September 20, 2022

READOUT: US Department of Labor, US Trade Representative host trans-Atlantic trade, labor dialogue with union, business leaders

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative today participated in the first meeting of the trans-Atlantic tripartite Trade and Labor Dialogue.

Launched under the U.S.-European Union Trade and Technology Council, the dialogue allows participants to engage on trans-Atlantic trade and labor issues with government, labor and business stakeholders in the U.S. and Europe.

September 20, 2022

US Department of Labor, stakeholders sign partnership to protect workers from construction hazards at La Crosse Mayo expansion project

MADISON, WI – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Wisconsin On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program, Knutson Construction and area labor unions are partnering to protect worker safety and health during construction of the Mayo Clinic Health Systems’ Bed Tower project in La Crosse.

September 19, 2022

US Department of Labor, excavation industry association to host trench safety summit to stem alarming national rise in worker fatalities caused by cave-ins

 

Who:        Occupational Safety and Health Administration

                 North American Excavation Shoring Assoc.

What:    Colorado Trench Safety Summit

When:   Oct. 5, 2022

                  7 a.m.-4 p.m. MT

Where:  Adams County Fairgrounds

September 19, 2022

El Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU. recupera $230,000 en salarios atrasados para 274 trabajadores de restaurantes de la zona de Austin a quienes el empleador les negaba las propinas completas

AUSTIN, TX - El Departamento de Trabajo de EE. UU. ha recuperado $230,353 en salarios atrasados para 274 trabajadores empleados por un popular operador de restaurantes de barbacoa en el centro de Texas después de que una investigación descubriera que el empleador daba parte de las propinas de los empleados a los gerentes del restaurante, una práctica prohibida por la ley federal.

September 19, 2022

US Department of Labor awards $3M to support project to improve working conditions in Bangladesh, focused on labor rights abuses in three cities

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $3 million to the American Center for International Labor Solidarity for a project to improve working conditions and labor rights standards in Bangladesh’s ready-made garments, tea, shrimp farming and construction industries.

September 19, 2022

US Department of Labor recovers $230K in back wages for 274 Austin-area restaurants’ workers denied full tips by employer

AUSTIN, TX – The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $230,353 in back wages for 274 workers employed by a popular central Texas barbecue restaurant operator after an investigation found the employer gave a portion of employee tips to restaurant managers – a practice not allowed by federal law.

September 16, 2022

US Department of Labor extends deadline for applications from graduating, recent law school graduates for fall 2023 Honors Program in Washington

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that its Office of the Solicitor has extended the deadline for recent law school graduates to apply for its two-year Honors Program in Washington and earn unique experience in one of the federal government’s preeminent legal offices.

September 16, 2022

Connecticut environmental lab faces $907K in fines for willfully exposing employees to workplace carcinogen

HARTFORD, CT – For several months, employees at a Manchester environmental laboratory complained to management about faulty ventilation systems at the work site and about symptoms – including dizziness, light-headedness, headaches and unsteady walking – all of which can be caused by exposure to methylene chloride, a highly hazardous chemical and a workplace carcinogen.

September 15, 2022

US Department of Labor announces changes to OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program to strengthen enforcement, improve compliance

WASHINGTON To strengthen enforcement and improve compliance with workplace safety standards and reduce worker injuries and illnesses, the U.S. Department of Labor is expanding the criteria for placement in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program.

September 15, 2022

US Labor Department recovers $6K in back pay, levies $10K in punitive damages for Portland hotel worker fired after exercising protected rights

MANCHESTER, NH – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division recovered $6,333 in back pay and levied $10,000 in punitive damages after finding a Portland, Maine, hotel operator unlawfully terminated a housekeeper after they contacted the division with a concern about the operator’s pay practices.

September 15, 2022

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending September 10, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 213,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 4,000 from 222,000 to 218,000. The 4-week moving average was 224,000, a decrease of 8,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised down by 1,000 from 233,000 to 232,000.

September 15, 2022

Statement from the US Department of Labor on Tentative Railway Labor Agreement

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor issued the following statement after rail companies and union negotiators reached a tentative agreement:

September 14, 2022

Secretary of Labor, US Trade Representative support protection of labor rights at Mexico’s Manufacturas VU auto parts facility

WASHINGTON – The U.S. and Mexico today announced that, in response to a petition provided in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the Mexican government took actions to ensure a free and fair election to choose union representation for workers at the Manufacturas VU Auto Components facility in Piedras Negras, State of Coahuila.

September 14, 2022

US Department of Labor recovers $269K in back wages, damages for live-in caregivers, whose Ontario employer denied them overtime

ONTARIO, CA – A federal investigation has found the operator of four Southern California residential care homes failed to pay overtime wages to four live-in caregivers who worked as many as 16-hours a day, seven days a week, and recovered a total of $269,104 in back wages and liquidated damages for them. 

September 14, 2022

US Department of Labor seeks nominations for 2023 ERISA Advisory Council

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration is seeking nominations to fill five, three-year vacancies on the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, known as the ERISA Advisory Council. Nominations must be submitted by Oct. 3, 2022.