May 19, 2009

U.S. Labor Department sues to appoint independent fiduciary for 401(k) plan abandoned by former Iowa employer

Kansas City, Missouri — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa in Davenport seeking the appointment of an independent fiduciary to oversee the abandoned 401(k) plan of defunct MagnaTech Inc., formerly of Brooklyn, Iowa.

May 19, 2009

U.S. Labor Department secures 401(k) plan assets for J&L Electronic Service Inc. employees in Chicago suburb

Frankfort, Illinois – A federal district court in Chicago has granted a consent judgment to the U.S. Department of Labor barring John Patrizi, owner of J&L Electronic Service Inc. at 633 Johnson Ave. in Frankfort, from serving as a fiduciary for any retirement plan covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), and appointing an independent fiduciary to oversee the company’s 401(k) plan.

May 15, 2009

U.S. Department of Labor announces $462,000 grant to assist workers in Maine affected by textile industry layoffs

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $462,096 grant to assist approximately 100 workers affected by layoffs at True Textiles Inc. located in Guilford and Newport, Maine.

"This grant will allow affected workers in Maine to access training and services that will aid them in obtaining re-employment in growing regional industries," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

May 15, 2009

U.S. Labor Department announces release of $62.8 million in unemployment insurance modernization incentive funds to Virginia

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $62,817,683 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the commonwealth of Virginia. Virginia qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to be eligible for benefits. Virginia's approved application will be posted at the department's Employment and Training Administration Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/recovery/.

May 15, 2009

U.S. Labor Department announces release of $10.2 million in unemployment insurance modernization incentive funds to Hawaii

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $10,175,575 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Hawaii. Hawaii qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to be eligible for benefits. Hawaii's approved application will be posted at the department's Employment and Training Administration Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/recovery/.

May 15, 2009

U.S. Department of Labor obtains judgments against fiduciaries of defunct North Carolina testing laboratory

Atlanta – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained court judgments restoring $97,317.49 to the Triangle Laboratories Inc. Retirement Fund in Durham, North Carolina.

A lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, alleged that Joseph Morales and four other defendants failed to discharge their fiduciary duties to the 401(k) plan in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

May 14, 2009

U.S. Labor Department announces release of $137.6 million in unemployment insurance modernization incentive funds to New York

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $137,580,702 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of New York. New York qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to be eligible for benefits. New York's approved application will be posted at the department's Employment and Training Administration Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/recovery/.

May 14, 2009

ETA Press Release: Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending May 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 637,000, an increase of 32,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 605,000. The 4-week moving average was 630,500, an increase of 6,000 from the previous week's revised average of 624,500.

May 13, 2009

U.S. Department of Labor announces $725,000 grant to Illinois to continue storm and flooding cleanup and recovery effort

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $725,075 grant increment to help Illinois officials with continued cleanup and recovery following the state's June 2008 severe storms and flooding.

"Last June, a series of severe storms resulted in widespread flooding in Illinois," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "This grant increment will continue to fund temporary jobs for dislocated workers in the affected area."

May 13, 2009

U.S. Labor Department recovers almost $32,000 for company 401(k) plan from Shelton, Connecticut, employer

New Haven, Connecticut – The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered nearly $32,000 owed to the Image Graphics Inc. Employee 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan. The plan is sponsored and administered by Image Graphics Inc. of Shelton, Connecticut, which was sued by the department for alleged violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

May 11, 2009

U.S. Department of Labor announces $4.1 million to continue helping auto workers affected by layoffs

National Emergency Grant provided during 1st Michigan trip for Secretary Solis

TROY, Mich. – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the release of $4,125,000 in National Emergency Grant funds to continue helping approximately 1,500 workers affected by permanent closures and mass layoffs in Michigan's automotive industry.

May 11, 2009

U.S. Department of Labor pays $400 million in benefits to Colorado residents under Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that it has paid more than $400 million in compensation and medical benefits to Colorado residents under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). The act was created to assist those individuals who became ill as a result of working in the atomic weapons industry. Survivors of such individuals may also be eligible for benefits.

May 8, 2009

Statement of U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis on April employment numbers

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the April 2009 Employment Situation report released today:

"This past April, our economy lost 539,000 jobs, bringing the total number of jobs lost since this recession began to 5.7 million. The overall unemployment rate has increased to 8.9 percent.

May 8, 2009

U.S. Department of Labor distributes $101 million to states for Trade Adjustment Assistance

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today released $101 million to help states provide career training, job search and relocation assistance to U.S. workers who lose their jobs for trade-related reasons.

"A revitalized Trade Adjustment Assistance program is an important element of our nation's economic recovery," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

May 7, 2009

ETA Press Release: Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending May 2, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 601,000, a decrease of 34,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 635,000. The 4-week moving average was 623,500, a decrease of 14,750 from the previous week's revised average of 638,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.8 percent for the week ending April 25, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.7 percent.

May 7, 2009

Secretary Hilda L. Solis unveils U.S. Department of Labors budget for fiscal year 2010

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today, through a national online discussion with stakeholder groups, the general public and the news media, will outline the president's fiscal year (FY) 2010 budget for the U.S. Department of Labor, which begins to restore worker protection programs and revitalize employment opportunities for the American workforce.

May 7, 2009

U.S. Labor Department sponsors free webcasts to help retirement plan fiduciaries comply with the law

Washington – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) will sponsor “Getting It Right – Know Your Fiduciary Responsibilities” webcasts on May 12 and 13. The webcasts are part of the agency’s national fiduciary education campaign to increase awareness and understanding of basic responsibilities associated with operating private sector retirement plans.

May 6, 2009

U.S. Labor Department announces release of more than $130 million in unemployment insurance modernization incentive funds to Minnesota

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $130,063,620 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Minnesota. Minnesota qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits. Minnesota's approved application will be posted at the department's Employment and Training Administration Web site at http://www.dol.gov/recovery/.

May 6, 2009

U.S. Department of Labor obtains consent order requiring president of Nashville entertainment company to restore pension funds

Atlanta – William Traylor, former president of Homeland Entertainment Group Inc. in Nashville, Tennessee, will restore $20,092 to the company’s retirement plan as part of a federal consent order and judgment obtained by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA).

May 5, 2009

U.S. Department of Labor announces grant exceeding $771,000 to assist workers in Missouri affected by automotive industry layoffs

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $771,713 National Emergency Grant increment award to assist workers affected by automotive layoffs from Chrysler LLC in Fenton, Mo.; Integram St. Louis Seating in Pacific, Mo.; and Yushin USA in Kirksville, Mo. This funding represents the second and final installment of a $1,730,321 grant approved on April 23, 2008.