January 23, 2014

OSHA News Release: Teen Challenge of Florida cited by US Labor Department's OSHA for 25 safety and health violations; more than $228,000 in fines proposed [01/23/2014]

PENSACOLA, Fla. — Teen Challenge of Florida Inc., an international rehabilitation program, has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration with 25 safety and health violations following an inspection of the company's facilities in Pensacola. OSHA initiated the July 2013 inspection after receiving a complaint alleging safety and health hazards. Proposed penalties total $228,600.

January 23, 2014

OSHA News Release: Air filter manufacturer cited by US Department of Labors OSHA for repeat, serious safety violations; more than $64,000 in fines proposed [01/23/2014]

ATLANTA —— The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited American Air Filter Co. Inc., doing business as AAF International, with two repeat, five serious and one other-than-serious safety violation following an inspection of the company's manufacturing facility on Weaver Way in Atlanta. The inspection, prompted by a complaint, began in August 2013. It resulted in $64,040 in proposed penalties.

January 22, 2014

OFCCP News Release: Employers and job seekers invited to participate in Fort Bliss Replacement Hospital Symposium and Job Fair in El Paso, Texas, on March 19, 2014 [01/22/2014]

EL PASO, Texas — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande are sponsoring the Fort Bliss Replacement Hospital Symposium and Job Fair. Both events will be held in El Paso on March 19. The symposium will be held at the Workforce Solutions Norman Haley Employment Center, 300 E. Main St., from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The job fair will be held at the El Paso County Coliseum, 4100 E.

January 22, 2014

OFCCP News Release: Cargill agrees to pay more than $2.2M to settle charges of hiring discrimination brought by US Labor Department [01/22/2014]

WASHINGTON — Cargill Meat Solutions, headquartered in Wichita, Kan., has agreed to settle charges of hiring discrimination based on race and sex with the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. Under the agreement, Cargill will pay $2,236,218 in back wages and interest to 2,959 applicants who were rejected for production jobs at facilities in Springdale, Ark.; Fort Morgan, Colo.; and Beardstown, Ill., between 2005 and 2009.

January 22, 2014

OFCCP News Release: Cargill agrees to pay more than $2.2M to settle charges of hiring discrimination brought by US Labor Department [01/22/2014]

WASHINGTON — Cargill Meat Solutions, headquartered in Wichita, Kan., has agreed to settle charges of hiring discrimination based on race and sex with the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. Under the agreement, Cargill will pay $2,236,218 in back wages and interest to 2,959 applicants who were rejected for production jobs at facilities in Springdale, Ark.; Fort Morgan, Colo.; and Beardstown, Ill., between 2005 and 2009.

January 22, 2014

EBSA News Release: $10M settlement reached with People Care and US Labor Department [01/22/2014]

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $10 million settlement agreement with People Care Holdings Inc. and former owners Bruce Jacobson and Jerry Lewkowitz, who sold the company to their employees through creation of an employee stock ownership plan. The department contended that they violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by permitting the ESOP to purchase People Care stock from them for more than its fair market value.

January 21, 2014

OPA News Release: Statement by Labor Secretary Thomas E. Perez on the catastrophe at International Nutrition in Omaha, Neb. [01/21/2014]

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez today issued the following statement regarding Monday's catastrophe at International Nutrition Inc. in Omaha:

"My deepest condolences go out to the families and communities that lost loved ones in the tragedy at International Nutrition Inc. in Omaha. It is heartbreaking when workers lose their lives while providing for their families.

January 16, 2014

ETA Press Release: Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending January 11, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 326,000, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 328,000. The 4-week moving average was 335,000, a decrease of 13,500 from the previous week's revised average of 348,500.

January 16, 2014

WHD News Release: US Labor Department enforcement initiative results in more than $170,000 in back wages for more than 600 child care workers in Kentucky [01/16/2014]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — An ongoing enforcement initiative conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division focusing on the child care industry in Kentucky has uncovered significant violations of the minimum wage, overtime and record-keeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. In fiscal year 2013, the division's Louisville District Office conducted 59 cases involving child care providers, resulting in more than $170,000 in back wages for more than 600 workers.

January 15, 2014

US Department of Labor sues trustees of Western Steel Erection 401(k) Plan to recover more than $5,000 in retirement benefits

Date of Action: Jan. 14, 2014

Type of Action: Complaint

Names of Defendants: Stephanie J. Jochims and Robert C. Jochims

Allegations: The U.S. Department of Labor has filed suit against Stephanie J. Jochims, the former owner of Western Steel Erection, Inc., and her husband Robert C. Jochims, in an effort to recover $5,167 in employee retirement contributions and loan repayments intended for the Western Steel Erection 401(k) Plan. The company was located in Long Lake, Minn.

January 15, 2014

Perez v. Zohouri Group involving failure to administer and terminate the company's 401(k) plan in Alpharetta, Ga.

Date of Action: Jan. 2, 2014

Type of Action: Default Judgment and Order

Names of Defendants: Zohouri Group LLC and Farbod S. Zohouri

January 15, 2014

OSHA News Release: OSHA releases new resources to protect hospital workers and enhance patient safety [01/15/2014]

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today launched a new educational Web resource, http://www.osha.gov/hospitals, which has extensive materials to help hospitals prevent worker injuries, assess workplace safety needs, enhance safe patient handling programs, and implement safety and health management systems. The materials include fact books, self-assessments and best practice guides.

January 14, 2014

Trustees of Hico Flex Brass Co. restore more than $79,000 to Machesney Park, Ill., employee retirement plan

Date of Action: Jan. 8, 2014

Type of Action: Consent Order and Judgment

Name of Defendant: Hico Flex Brass Co., Inc., Mark Isaacs, and Neil Isaacs

January 14, 2014

MSHA News Release: Administrative Law Judge ruling in Sago mine explosion overturned by federal mine review commission [01/14/2014]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration announced today that the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission has overturned a decision by Administrative Law Judge Jerold Feldman involving Wolf Run Mining Co.'s Sago Mine in Upshure County, W. Va., where 12 miners died in a massive explosion Jan. 2, 2006. The commission found that the mine operator's failure to notify MSHA and mine rescue teams immediately after the explosion involved unwarrantable failure and high negligence.

January 14, 2014

WHD News Release: California company restores nearly $2M in pension benefits to 515 employees following US Labor Department investigation [01/14/2014]

OAKLAND, Calif. — An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division resulted in the restoration of $1,979,779 in 401(k) pension benefits to 515 drivers working on U.S. Postal Service contracts for Lange Trucking Inc. because of violations of the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act. The company, along with its President, William A. Langenhuizen; Vice President, William H.

January 14, 2014

MSHA News Release: Administrative Law Judge ruling in Sago mine explosion overturned by federal mine review commission [01/14/2014]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration announced today that the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission has overturned a decision by Administrative Law Judge Jerold Feldman involving Wolf Run Mining Co.'s Sago Mine in Upshure County, W. Va., where 12 miners died in a massive explosion Jan. 2, 2006. The commission found that the mine operator's failure to notify MSHA and mine rescue teams immediately after the explosion involved unwarrantable failure and high negligence.

January 13, 2014

MSHA News Release: MSHA implements Upper Big Branch corrective actions on schedule [01/13/2014]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration announced today that, as of Dec. 31, 2013, the agency had addressed the 100 recommendations published in a March 2012 internal review report, meeting the specific timetables and deadlines it had set for implementation of each recommendation. That report examined the agency's actions in the months leading up to the April 2010 Upper Big Branch mine explosion, which killed 29 miners, injured two and led to sweeping changes in mine safety.

January 13, 2014

OPA News Release: Statement by U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez on Congressman George Miller's retirement announcement [01/13/2014]

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez today issued the following statement regarding Rep. George Miller's announcement to retire at the end of his 20th term in the House of Representatives:

January 13, 2014

MSHA News Release: MSHA implements Upper Big Branch corrective actions on schedule [01/13/2014]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration announced today that, as of Dec. 31, 2013, the agency had addressed the 100 recommendations published in a March 2012 internal review report, meeting the specific timetables and deadlines it had set for implementation of each recommendation. That report examined the agency's actions in the months leading up to the April 2010 Upper Big Branch mine explosion, which killed 29 miners, injured two and led to sweeping changes in mine safety.

January 10, 2014

OPA News Release: Statement of Labor Secretary Perez on December employment numbers [01/10/2014]

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement about the December 2013 Employment Situation report released today:

"The U.S. economy closed out 2013 by adding 74,000 jobs, bringing the 2013 total to nearly 2.2 million new jobs. With 87,000 new private-sector jobs in December, that makes 8.2 million jobs created by the private sector over the last 46 straight months. The December unemployment rate fell to 6.7 percent.