October 9, 2024

Federal court order requires Tennessee sawmill to pay $73K in penalties, turn over $10K in profits for endangering children at work

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CLARKRANGE, TN The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a federal consent decree requiring a Clarkrange lumber producer to stop violating federal child labor regulations, pay penalties for their violations and surrender profits earned for products made while violations occurred.

October 8, 2024

Department of Labor finds Washington contractor transported farmworkers in unsafe vehicles by unlicensed drivers, housed them in moldy motel rooms

KENNEWICK, WA – The U.S. Department of Labor has debarred a Kennewick farm labor contractor from participating in the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program for three years after finding the employer provided workers with unhealthy living conditions; transported them in unsafe vehicles driven by people without licenses or proper permits; withheld wages and made illegal pay deductions; told workers to falsify documents to mask violations of federal regulations; and denied U.S. workers access to jobs.

October 8, 2024

US Department of Labor finds Nebraska farm cooperative exposed employees stacking pallets of pork to musculoskeletal disorders

 

Employers:    Wholestone Farms Cooperative Inc.

                             900 South Platte Ave.

                             Fremont, NE 

October 7, 2024

Departamento de Trabajo recupera $132K en salarios y compensación por daños para 72 trabajadores de empresa de tortillas en Condado de Los Ángeles

Empleador:                               La Flor de Mexico Inc.

Lugar de investigación:            5121 Commerce Drive

October 7, 2024

US Department of Labor recovers $132K in wages, damages for 72 wholesale tortilla manufacturing workers in Los Angeles County

Employer:                                 La Flor de Mexico Inc.

Investigation site:                      5121 Commerce Drive

October 7, 2024

Ball Corp. subsidiary to pay $309K to settle hiring discrimination of Black applicants at Georgia facility

ROME, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced Ball Container LLC, a subsidiary of Ball Corp., has entered into a conciliation agreement in which the employer will pay $309,000 in back wages and interest to resolve alleged race-based hiring discrimination at the company’s beverage manufacturing facility in Rome. 

October 4, 2024

Statement by Acting Secretary of Labor Su on September jobs report

WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su issued the following statement on the September 2024 Employment Situation report: 

“Today’s jobs report shows that our economy continues to thrive, adding 254,000 jobs in September, with the unemployment rate falling to 4.1 percent. With an average of 186,000 jobs added over the past three months, it’s clear that people who need a job are finding a job. That’s how strong our economy is. 

October 4, 2024

US Department of Labor approves up to $5M in initial funding to support disaster recovery jobs, training for Florida residents after Hurricane Helene

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the approval of up to $5 million in initial emergency grant funding to Florida to support disaster-relief jobs and training services in 31 counties to help respond to Hurricane Helene.

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.