News and reports from the Department of Labor.

The U.S. Department of Labor has secured a consent judgment and injunction to recover $72,000 in back wages and liquidated damages for 20 workers in Oklahoma.

Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su has released a statement regarding the September 2024 Employment Situation report. The report indicates that the U.S. economy added 254,000 jobs in September, with the unemployment rate decreasing to 4.1 percent. According to Su, "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."

The U.S. Department of Labor has approved up to $5 million in emergency grant funding for Florida to support disaster-relief jobs and training services in response to Hurricane Helene. This initiative targets 31 counties affected by the hurricane, which made landfall as a Category 4 storm on September 26, 2024, at Dekle Beach in Taylor County.

Federal investigators have identified significant safety hazards at a Nebraska grain cooperative, Legacy Cooperative's Hemingford grain elevator. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) found that workers were exposed to fire and explosion risks due to the accumulation of combustible dust and inadequate maintenance of dust collection systems.

A boat manufacturer in Pinellas Park is facing substantial penalties after a follow-up inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor revealed ongoing safety violations. Blacktip Boatworks LLC, previously cited for 15 safety and health hazards in July 2023, has been found to have not corrected these issues, according to the department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su has announced an agreement between the International Longshoremen's Association and the United States Maritime Alliance. This development is expected to facilitate the reopening of East Coast and Gulf ports while negotiations for a new contract continue.

The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a conciliation agreement with Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc. to address alleged gender pay discrimination at its Newark, Delaware facility. The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) conducted a compliance review and found that, starting January 1, 2020, female system engineers were paid less than their male counterparts in similar roles at the laboratory diagnostics manufacturing center.

As the Southeast recovers from Hurricane Helene, the U.S. Department of Labor has issued a reminder to employers involved in disaster recovery about their obligations to pay proper wages to workers. The department's Wage and Hour Division offers resources, including a natural disaster compliance assistance toolkit, aimed at helping both workers and employers understand their rights and responsibilities.

A federal investigation has determined that a North Dakota railroad company unlawfully retaliated against an employee who reported an injury and raised safety concerns. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) conducted the investigation following a complaint by an Enderlin-based claims representative of Soo Line Railroad Co.

Chemical manufacturer AB Specialty Silicones LLC is set to pay $1.3 million in penalties following a fatal explosion at its Waukegan plant in May 2019, which resulted in the deaths of four workers. This settlement comes after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) revealed that the company failed to ensure compliance with electrical equipment standards and used propane-powered forklifts for transporting flammable liquids.

The U.S. Department of Labor has announced the launch of a regional emphasis program through its Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to improve worker safety in the grain handling industry. This initiative addresses ongoing concerns about preventable injuries and hazards affecting workers in Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.

The U.S. Department of Labor has announced the distribution of $1 million in grants to seven organizations across five states. These funds aim to support education and training initiatives designed to identify and prevent unsafe working conditions in mines.

The U.S. Department of Labor has announced the allocation of $6 million in grants aimed at increasing the participation of women in pre-apprenticeship and Registered Apprenticeship programs, as well as nontraditional occupations. These funds are intended to support training initiatives across eight states and the District of Columbia, focusing on skilled building trades, advanced manufacturing, and information technology.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division and the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development have initiated a joint strategic enforcement initiative to address violations of federal and state child labor laws. This effort aims to prevent children from working in hazardous jobs, which is a priority for both agencies.

Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su has issued a statement regarding the ongoing negotiations between the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) and the International Longshoremen’s Association.