Protecting people first

The Biden-Harris administration has delivered over $344 million in federal assistance to communities affected by Hurricane Helene – with more to come. As residents and businesses throughout the Southeast recover from the impact of Helene and Milton, more than 1,500 troops, 6,100 National Guard members, and 7,000 federal personnel are on the ground offering support – including Labor Department staff. We continue to caution response and recovery crews, and residents in the Southeast, to be aware of hazards related to flooding, power loss, structural damage, fallen trees and storm debris. Questions? Call OSHA’s toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742).

• Learn more about cleaning up after hurricanes
• Find flood safety tips and resources
• Explore disaster recovery resources related to wages, workplace benefits and more
• Find more resources on the federal response to Hurricane Helene
• Find more resources on the federal response to Hurricane Milton

Acting Secretary Julie Su issued a statement of congratulations after the International Longshoremen's Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance tentatively agreed on a wage package that reopens East and Gulf Coast ports as they finish bargaining. “When unions are strong, our economy is strong, and our country is strong,” she said.

Joining the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers for the union’s Executive Council Meeting in Washington, D.C., Acting Secretary Su talked about the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to closing the wage gap between CEOs and frontline workers, to make sure working people live with dignity and security — and ensuring that everyone gets their fair share of the pie. “We know that this can’t happen unless workers have real power on the job, which is why unions are so important,” she said. Learn more about unions and collective bargaining rights.

A Washington state farm labor contractor that housed farmworkers in unhealthy living conditions, allowed unlicensed drivers to transport them in unsafe vehicles, withheld wages, made illegal pay deductions, and told workers to falsify documents to hide its violations was fined $252,475 and debarred from the H-2A temporary worker program for three years.

To address a troubling increase in preventable deaths and injuries, OSHA has launched a regional emphasis program to address worker safety in the highly hazardous grain-handling industry to protect workers in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.

We’re celebrating the 10th annual National Apprenticeship Week from Nov. 17-23, 2024, to recognize how Registered Apprenticeships develop skilled workers who meet industry needs, create pathways for career seekers to access good jobs, advance racial and gender equity, and strengthen our economy.

We’ve approved up to $5 million in initial emergency grant funding to support jobs and training services in 31 Florida counties to help respond to Hurricane Helene.

OSHA has cited an employer that exposed Nebraska grain workers to deadly combustible dust risks, identifying 24 violations and proposing more than $500,000 in penalties. 

A subsidiary of federal contractor Ball Corp. will pay $309,000 to address alleged race-based discrimination at a plant in Georgia.

OSHA cited Wholestone Farms Cooperative Inc. in Nebraska for exposing employees to repetitive stress and slip and fall hazards, proposing $36,873 in penalties.

Our Wage and Hour Division recovered more than $66,000 for workers after finding La Flor de Mexico, a tortilla manufacturer near Los Angeles, did not pay minimum and overtime wages.

The department received an overall ‘A’ grade on the latest FITARA scorecard for its federal IT strategy.

Acting Secretary Su says the jobs report shows the economy continues to thrive, adding 254,000 jobs in September, with unemployment falling to 4.1 percent. People who need a job are finding a job. 

I SAID YES!!!! 🥰❤️🎉🏗️They asked if I support unions.

-@ActSecJulieSu

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