Date of Action: Oct. 15, 2012

Type of Action: Judgment

Name of Defendants: Ronald Bloomgren, individually and as a fiduciary to the Earmold Design 401(k) Savings Plan

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending October 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 339,000, a decrease of 30,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 369,000. The 4-week moving average was 364,000, a decrease of 11,500 from the previous week's revised average of 375,500.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor has launched its online Workplace Flexibility Toolkit to provide employees, job seekers, employers, policymakers and researchers with information, resources and a unique approach to workplace flexibility.

Workplace flexibility policies and practices typically focus on when and where work is done. The toolkit adds a new dimension — an emphasis on flexibility around job tasks and what work is done.

Date of Action: Oct. 5, 2012  

Type of Action: Complaint

Name of Defendant: Tracy S. Randall, T.S. Randall Company LLC, T.S. Randall Company LLC Retirement Savings Plan

Date of Action: Oct. 5, 2012  

Type of Action: Complaint

Name of Defendant: Tracy S. Randall, T.S. Randall Company LLC, T.S. Randall Company LLC Retirement Savings Plan

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs is seeking eligible applicants under a $5 million competitive grant solicitation to reduce child domestic labor by building the capacity of domestic workers organizations in one or more countries in South Asia and/or Southeast Asia.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs is seeking eligible applicants under a $1.5 million competitive grant solicitation to develop centers for workers' rights in Colombia.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs is seeking eligible applicants under two competitive grant solicitations to implement projects that will reduce child labor in Ecuador and Panama.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs is seeking eligible applicants under a $2.2 million competitive grant solicitation to strengthen worker organizations in Haiti and Peru. ILAB intends to award $1.2 million to be used for Haiti and $1 million for Peru.

Wage and Hour Division finds systemic labor violations at 21 day care centers in 8 states

Investments will promote job creation and economic growth in local industry clusters in Ariz., Calif., Mich., NY, Okla., Ore., Pa., Tenn. and Wash.

WASHINGTON – The Obama administration today announced that 10 public-private partnerships across America will receive $20 million in total awards to help revitalize American manufacturing and encourage companies to invest in the United States.

Date of Action: Oct. 3, 2012

Type of Action: Consent order and judgment

Names of Defendant: LFAC Inc. Profit Sharing 401(k) Plan

Allegations: LFAC, Inc. was acquired by the General Castings Company in approximately 1996.  Subsequently, General Castings Company served as the plan’s sponsor and administrator.  The plan was abandoned when General Castings Company ceased doing business in 2004.

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

"Our nation's labor market added 114,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in September, while the unemployment rate dropped to 7.8 percent, its lowest level since January 2009. Additionally, 86,000 more Americans found jobs in July and August than had been previously reported.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $450,777 National Emergency Grant increment to provide re-employment services for about 184 workers affected by layoffs at six RG Steel facilities – four in Ohio and two in West Virginia – along with one supplier, Kinder-Morgan, located in Pennsylvania.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending September 29, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 367,000, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 363,000. The 4-week moving average was 375,000, unchanged from the previous week's revised average.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today introduced a new compliance assistance resource to address one of the most commonly cited violations in the metal and nonmetal mining industry: improperly guarded machinery. "Guarding Machinery at Metal & Nonmetal Mines" is a sequel to a compliance guide for guarding conveyor belts published in 2010. In that year, guarding-related violations peaked at 10,877 and accounted for one of every seven violations cited.

Date of Action: Oct. 2, 2012

Type of Action:  Consent order and judgment

Names of Defendant: Joseph A. Seher, Pat Mowery, Cheryl Sloan, Accucast Technology LLC 401(k) Plan and Accucast Technology LLC Health Plan

Allegations: Mowery and Sloan in their capacity as fiduciaries to the Accucast Technology LLC 401(k) Plan and Accucast Technology LLC Health Plan failed to ensure employee contributions were forwarded to the plan.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is launching an alternative dispute resolution pilot program for complaints filed with OSHA's Whistleblower Protection Program. ADR can assist complainants and employers in resolving their disputes in a cooperative and voluntary manner.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that the FBI Laboratory's Evidence Response Team Unit is facilitating a two-week course on conducting accident investigations for 18 of the agency's accident investigators and special investigators. The pilot training program began Sept. 24 and will continue through Oct. 5 at the National Mine Health and Safety Academy in Beaver, W.Va.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against GreatBanc Trust Co. and Sierra Aluminum Co. in the U.S.