U.S. Department of Labor,update

 

U.S. Department of Labor

February 18, 2022

Unions and equal pay Being represented by a union reduces women’s wage gap by nearly 40% compared with the pay gap experienced by non-union women. Supporting the next generation of trucking workers The trucking industry plays a vital role in the U.S. supply chain, and America’s truck drivers have helped keep our economy, and 72% of all goods shipped in the U.S., moving throughout the pandemic. Sixty days into our 90-day Trucking Apprenticeship Challenge, we're working with employers of all sizes to drive progress in trucking apprenticeships. Combating child labor in Madagascar We’ve awarded $4.5 million to Pact Inc., an international nonprofit organization, to combat child labor in mica-producing communities in Madagascar. An estimated 10,000 children endure unsafe working conditions currently in Madagascar’s informal mica industry. A proposed rule would update OSHA’s powered industrial trucks standards OSHA has proposed a rule to improve worker safety and health by ensuring its general industry and construction industry rules reflect current industry practice and state-of-the-art technology. Seeking public comment on changes to program for employing seniors in community service We’re seeking public comment on changes to bring our Senior Community Service Employment Program regulations into alignment with the Supporting Older Americans Act of 2020. $2.97 million for wildfire cleanup and recovery in Northern California We’ve awarded $2,968,350 to support disaster-relief employment to assist with cleanup and recovery efforts and to provide employment and training services in northern California after devastating 2021 wildfires. Grants and funding opportunities webinar Join us for a webinar Feb. 24, 3 p.m. ET, to hear department leaders describe upcoming grant programs and funding opportunities, and how to apply for them. (Access code: 2764 653 7570, Password: Welcome!24) IN CASE YOU MISSED IT $1.3M in back wages We recovered $1.3 million in back wages after finding a Texas potato farm denied nearly 500 farmworkers the wages they were due and violated other labor laws. Trench safety citations OSHA has cited the employer involved in a February 2021 double fatality at a Boston worksite, and his successor company, for again failing to provide employees with essential safeguards. Whistleblower protections We’re suing a Florida security contractor that fired a worker after raising concerns about safe firearm storage and coronavirus-related workplace hazards. Overtime recovered Our investigators recovered $163,648 in back wages owed to 47 workers after finding a Texas residential builder’s pay practices led to overtime violations. National Caregivers Day OSHA is urging healthcare employers, and those in related industries, to implement effective safety and health programs amid soaring injury rates. Equity in focus Join our webinar series on equity in employment, focusing on infrastructure investment and policies that include women and communities of color. HISTORY HIGHLIGHT Honoring Black Leaders with Disabilities Fannie Lou Hamer was a civil rights advocate who promoted employment and economic opportunities for Black Americans. She had polio as a child and suffered permanent injury as a result of being beaten when arrested for her activism. Learn more about her and other Black leaders with disabilities who have had a lasting impact on America.

U.S. Department of Labor 200 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20210 www.dol.gov | 1-866-4USADOL (1-866-487-2365)