WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Department of Labor announced that the 27th Secretary of Labor, R. Alexander Acosta, submitted his resignation to President Donald J. Trump, effective Friday, July 19, 2019.

Secretary Acosta's resignation letter is attached.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) funding up to $8,805,300, with $2,935,100 released initially, for the California Department of Employment Development. Funding will be used to assess workforce needs in response to storms in February and March 2019. These storms brought torrential rains, heavy snow, and wind gusts, resulting in widespread flooding, power outages, and severe infrastructure damage.

SACRAMENTO, CA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) will offer a compliance seminar in Sacramento, California, for contractors, unions, workers, and other interested parties to provide information on the rules governing federal prevailing wage requirements. The event will offer training on labor standards for federally funded construction and federal service contracts.

WHAT: Wage and Hour Division Prevailing Wage Seminar

WHEN: July 23-25, 2019
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PDT

In the week ending July 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 209,000, a decrease of 13,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 221,000 to 222,000. The 4-week moving average was 219,250, a decrease of 3,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 222,250 to 222,500.  

MANCHESTER, NH – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), The Collectable Trader LLC – a motorcycle dealer based in Pembroke, New Hampshire – has paid $22,165 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 59 current and former employees to resolve violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). 

KANSAS CITY, MO ‒ The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is urging vigilance among employers and employees to address the types of workplace hazards that tend to peak in the summer months.

TARPON SPRINGS, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Arry's Roofing Services Inc. – a roofing company based in Tarpon Springs, Florida – has paid $75,710 in back wages to 144 employees for violating the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

KISSIMMEE, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Brooks Hospitality Corp. – operator of the Comfort Suites Maingate East in Kissimmee, Florida, and Gemini Global, a Kissimmee-based hotel staffing agency – has paid $64,786 in back wages to 100 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

ERWIN, TN – The U.S. Department of Labor will provide information about the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act and help current and former nuclear weapons workers file claims on Thursday, August 29, 2019, in Erwin, Tennessee.

WHAT: Traveling Resource Center

WHERE: Erwin Town Hall
211 N. Main Ave.
Erwin, TN 37650

WHEN: Thursday, August 29, 2019
9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. CDT
1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. CDT

LARGO, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor will provide information about the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act and help current and former nuclear weapons workers file claims on August 6, 2019, in Largo, Florida.

WHAT: Traveling Resource Center

WHERE: Largo Public Library
120 Central Park Drive
Largo, FL 33771

WHEN: Tuesday, August 6, 2019
9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. EDT
1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. EDT

PAHRUMP, NV – The U.S. Department of Labor will provide information about the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act and help current and former nuclear weapons workers file claims on Thursday, July 25, 2019, in Pahrump, Nevada.

WHAT: Traveling Resource Center

ALBANY, OR – The U.S. Department of Labor will provide information about the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act and help current and former nuclear weapons workers file claims on Tuesday, July 23, 2019, in Albany, Oregon.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta issued the following statement on the June 2019 Employment Situation report:

“The June jobs report surpassed expectations adding 224,000 jobs to the economy, totaling 5.6 million jobs created since January 2017.  

“This report included other good news as wages increased at or above 3% year over year for 11 straight months.  Wage growth for production and non-supervisory workers increased 3.4% over the past 12 months.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta discussed the award of $12 million in advanced manufacturing apprenticeship grant funding to Missouri Community College Consortium during a visit to St. Louis Community College Center for Workforce Innovation, in Ferguson, Missouri. Secretary Acosta participated in a roundtable with the Chancellor of St. Louis Community College, Dr.

WESTBURY, NY – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Northridge Construction Corp. for willful and serious violations of workplace safety standards at the company’s headquarters in East Patchogue, New York. The company faces $224,620 in penalties.

In the week ending June 29, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 221,000, a decrease of 8,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 227,000 to 229,000. The 4-week moving average was 222,250, an increase of 500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 221,250 to 221,750.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced it will establish the Excellence in Disability Inclusion (EDI) Awards for federal contractors that demonstrate excellence in including people with disabilities in their workforces. The EDI awards program is sponsored jointly by the Department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP).

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta discussed the award of $12 million in information technology apprenticeship grant funding to Purdue University during a visit to Purdue Polytechnic Institute, in West Lafayette, Indiana.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta discussed the award of $4 million in apprenticeship grant funding to the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education during a visit to BridgeValley Community and Technical College in Montgomery, West Virginia. Secretary Acosta toured the college and participated in a roundtable with U.S.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that it has issued three new opinion letters that address compliance issues related to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). An opinion letter is an official, written opinion by the Department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) on how a particular law applies in specific circumstances presented by the individual person or entity that requested the letter.

The opinion letters issued today are: