NEW YORK – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against the trustees of the pension plan, annuity fund and vacation fund of Exhibition Employees Local 829 of the International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees in New York for numerous violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, resulted from an investigation by the New York Regional Office of the department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration.

URBANDALE, Iowa – The U.S. Department of Labor is suing Silicon Plains Technologies Inc. and former CEO Greg McCormick to restore $36,631.88 in employee contributions and $1,943.79 in loan repayments from employees’ paychecks that were withheld but never forwarded to the company’s 401(k) plan, in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

Silicon Plains Technologies was located in Urbandale and provided system design, consultation and custom computer programming services. McCormick served as the company’s CEO from 1993 to 2009.

WASHINGTON Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the February 2012 Employment Situation report released today:

"Our nation's labor market continued to register solid growth in the month of February. The economy added 233,000 private sector jobs last month, while the unemployment rate held steady at a three-year low of 8.3 percent.

Interested parties may submit comments through March 21

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has announced a nine-day extension of the comment period for its proposed rule to provide minimum wage and overtime protections for nearly 2 million workers who provide in-home care services.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of $346 million in grants through the Senior Community Service Employment Program to provide community service-based job training opportunities for unemployed older Americans.

"The job training programs funded through these grants will enhance employment opportunities for seniors through training while also linking them with businesses that are looking for qualified employees," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending March 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 362,000, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 354,000. The 4-week moving average was 355,000, an increase of 250 from the previous week's revised average of 354,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.7 percent for the week ending February 25, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

WASHINGTON Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding International Women's Day:

"Today people all over the world will celebrate International Women's Day, honoring the power, strength and contributions of all women. Together, we not only recognize the economic, political and social achievements of women, but the struggle and sacrifice it took to get here, too.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the availability of approximately $75 million in YouthBuild grant funds to develop programs that will help out-of-school youth complete high school or General Educational Development programs, as well as learn critical occupational skills in construction, health care, information technology and other fields.

Date of Action: March 7, 2012

Type of Action: Complaint

Name(s) of Defendant: Rusty’s Truck Service, Inc. Profit Sharing Plan

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today released the results of its internal review of the agency's actions prior to the April 5, 2010, explosion that killed 29 miners at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Raleigh County, W.Va. The internal review team, comprised of MSHA employees outside the district where the accident occurred, was charged with evaluating agency actions relative to the explosion and making recommendations to improve the agency's performance in order to better protect the nation's miners.

WASHINGTON Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the death of Rep. Donald Payne:

"I want to express my deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the family of Rep. Donald Payne. Words cannot express how saddened I was to learn of his passing.

"I had the privilege of working with Don for more than a decade. He was a mentor, a colleague and a friend.

WASHINGTON – Moving forward with continuing efforts to strengthen employees' voices in the workplace, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced a major restructuring of its Office of the Whistleblower Protection Program. The program will now report directly to the agency's Office of the Assistant Secretary instead of to its Directorate of Enforcement Programs.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending February 25, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 351,000, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 353,000. The 4-week moving average was 354,000, a decrease of 5,500 from the previous week's revised average of 359,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.7 percent for the week ending February 18, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration today announced a two-week extension of the comment period on its proposed rule requiring multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs) to register with the department.

Interested parties now have until March 19, 2012, to submit comments on the proposed rule via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov, or by mail, hand or electronic delivery to the agency at E-OHPSCAMEWARegistration.EBSA@dol.gov.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 253 citations, orders and safeguards during special impact inspections conducted at 12 coal mines and four metal/nonmetal mines last month. The coal mines were issued 171 citations, 15 orders and two safeguards, while the metal/nonmetal operations were issued 64 citations and one order.

New resources and updates part of ongoing commitment to optimizing performance and customer service

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration today announced an annual change to allowable charges for meals and subsistence reimbursements, and a nonmaterial change to wage rate determinations for the H-2A worker program. Both notices will be published in the March 2 edition of the Federal Register and can be viewed at http://s.dol.gov/O9.

SAUK VILLAGE, Ill. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has ordered Interline Logistics Group LLC to immediately reinstate a truck driver in Sauk Village, who was terminated after reporting safety concerns about the brakes on his truck and refusing to violate U.S. Department of Transportation regulations for allowable driving and rest hours.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced an $8,563,333 National Emergency Grant increment to continue cleanup and recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, which struck Puerto Rico in August 2011.

"Puerto Rico is still recovering from the damage and devastation of this massive storm," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "The additional federal assistance announced today will enable the people of Puerto Rico to complete the hard work of cleanup and recovery."

Sec rep to cover activities in Florida, Georgia, Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the appointment of Millie Herrera as her regional representative in Florida, Georgia, Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina. Herrera is based in Miami, Fla.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, also known as the ERISA Advisory Council, will meet Tuesday, March 13, at Labor Department headquarters, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20210, in Room S-2508.