December 2, 2009

US Department of Labor settles allegations over foreign worker program violations with bankrupt Arizona tomato grower

Agreement will result in payment of more than $937,000 in back wages, interest to nearly 600 US workers at Eurofresh Inc.

PHOENIX — Eurofresh Inc. of Willcox, Ariz., has reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division to pay $937,460 in back wages and interest to 587 U.S. workers following an investigation into company practices related to hiring temporary, non-immigrant foreign agricultural workers.

December 2, 2009

Federal court holds Gulfport, Mississippi, defendant liable for more than $300,000 in pension assets following investigation by U.S. Department of Labor

Gulfport, Mississippi – A federal district court in Gulfport, Mississippi, has ordered Jomey B. Ethridge liable for $303,084.61 in assets belonging to the 401(k) plan of bankrupt Struthers Industries and permanently barred him from serving as fiduciary of any plan governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

December 1, 2009

US Department of Labor announces $2.4 million grant to provide Maryland, Alabama, Mississippi and South Carolina workers with health insurance payment

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,422,473 grant to provide an estimated 1,892 jobless workers with partial premium payments for health insurance coverage.

"Finding new employment is a challenging enough task without having to worry about lacking health coverage for yourself or your family. This funding will help eligible workers avoid that prospect by helping them pay for health insurance while they look for a job," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

November 30, 2009

US Labor Department releases updated Employment Law Guide

New version incorporates recent changes to federal employment laws

November 30, 2009

U.S. Labor Department recovers misused funds for profit sharing plan of Brockton, Massachusetts, plumbing and heating company

Boston – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment and order recovering more than $89,000 owed to the participants of the T.E. Corcoran Co. Inc. Profit Sharing Plan as a result of loans made to the plan sponsor and an affiliated company by plan trustees. The plan was sponsored by the plumbing and heating company based in Brockton, Massachusetts, for the benefit of the company’s employees.

November 25, 2009

ETA Press Release: Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Nov. 21, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 466,000, a decrease of 35,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 501,000. The 4-week moving average was 496,500, a decrease of 16,500 from the previous week's revised average of 513,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.1 percent for the week ending Nov. 14, a decrease of 0.2 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.3 percent.

November 25, 2009

U.S. Labor Department obtains judgment ordering removal of 401(k) plan fiduciary for Tile Impressions Inc.

Spring Lakes, Mich. – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent order and judgment requiring Tile Impressions Inc. of Spring Lakes be removed as fiduciary of the company's 401(k) plan for failure to properly administer the plan in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

November 25, 2009

U.S. Department of Labor sues defunct Blackstone, Va., company to protect participants of abandoned retirement plan

Blackstone, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued to have an independent fiduciary appointed to oversee the tax deferred savings plan of OSF America Inc., a defunct company formerly located in Blackstone.

November 24, 2009

US Department of Labor certifies California auto workers as eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that workers from New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI) in Fremont, Calif., are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

November 24, 2009

U.S. Labor Department sponsors free retirement seminar for employee benefit plan fiduciaries in St. Louis

St. Louis, Mo. – 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 St. Louis on December 8 at the Robert A. Young Federal Building, Second Floor Auditorium - Room 2-308, 1222 Spruce St.

November 23, 2009

US Department of Labor fines Tempel Grain Elevators LLP of Wiley, Colo., more than $1.6 million following teenage workers death

DENVER The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Wage and Hour Division together have fined Tempel Grain Elevators LLP of Wiley, Colo., more than $1.6 million following the May 29 death of a teenage worker at the company's Haswell, Colo., grain storage operation. The youth suffocated after being engulfed by grain in one of the facility bins. The company also exposed three other teenage workers to the cited hazards.

November 23, 2009

US Department of Labor announces grant exceeding $741,000 to assist workers in Oregon affected by layoffs in multiple industries

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $741,502 grant to assist approximately 164 workers affected by layoffs at 15 companies in multiple industries in the Oregon counties of Jackson and Josephine.

"This grant will provide the retraining and job-search assistance that affected workers in Oregon need and deserve as they strive to get ahead in a challenging economy," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

November 23, 2009

US Labor Department obtains court order garnishing wages of former trustee of 401(k) plan abandoned by Rochester, NY, employer

New York – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a federal court order of wage garnishment against Bonnie Dolan (also known as Bonnie Ariola), previously the sole owner of the now defunct Bonnie Optical Inc. of Rochester, N.Y. Dolan was also the sole trustee and fiduciary of the company's 401(k) plan set up for the benefit of her then employees.

November 20, 2009

US Department of Labor certifies approximately 2,900 workers in 7 states as eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 2,900 workers from companies in seven states – Alabama, California, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin – are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

November 19, 2009

US Department of Labor announces $4.4 million grant to continue assisting workers affected by layoffs in Ohio

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $4,442,207 National Emergency Grant supplemental award to assist approximately 1,630 workers affected by layoffs at businesses at the Wilmington Air Park in Wilmington, Ohio.

"Today's grant will provide additional re-training and re-employment services to Ohioans who are still being adversely affected by the air park's closure," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

November 19, 2009

US Department of Labor announces $2.5 million grant to Texas to continue to aid workers impacted by Base Realignment and Closure actions

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $2.5 million National Emergency Grant increment to Texas to continue to provide services to approximately 1,472 military and civilian defense workers impacted statewide by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) actions.

November 19, 2009

ETA Press Release: Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Nov. 14, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 505,000, unchanged from the previous week's revised figure of 505,000. The 4-week moving average was 514,000, a decrease of 6,500 from the previous week's revised average of 520,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.3 percent for the week ending Nov. 7, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.3 percent.

November 19, 2009

Statement by US Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on Wage and Hour Divisions increased enforcement and outreach efforts

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the increased enforcement and outreach efforts of the department’s Wage and Hour Division:

November 19, 2009

US Labor Department withdraws rules on investment advice

Washington – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced the publication of a notice withdrawing the final rule on the provision of investment advice under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act's prohibited transaction provisions. The regulatory action is expected to be published in the Nov. 20 edition of the Federal Register.

November 18, 2009

US Department of Labor announces nearly $55 million in green jobs training grants through Recovery Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced nearly $55 million in green jobs grants, as authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The grants will support job training and labor market information programs to help workers, many in underserved communities, find jobs in expanding green industries and related occupations.