September 30, 2009

U.S. Department of Labor provides more than $1.5 million to continue flood recovery efforts in Ohio

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $1,507,168 National Emergency Grant supplemental award to continue clean-up and recovery efforts in the wake of flooding that occurred in Ohio in 2007.

This funding will be awarded to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and be used to create more temporary jobs to assist in recovery and clean-up efforts as a result of the devastation caused by the flooding.

September 30, 2009

U.S. Labor Department recovers more than $1.5 million in back wages for 272 contract employees of USCIS Vermont Service Center

BOSTON — The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered more than $1.5 million in back wages for 272 employees of SI International SEIT Inc., a contractor for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Vermont Service Center, at various locations in St. Albans and Essex Junction, Vt.

September 30, 2009

U.S. Department of Labor awards $6.4 million in grants to support international worker rights

WASHINGTONU.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced $6.4 million in grant awards to implement projects promoting adherence to international core labor standards and support the rights of workers. Another $131,130 in contracts has been awarded to study topics related to international labor standards.

September 30, 2009

U.S. Labor Department obtains judgment with NFL player and his company, restoring more than $400,000 in pension assets

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment requiring NFL player Michael D. Vick and his company, MV7 LLC, to repay at least $416,461.10 in restitution to a pension plan sponsored by the company and ordering Vick to forfeit any rights to benefits from the plan. The defendants also agreed to pay a civil monetary penalty imposed by the Labor Department.

September 29, 2009

U.S. Department of Labor announces more than $430,000 to assist workers affected by layoffs from financial services industry in Maine

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $430,417 grant to assist approximately 65 workers affected by May 2009 layoffs at two locations of the Standard Insurance Co. in Portland and South Portland, Maine.

"The economic downturn has had a disproportionate impact on the financial services industry," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Today's grant will help affected workers retool their skills to successfully obtain employment in new careers or in similar occupations within other industries."

September 29, 2009

U.S. Department of Labor announces more than $2 million to assist workers affected by printing industry layoffs in Maine

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,066,981 grant to assist approximately 300 workers affected by 2009 layoffs from RR Donnelley in Wells, Maine.

"The loss of a job is never easy, and these workers deserve our support as they seek re-employment," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Today's grant will help individuals by providing the skills, retraining and job search assistance they need to obtain new jobs in high-growth and high-demand industries in the area."

September 29, 2009

U.S. Department of Labor announces $38 million in grants to assist workers in Michigan

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced three National Emergency Grants totaling $38,033,600 to assist workers affected by documented layoffs from multiple companies in three defined regional economies throughout Michigan. These grants will provide flexibility to serve 2,161 workers currently displaced and those affected by future layoffs occurring within these regions during the grants' 12-month period of performance. Based on state of Michigan estimates, about 13,291 total workers ultimately will be served.

September 29, 2009

U.S. Department of Labors Sandra Polaski addresses Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Labor and Employment Ministerial in Paris

WASHINGTONU.S. Department of Labor Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs Sandra Polaski spoke at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Labor and Employment Ministerial taking place this week in Paris on the topic of "The Jobs Crisis: the Labor Market and Social Policy Response."

September 28, 2009

U.S. Department of Labor announces more than $164 million for state unemployment insurance technology infrastructure grants

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $164.5 million to 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to make technology upgrades that will improve the operation and security of unemployment insurance systems.

September 28, 2009

U.S. Department of Labor awards nearly $59 million to eliminate exploitive child labor in 19 countries

WASHINGTONSecretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced nearly $59 million in grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor in fiscal year 2009 to combat exploitive child labor in 19 countries. The grants will help rescue more than 85,000 children from exploitive labor, and offer them hope for the future through education and training. The grants will also help improve collection and analysis of child labor data and support the development and implementation of national action plans to address the problem.

September 28, 2009

U.S. Department of Labor obtains consent judgment with fiduciary of defunct Atlanta-based mortgage loan company

Atlanta – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has obtained a consent judgment allowing Abby Paschal to continue as a fiduciary in order to terminate the ZNET Financial Services’ 401(k) plan and distribute its assets to participants.

September 24, 2009

U.S. Department of Labor certifies Delaware auto workers as eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that workers from General Motors in Wilmington, Del., are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

"I know that so many Delaware families are hurting because of the auto layoffs throughout our state," said Vice President Joe Biden. "This announcement is a step forward and an opportunity for many Delawareans who lost their jobs at General Motors in Wilmington to re-enter the workforce in promising, regional industries."

September 24, 2009

ETA Press Release: Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Sept. 19, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 530,000, a decrease of 21,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 551,000. The 4-week moving average was 553,500, a decrease of 11,000 from the previous week's revised average of 564,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.6 percent for the week ending Sept. 12, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.7 percent.

September 24, 2009

MSHA increases funding for state health and safety training grants

Training funds total more than $8.3 million in fiscal year 2009

ARLINGTON, Va. The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) today announced it has allocated more than $8.3 million in health and safety training grants for fiscal year 2009, up from last year's distribution of $8.2 million.

September 23, 2009

Statement of U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on success of summer jobs program for nations youth

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the success of the Summer Youth Employment Program for the nation's youth:

September 18, 2009

U.S. Labor Department awards more than $6.8 million in safety and health training grants

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today awarded more than $6.8 million in Susan Harwood Training Grants to 30 recipients, encompassing labor unions, employer associations, colleges and universities, and other nonprofit organizations. The training grants cover a two-year period.

September 17, 2009

U.S. Department of Labor announces more than $300,000 to assist workers affected by layoffs in Maines paper manufacturing industry

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $323,565 grant to assist workers affected by layoffs at NewPage Corp.'s Rumford Paper Mill in Rumford, Maine.

"Today's grant will provide employment-related services that are crucial to finding new jobs in burgeoning areas of the economy," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "These workers deserve our support as they seek to upgrade existing skills, or prepare for new careers in promising regional industries."

September 17, 2009

U.S. Department of Labor certifies approximately 4,700 workers in 13 states as eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 4,700 workers from companies in 13 states – Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wisconsin – are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

September 17, 2009

ETA Press Release: Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Sept. 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 545,000, a decrease of 12,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 557,000. The 4-week moving average was 563,000, a decrease of 8,750 from the previous week's revised average of 571,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.7 percent for the week ending Sept. 5, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.6 percent.