MOORESTOWN, N.J. ‒ The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a judgment and order appointing an independent fiduciary to manage the 401(k) plan of defunct Thermacon Industries Inc., formerly located in Moorestown.

The judgment resolves a lawsuit filed by the Labor Department in May 2011 alleging that Thermacon Industries violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. The suit charged that, after the company ceased operations in 2004, its fiduciaries failed to terminate the retirement plan and distribute its assets, which are valued at $242,159.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending March 10, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 351,000, a decrease of 14,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 365,000. The 4-week moving average was 355,750, unchanged from the previous week's revised average of 355,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending March 3, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.7 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of approximately $20 million in grant funds to provide employment-related training and support services to youth who have been involved in the juvenile justice system. The purpose of these grants is to improve the long-term labor market prospects for former offenders, ages 14 and older, in high-poverty, high-crime areas by focusing on training for in-demand industries and occupations within their communities.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of nearly $60 million in grants for employment and training services through the Workforce Investment Act's Section 166 – Indian and Native Programs. The purposes of the grants are to develop the academic, occupational and literacy skills of the individuals served, making them more competitive in the workforce, as well as to promote the economic and social development of Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities in accordance with their own goals and values.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs today announced that federal government contractor NCS Pearson Inc. has agreed to settle allegations of hiring discrimination on the basis of race involving 67 Asian job applicants who were rejected for associate software developer positions at the company's Iowa City, Iowa, facility.

Resources promote claimant and employer compliance with state UI laws

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of new tools to support state agencies in detecting, preventing and recovering improper Unemployment Insurance payments as well as combating UI fraud.

INDIANAPOLIS – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a complaint in federal court seeking to restore $256,457.08, plus lost opportunity costs, to the Heartland Foods Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan. Based on the findings of an investigation by the department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, the complaint alleges that co-owners Karen S.

NEW YORK – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against the trustees of the pension plan, annuity fund and vacation fund of Exhibition Employees Local 829 of the International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees in New York for numerous violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, resulted from an investigation by the New York Regional Office of the department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration.

URBANDALE, Iowa – The U.S. Department of Labor is suing Silicon Plains Technologies Inc. and former CEO Greg McCormick to restore $36,631.88 in employee contributions and $1,943.79 in loan repayments from employees’ paychecks that were withheld but never forwarded to the company’s 401(k) plan, in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

Silicon Plains Technologies was located in Urbandale and provided system design, consultation and custom computer programming services. McCormick served as the company’s CEO from 1993 to 2009.

WASHINGTON Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the February 2012 Employment Situation report released today:

"Our nation's labor market continued to register solid growth in the month of February. The economy added 233,000 private sector jobs last month, while the unemployment rate held steady at a three-year low of 8.3 percent.

Interested parties may submit comments through March 21

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has announced a nine-day extension of the comment period for its proposed rule to provide minimum wage and overtime protections for nearly 2 million workers who provide in-home care services.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of $346 million in grants through the Senior Community Service Employment Program to provide community service-based job training opportunities for unemployed older Americans.

"The job training programs funded through these grants will enhance employment opportunities for seniors through training while also linking them with businesses that are looking for qualified employees," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending March 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 362,000, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 354,000. The 4-week moving average was 355,000, an increase of 250 from the previous week's revised average of 354,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.7 percent for the week ending February 25, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

WASHINGTON Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding International Women's Day:

"Today people all over the world will celebrate International Women's Day, honoring the power, strength and contributions of all women. Together, we not only recognize the economic, political and social achievements of women, but the struggle and sacrifice it took to get here, too.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the availability of approximately $75 million in YouthBuild grant funds to develop programs that will help out-of-school youth complete high school or General Educational Development programs, as well as learn critical occupational skills in construction, health care, information technology and other fields.

Date of Action: March 7, 2012

Type of Action: Complaint

Name(s) of Defendant: Rusty’s Truck Service, Inc. Profit Sharing Plan

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today released the results of its internal review of the agency's actions prior to the April 5, 2010, explosion that killed 29 miners at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Raleigh County, W.Va. The internal review team, comprised of MSHA employees outside the district where the accident occurred, was charged with evaluating agency actions relative to the explosion and making recommendations to improve the agency's performance in order to better protect the nation's miners.

WASHINGTON Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the death of Rep. Donald Payne:

"I want to express my deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the family of Rep. Donald Payne. Words cannot express how saddened I was to learn of his passing.

"I had the privilege of working with Don for more than a decade. He was a mentor, a colleague and a friend.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending February 25, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 351,000, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 353,000. The 4-week moving average was 354,000, a decrease of 5,500 from the previous week's revised average of 359,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.7 percent for the week ending February 18, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

WASHINGTON – Moving forward with continuing efforts to strengthen employees' voices in the workplace, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced a major restructuring of its Office of the Whistleblower Protection Program. The program will now report directly to the agency's Office of the Assistant Secretary instead of to its Directorate of Enforcement Programs.