, seeking $963,854 in back wages and damages for 29 workers. 

A Baskin Robbins franchisee in Utah allowed 64 employees ages 14 and 15 to work later and longer than the law allows at 8 locations.

A roofing company and serial safety violator has stopped contesting the egregious willful and other citations it received and the $687,536 penalty OSHA assessed after a 2022 investigation. 

We have information and tools to help you make informed decisions about your well-being and retirement security.

Have you heard of Crystal Eastman? Her framework remains the foundation of the workers' comp system in the United States today.

MSHA completed impact inspections at mines in nine states in February, identifying 207 violations – including 58 that were "serious and substantial."

Starting April 1, covered contractors can start submitting online to OFCCP certifying that they have developed and sustained affirmative action program compliance.

We’ve launched a new Responsible Business Conduct and Labor Rights InfoHub as a one-stop-shop for companies to find U.S. government policies and resources.

On March 25, 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire killed 146 workers and injured dozens more. While trying to escape the fire, the workers (most of whom were immigrant women) encountered locked doors and broken fire escapes.
-@USDOL

• Teen Vogue (op-ed): Secretary of Labor Julie Su on the Worker Movement 113 Years After the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
• Washington Post: Tennessee company fined $300,000 for hiring kids to run heavy machinery
• Salt Lake Tribune: Eight Baskin-Robbins stores in Utah fined almost $50K for violating federal child labor law
• ABC News: Manufacturing firm ordered to turn over $1.5M in profits for child labor violations