October 3, 2024

Statement from Acting Secretary Julie Su on International Longshoremen’s Association, United States Maritime Alliance agreement

WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su issued the following statement on the agreement reached between the International Longshoremen's Association and the United States Maritime Alliance.

October 3, 2024

US Department of Labor reminds employers of responsibility to pay clean-up, recovery workers proper wages in Helene’s aftermath

ATLANTA – As states across the Southeast address Hurricane Helene’s impacts, the U.S. Department of Labor reminds employers in disaster recovery and their workers that even when disaster strikes, worker protections apply.

October 3, 2024

US Department of Labor enters agreement with Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics to resolve alleged gender pay discrimination at Delaware facility

NEWARK, DE – The U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs has entered into a conciliation agreement with Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc. to resolve alleged pay discrimination against female employees at its manufacturing facility in Newark. 

October 3, 2024

Pinellas Park boat manufacturer faces $328K in penalties after Department of Labor follow-up inspection finds significant safety issues ignored

TAMPA, FL  Rather than address the 15 existing safety and health hazards cited by federal workplace safety inspectors in July 2023, a Pinellas Park boat manufacturer continues to jeopardize the safety and health of its workers, according to a follow-up inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor.

October 3, 2024

Department of Labor investigators find Nebraska grain cooperative exposed workers to combustible dust, multiple hazards at Hemingford elevator

HEMINGFORD, NE ‒ Federal investigators found life-threatening hazards at a Nebraska grain cooperative, where workers faced risks of fire and explosions due to the company allowing a buildup of combustible dust and failing to maintain effective dust collection systems, leading to more than $500,000 in proposed penalties. 

October 3, 2024

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending September 28, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 225,000, an increase of 6,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 218,000 to 219,000. The 4-week moving average was 224,250, a decrease of 750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 224,750 to 225,000.

October 2, 2024

US Department of Labor announces $6M in grants to expand job opportunities for women in apprenticeships, nontraditional occupations

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $6 million in funding to help recruit, train and retain more women in quality pre-apprenticeship and Registered Apprenticeship programs, as well as in nontraditional occupations. 

The Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations grants will enable organizations in eight states and the District of Columbia to provide training programs in skilled building trades, advanced manufacturing and information technology. 

October 2, 2024

Department of Labor expands grain handling safety emphasis program to address continued deaths, injuries in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska

KANSAS CITY, MOThe U.S. Department of Labor announced today that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration launched a regional emphasis program to address worker safety in the highly hazardous grain handling industry as preventable injuries and unchecked hazards continue to be a serious concern for workers in the region. The program in Missouri is identical to programs already in place in Kansas and Nebraska.

October 2, 2024

Department of Labor orders railroad to reinstate employee, pay $200K in back wages, damages after retaliation for safety complaints

ENDERLIN, ND – A federal whistleblower investigation has found a North Dakota railroad company illegally retaliated against and terminated a claims representative who reported an injury, discussed safety concerns with their supervisor and filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor. 

October 2, 2024

US Department of Labor announces over $1M in grants awarded to support mine safety, health awareness; education, training

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $1 million in grants to seven organizations in five states to support education and training initiatives that will help identify and prevent unsafe working conditions in and around the nation’s mines.

October 2, 2024

AB Specialty Silicones must pay $1.3M federal penalty, implement comprehensive safety programs after 2019 Waukegan plant explosion

WAUKEGAN, IL – Chemical products manufacturer AB Specialty Silicones LLC will pay $1.3 million in penalties after an explosion and fire at its Waukegan plant in May 2019 claimed the lives of four workers. 

October 1, 2024

Statement from Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su on negotiations between USMX, International Longshoremen’s Association

WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su issued the following statement on negotiations between USMX and the International Longshoremen’s Association:

October 1, 2024

US Department of Labor restructures OSHA regional offices, merging San Francisco, Seattle regions to improve operations

SAN FRANCISCO –  The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has completed changes to restructure its regional operations and created a region to better protect workers and educate employers as businesses expand and workforces grow in communities in several southeastern states.

October 1, 2024

US Department of Labor announces $20M in grants available for out-of-school time organizations to increase access to good jobs for underserved youth

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of up to $20 million in grants for national out-of-school time organizations to expand local work-based learning opportunities, job training and career pathways for underserved youth after school and during the summer.

October 1, 2024

US Department of Labor, New Jersey Department of Labor strategic enforcement initiative combats illegal child labor

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division and the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development have launched a joint strategic enforcement initiative to combat violations of federal and state child labor laws.

September 30, 2024

Minimum wages in American Samoa increase by 40 cents per hour

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa – Workers on American Samoa employed in industries covered by the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 will receive a 40-cent increase in their hourly wage beginning Sept. 30.

September 30, 2024

US Department of Labor recovers $24K in fringe benefits, paid sick leave for 13 employees of Virginia rehabilitation, nursing care center

Employer:                                          

Hopewell Operator LLC, operating as Wonder City Rehabilitation and Nursing Center

September 30, 2024

US Department of Labor recovers $154K in back wages, damages from Georgia plastics manufacturer that shortchanged 743 workers of full overtime

ATLANTA – The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $154,009 in back wages and liquidated damages from an international plastics manufacturer that willfully failed to include bonus payments when calculating overtime for 743 workers.