June 21, 2012

US Department of Labor to host free webinar June 27 for workers, employers about Family and Medical Leave Act

Experts will answer questions and clarify protections and eligibility

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division will host a free webinar on June 27 at 2 p.m. EDT to help workers and employers understand the Family and Medical Leave Act. The department also has prepared a 16-page booklet, available online, that explains the FLMA and answers common questions.

June 19, 2012

US Department of Labor provides grant increment to assist Native Americans affected by fishing industry layoffs in Washington state

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,542,924 National Emergency Grant increment to provide employment-related services to 443 workers who are members of the Lummi Nation and have been affected by fishing industry layoffs in Bellingham, Wash.

June 19, 2012

Approximately 8,600 homeless veterans to benefit from more than $15 million in job training grants awarded by US Labor Department

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the award of 64 grants totaling more than $15 million that are aimed at providing approximately 8,600 homeless veterans nationwide with job training to help them succeed in civilian careers. The grants are being awarded under the U.S. Department of Labor's Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program.

June 19, 2012

US Department of Labor provides supplemental grant to aid former auto manufacturing workers in California

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $5,990,725 National Emergency Grant supplemental award to continue re-employment services for more than 4,800 workers directly affected by the closure of New United Motors Manufacturing Inc. in Fremont, Calif., and 39 suppliers affected by the closure of NUMMI's plant.

June 19, 2012

US Department of Labor provides grant increment to continue aid to Tennessee workers impacted by Goodyear closure

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,118,609 National Emergency Grant increment to provide employment-related services to more than 960 workers impacted by the closure of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. facility located in Union City, Tenn.

June 19, 2012

US Department of Labor announces $2.5 million grant opportunity to manage, operate Job Accommodation Network

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of a $2.5 million grant to fund a cooperative agreement to manage and operate the Job Accommodation Network, a national technical assistance center that facilitates the employment and retention of workers with disabilities.

June 18, 2012

US Labor Department provides grant increment to continue assistance for workers affected by layoffs and closings in Massachusetts and Connecticut

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded a $203,555 National Emergency Grant increment to continue employment-related services for about 600 workers affected by layoffs and closings at 11 companies in Massachusetts and one in Connecticut across a variety of industries.

June 18, 2012

US Labor Departments OSHA cites Tribe Mediterranean Foods for safety violations following death of a worker in Taunton, Mass.

BRAINTREE, Mass. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Tribe Mediterranean Foods, a subsidiary of Nestle SA that manufactures Tribe brand hummus products, for 18 alleged violations of workplace safety standards following the death of a worker at its Taunton production plant. OSHA's South Boston Area Office opened an inspection on Dec.

June 18, 2012

US Labor Department announces guidance to state Unemployment Insurance agencies on implementing short-time compensation or work sharing

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced guidance to state agencies responsible for Unemployment Insurance regarding short-time compensation, commonly referred to as "work sharing." Today's announcement is the latest in a series of innovative reforms to the UI program made possible by the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 signed by President Obama in February.

June 18, 2012

Norfolk Southern Railway Co. ordered by US Labor Department's OSHA to pay more than $800,000 after terminating injured workers

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found that Norfolk Southern Railway Co. violated the whistleblower protection provisions of the Federal Railroad Safety Act and consequently has ordered the company to pay three whistleblowers $802,168.70 in damages, including $525,000 in punitive damages and attorneys' fees.

June 18, 2012

US Department of Labor provides grant increment for continued assistance to New Jersey workers affected by pharmaceutical industry layoffs

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,583,093 increment of a National Emergency Grant to continue employment-related services for about 960 workers affected by layoffs from pharmaceutical companies in northern New Jersey.

June 18, 2012

Former CEO of defunct Southern California electrical contractor agrees to restore more than $570,000 in 401(k) funds to employees

LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Department of Labor has reached an agreement with the former president and CEO of Aliso Viejo-based Journey Electrical Technologies Inc., a defunct electrical contractor, to restore $570,983 to the company’s 401(k) plan. According to a partial consent judgment and order, Mark Dell Donne of San Clemente has agreed to restore $472,235 to the plan.

June 15, 2012

Statement by Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on deferred action process for young people who are low enforcement priorities

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the deferred action process for young people who are low enforcement priorities:

"The major change to our nation's immigration policy announced today by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will not only benefit young immigrants, who know no other country than this as their own, but our economy and our nation as a whole.

June 14, 2012

ETA Press Release: Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending June 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 386,000, an increase of 6,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 380,000. The 4-week moving average was 382,000, an increase of 3,500 from the previous week's revised average of 378,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending June 2, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

June 14, 2012

US Department of Labor provides additional funding to help Pennsylvania recover from damage caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded a $3,330,000 National Emergency Grant increment to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry to assist the commonwealth with continuing clean-up and recovery efforts following Hurricane Irene, which struck Aug. 26-30, 2011, and Tropical Storm Lee, which struck Sept. 3, 2011. The funds will support temporary jobs in affected areas.

June 14, 2012

US Labor Department awards nearly $147 million in Workforce Innovation Fund grants, announces 'Pay for Success' funding

Grants will support, enhance and evaluate innovative employment and training opportunities

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced nearly $147 million in grants to develop and expand innovative strategies to help Americans return to work by delivering services more efficiently, facilitating cooperation across programs and funding streams, and focusing on partnerships with specific employers or industry sectors to develop programs that reflect current and future skill needs.

June 14, 2012

US Department of Labor obtains preliminary injunction against Matthew D. Hutcheson and Hutcheson Walker Advisors LLC

WASHINGTON — On June 13, the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho granted the U.S. Department of Labor's motion for preliminary injunction against Matthew D. Hutcheson and Hutcheson Walker Advisors LLC. The court found that the department had "demonstrated the type of immediate and irreparable injury necessitating entry of a preliminary injunction."

June 13, 2012

Assistant secretary of labor kicks off seminar on achieving a culture of prevention in the mining industry

Enhanced enforcement strategies are working, says MSHAs Joseph Main

June 12, 2012

US Department of Labor to offer free trainings on prevailing wage requirements for federal contracts

Trainings to be held in Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia and Seattle

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division today announced that it will host four free trainings throughout the United States to provide outreach on the rules concerning prevailing wage requirements under the Davis-Bacon Act, the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act and the labor standards provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

June 12, 2012

US Labor Department suit results in court order requiring Chicago-area investment service provider to restore $1.2 million to worker retirement plans

CHICAGOFollowing an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor and resulting lawsuit, a federal court has issued a default judgment against the co-founder and director of the now defunct Elmhurst-based investment management company Results One Financial LLC. Steven Salutric has been ordered to restore $1,211,902.25 to four pension plan client accounts from which he allegedly withdrew funds from 2005 through 2009 in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.