Washington – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) will host a free retirement planning workshop on Jan. 13, 2010, at the Oxon Hill Public Library in Oxon Hill, Md., to help the public understand how much they will need for a financially secure retirement and ways to close the retirement savings gap. Department of Labor representatives will be joined by a representative from the Social Security Administration.

Pittsburgh – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has obtained a consent agreement with Patrick P. Bane, president of defunct Comtel Communications Inc., requiring him to restore employee contributions owed to the company's 401(k) plan.

The consent order, issued by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, requires the defendant to restore $13,651.18 to the 401(k) plan and removes him as trustee of the plan.

Minneapolis – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued the owner of Marcel's Coffee Gourmet Inc. in Minneapolis for allegedly using employee contributions owed to the company's savings incentive match plan for employees individual retirement account (SIMPLE IRA) to pay the operating expenses of the company. Marcel's Coffee Gourmet Inc. was a distributor of coffee and coffee supplies until it ceased operations in December 2008.

Raleigh, NC - The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment requiring Dale Everett White and Howell Anderson Vaughan to restore $73,432.25 to the Carolina Express Care P.A. 401(k) plan and removing them as fiduciaries of the plan. The judgment resulted from an investigation into alleged violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

Nashville, TN - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Mark Black, Tom Black and their former company, Synergy Holdings Inc. in Nashville, for allegedly violating the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) by failing to administer the company's 401(k) plan.

The lawsuit alleges that the defendants breached their fiduciary responsibilities when they failed to terminate the company's 401(k) profit-sharing plan and distribute the assets to plan participants after the company ceased operations in 2006.

Atlanta - The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a default judgment barring People Unlimited Consulting Inc. and two of its officers, Janice Love and Linda Marler, from serving in a fiduciary capacity to any employee benefit plan governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

WASHINGTON — 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).

SEATTLE — 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.

Pasadena, California – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) will sponsor “Getting It Right – Know Your Fiduciary Responsibilities,” a free retirement plan seminar in Pasadena on January 28, 2010 at the Pasadena Public Library Auditorium.

This seminar is part of EBSA’s national fiduciary education campaign to increase awareness and understanding of basic responsibilities associated with operating private sector retirement plans.

Boston - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Manchester Moving and Storage Inc., based in Manchester, Conn., and company president Frank N. Serignese for alleged misuse of more than $36,000 belonging to the employees of the company's 401(k) plan.

Arlington, Virginia – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit to obtain appointment of an independent fiduciary to oversee the 401(k) plan of Global System Enterprises Inc., a defunct company formerly located in Arlington.

“Abandonment of a retirement plan is not an option for companies that go out of business,” said Mabel Capolongo, director of the department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. “Employers have a legal responsibility to protect the interests of plan participants.”

WASHINGTON – 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).

The certification includes workers at five Delphi Ohio facilities in Howland, Warren, Rootstown, Vienna and Cortland counties, as well as workers at Cleveland Casting Plant in Cleveland, Ohio.

WASHINGTON – 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.

"Today's grant will help these Oregonians access the re-employment and retraining services that are so crucial to transitioning into new careers in promising sectors of the economy," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

WASHINGTON 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.

Boston - The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment ordering Yongsik Lee, president and owner of the now-defunct United Automation Technologies Inc. of Westborough, Mass., to properly administer and bring to termination the company's 401(k) plan.

Atlanta – A federal district court in Atlanta has ordered Insight Research and its president, Allen McMillon, to repay to the company's 401(k) plan $99,784.42 plus additional lost earnings accrued between Sept. 22, 2009, and the date of the judgment.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA 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.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.9 percent for the week ending Nov. 28, a decrease of 0.2 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.1 percent.

Effort responds to President Obamas directive that federal agencies consult tribes on recommended practices

WASHINGTON – 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.

WASHINGTON – 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).

Effort will promote labor rights of Mexican and other Hispanic workers in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut