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.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh and U.S.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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. 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking public comment on its proposal to establish a definition for the final performance indicator used to report outcomes for Title I non-core programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act core programs.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Departments of Labor and Education today announced the departments will seek public comment on a proposed definition for the final performance indicator used to report outcomes for the six Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act core programs.

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.

LANSDOWNE, PA – A federal court has ordered a Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, diner, and its owner and a manager to pay more than $1.35 million in back wages and liquidated damages to 107 servers and kitchen workers after a five-day trial confirmed the business operators used an illegal tip pool.

Employer:                               Crystal Services LLC, operating as Baymont by Wyndham

                                                Golden Services LLC, operating as Roseburg Value Inn

Investigation sites:                610 W Madrone St., Roseburg, OR 97470

                                                511 SE Stephen St., Roseburg OR 97470

BOSTON - Como resultado de una litigación por desacato civil prolongada por parte del Departamento de Trabajo de EE. UU. contra dos empresas de construcción de Massachusetts, el Tribunal Distrital de EE. UU. por el distrito de Massachusetts aprobó la distribución de $1.8 millones provenientes de las ventas de inmuebles ordenadas por el tribunal y fondos adicionales a 478 trabajadores empleados por Force Corp., AB Construction Group Inc., Juliano Fernandes y Anderson dos Santos.

BRADENTON, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration signed a strategic partnership with Ryan Companies US Inc. to promote worker safety and health during construction of the Lakewood Ranch multi-family housing project in Bradenton.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced publication of its seventh report detailing ongoing concerns about egregious working conditions and labor law enforcement challenges in the Dominican Republic’s sugar industry.

Employer name:                      V & R Health Care Services LLC

Investigation site:                  121 E. Magnolia, Suite 103

                                                          Friendswood, TX 77546

Employer name:                   Advantage Communications Systems Inc.

Investigation site:                 4219 Montgomery Blvd. NE

                                                         Albuquerque, NM 87109

Participant:           Owens Corning

                                    5201 Bannock St.

                                    Denver, Colorado

BOSTON – As a result of lengthy civil contempt litigation by the U.S. Department of Labor against two Massachusetts construction companies and their officers, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts has approved the distribution of $1.8 million from court-ordered real estate sales and additional funds to 478 workers who were employed by Force Corp., AB Construction Group Inc., Juliano Fernandes and Anderson dos Santos.