Worker power drives economic growth

Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su was in New York this week to speak at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service's National Labor-Management Conference. She spoke about the power of workers having a voice on the job, engaging in good faith at the bargaining table, and how labor-management partnerships are good for workers, employers and businesses.

Paid leave implementation conference

The Women’s Bureau hosted a conference on paid family and medical leave on June 26 that covered the latest research and best practices for equitable program implementation. Speakers included White House Senior Advisor and former Secretary of Labor Tom Perez. The Women’s Bureau also released a new issue brief reviewing practices states use to implement paid leave programs and increase equity.

Read the issue brief: “Paid Leave: Equity in Implementation”

$10.5M+ in grant funding to train the nation’s miners

The Mine Safety and Health Administration is making $10.5 million available to help provide mine safety training for the nation’s miners through its State Grants program. State, tribal and territorial governments can use the funds to train miners working at surface and underground coal and metal and nonmetal mines. Apply by Aug. 20.

Promoting worker rights at 2024 International Labor Conference

The department led the U.S. delegation to the 2024 International Labor Conference in Geneva earlier this month, joining over 4,900 delegates for the world’s largest annual conference on international labor rights. Deputy Undersecretary for International Labor Affairs Thea Lee led a cross-agency delegation from the U.S. Departments of Labor and State, promoting workers’ rights across two weeks of engagements and negotiations.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Olmstead anniversary

We are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Olmstead decision and its positive impact for people with disabilities.

Union leader murder condemned

We condemn the horrific murder of Anastacio Tzib Caal, the recently elected union leader at a garment production facility in Villa Nueva, Guatemala.

Child labor violations

A meat processor and a staffing agency in California must surrender $327,484 and pay penalties after our investigation found oppressive, exploitative child labor.

Fatal fall

An OSHA investigation found that a Tennessee-based construction contractor could have prevented a worker’s fatal fall at a New York job site by providing fall protection and training.

Enforcing worker rights

Under the USMCA, we are requesting Mexico’s government review an allegation that workers’ rights are being denied at a munitions manufacturing facility in Cuernavaca.

Fiduciary guidance amendments

EBSA issued a report to Congress on an interpretive bulletin related to fiduciary standards when selecting an annuity provider for a defined benefit pension plan.

Employment support

Eight more partners have joined our Employment Navigator and Partnership Program to provide personalized employment assistance to transitioning service members and their spouses

Impact inspections

MSHA's May impact inspections covered 15 mines in 12 states, resulting in citations for 300 violations and one safeguard. Sixty-two of those were considered “significant and substantial.”

POST OF THE WEEK

❌ A bathroom *cannot* be used to fulfill the space requirements of the PUMP Act. Learn more: dol.gov/pump-at-work

U.S. Department of Labor Instagram

IN THE NEWS

• LA Times: Meat processing plant fined nearly $400,000 over child labor violations
• WHAS 11: Federal rule seeking to protect miners now in effect
• WJAR: OSHA official speaks about heat safety measures for workers
• CWA-union.org: New Flyer Workers Meet with Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su
• Spectrum News 1: National partnership to train workers for hurricane season