January 8, 2025

Statement from Acting Secretary Julie Su on International Longshoremen’s Association, United States Maritime Alliance tentative six-year agreement

WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su issued the following statement on the tentative agreement reached between the International Longshoremen's Association and the United States Maritime Alliance.

January 8, 2025

US Department of Labor, Office of the Trade Representative seek review of alleged denial of labor rights at tire manufacturing facilities in Mexico

WASHINGTON – The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement today requested that the government of Mexico review an alleged denial of workers’ rights at Hulera Tornel S.A. de C.V., which runs tire manufacturing facilities in Mexico City and Tultitlán, Mexico.

January 8, 2025

US Department of Labor recovers more than $1M in wages, damages from California ice manufacturers that knowingly shortchanged 70 workers

SAN DIEGO – Seventy employees of two California ice manufacturers will receive their share of more than $1 million in back wages and damages recovered by the U.S. Department of Labor after investigators determined the companies’ common ownership withheld $527,687 in overtime earned by workers deliberately. 

January 8, 2025

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending January 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 201,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 211,000. The 4-week moving average was 213,000, a decrease of 10,250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 223,250.

January 7, 2025

US Department of Labor seeks to distribute $132K in recovered wages owed to more than 600 H-2A workers of large South Carolina produce grower

RIDGE SPRING, SC – More than 600 temporary agricultural workers are entitled to their share of more than $132,000 recovered by the U.S. Department of Labor from a Ridge Spring employer that illegally deducted money from their wages for political donations and cleaning fees.

January 6, 2025

US Department of Labor awards $1.6M for temporary jobs, workforce training to continue Hurricane Idalia support to Florida

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $1.6 million in funds to support continued disaster-relief employment and workforce training for Florida residents as the state continues its Hurricane Idalia recovery.

January 3, 2025

US Department of Labor enters settlement with Rhode Island hospital, recovers $1.9M for 853 healthcare workers denied overtime compensation

HARTFORD, CT – The U.S. Department of Labor has reached an administrative settlement with Rhode Island’s second largest hospital and Care New England Health System to recover a total of $1.9 million in back wages and liquidated damages for 853 healthcare workers who had to work through their breaks but were not paid properly for those hours worked during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

January 2, 2025

US Department of Labor awards over $600K in grant funding for continued jobs, training services in Washington communities affected by opioid crisis

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $627,124 to the Washington State Employment Security Department to continue providing disaster-relief jobs and employment and training services for people in southwest Washington communities affected significantly by the health and economic effects of widespread opioid use, addiction and overdose. 

January 2, 2025

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending December 28, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 211,000, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 219,000 to 220,000. The 4-week moving average was 223,250, a decrease of 3,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 226,500 to 226,750.

December 31, 2024

Zion contractor again found ignoring protections to prevent workers from suffering disabling, deadly falls from elevation; faces $266K in new fines

ZION, IL – Federal inspectors have again cited a Zion contractor with an extensive history of endangering workers by exposing them to fall hazards. The latest violations were discovered when employees were found roofing a residential structure without required fall protections – marking the second such incident in six months and the fifth in two years.

December 31, 2024

Owner of Medford construction company sentenced to 18 months for tax crimes, making false statements to federal government

Date of action:                       Dec. 10, 2024

Type of action:                      Sentencing

December 30, 2024

US Department of Labor finds increased number of care industry employers engaged in wage theft, recovers $735K in wages, damages in recent cases

SACRAMENTO, CA – A recent series of U.S. Department of Labor investigations shows a substantial increase in the number of care industry employers in California who are exploiting workers by underpaying them deliberately in violation of federal regulations.

December 30, 2024

US Department of Labor awards $65M to help community colleges increase access to affordable, high-quality training, improve equitable outcomes

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $65 million in grants to 18 colleges in 14 states to support programs that help community colleges scale affordable, high-quality workforce training to meet employers’ and workers’ skill development needs in critical industry sectors, such as advanced manufacturing, clean energy, semiconductors and biotechnology. 

December 27, 2024

US Department of Labor finds Louisiana contractor could have prevented 27-year-old worker’s drowning at North Carolina worksite

LELAND, NC – A U.S. Department of Labor investigation into the drowning of a 27-year-old heavy equipment operator at a Leland worksite found the employer could have prevented the fatal incident by following established safety regulations.      

December 26, 2024

US Department of Labor appoints new ERISA Advisory Council members

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the appointment of five new members and leadership for the 2025 Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, also known as the ERISA Advisory Council.

The 15-member council provides advice on policies and regulations affecting employee benefit plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

December 26, 2024

US Department of Labor finds worker electrocution tied to Alabama contractor’s expired tools, training failures

BESSEMER, AL – A U.S. Department of Labor investigation has found a local electrical contractor could have prevented a 44-year-old foreman’s electrocution during storm recovery efforts in Coaling by taking critical safety measures to protect their workers. 

December 26, 2024

US Department of Labor recovers $45K in penalties from Napa restaurant for reckless child labor law violations

Employer:      C Casa Napa LLC, operating as C Casa Restaurant and Bar Napa

                             610 First St.

December 26, 2024

US Department of Labor investigation finds Frisco contractor again exposing workers to potentially deadly trench collapse

FORT WORTH, TX A U.S. Department of Labor workplace safety investigation has found a Frisco contractor repeatedly exposed workers to serious hazards by sending them into unprotected trenches without providing a means of escape. 

December 26, 2024

Department of Labor finds Glenburn contractor ignored repeated warnings, site-specific safety plan in fatal trench collapse at Brownville worksite

AUGUSTA, ME – A federal workplace safety investigation has found a Glenburn general contractor’s decisions to ignore an onsite expert’s repeated warnings and the company’s own site-specific safety plan led to a fatal incident in June 2024. An employee suffered fatal crushing injuries when an unbraced retaining wall collapsed at a Brownville worksite.

December 26, 2024

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending December 21, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 219,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 220,000. The 4-week moving average was 226,500, an increase of 1,000 from the previous week's unrevised average of 225,500.