United States Department of Labor-Raising the Pride flag...

U.S. Department of Labor

June 16, 2022

Beat the heat with OSHA Every year, heat and humidity sicken thousands of workers – and the most severe cases can be fatal. OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention campaign educates employers and workers on recognizing and avoiding the dangers of heat exposure. Preparing and supporting workers “Working people are the heart and soul of our nation,” Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh said at the AFL-CIO convention in Philadelphia. In his remarks, Secretary Walsh shared how the Department of Labor is preparing and supporting workers in this new era of the labor movement. Read Secretary Walsh’s tweets. Share your story about organizing or participating in a union. Raising the Pride flag In recognition of LGBTQI+ Pride Month, the department is displaying the Pride flag at our D.C. headquarters. “I am proud to work alongside the LGBTQIA+ members of the department,” Deputy Secretary Julie Su said. “Secretary Walsh and I are grateful to those who show up every day and make us proud to be a part of this agency.” Support for workers and their right to organize Secretary Walsh offered remarks at the Communication Workers of America's biennial Legislative-Political Conference this week, sharing how the Biden-Harris administration and the Labor Department are supporting workers, including their right to organize unions. What we’re learning about worker organizing Our new research collaboration is offering insights into the “voice gap” workers are experiencing at their jobs, trends in recent worker strikes and protests, a surge in new union elections and more. Putting data to work on behalf of America’s workers Deputy Secretary Su unveiled the department’s inaugural Enterprise Data Strategy, which will guide our efforts to improve data collection, management and use. “Without strong data, we cannot take wise action,” Su said. “When cutting edge data is put in the hands of advocates, unions, employers, researchers, workers and others, the nation’s economy benefits.” Read a press release on the data strategy. Learn more about the data strategy.  IN CASE YOU MISSED IT $18 million awarded We’ve awarded more than $18 million in grants to improve unemployment benefits services in Maine, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin. Back wages A federal investigation has recovered $348,380 in overtime back wages and liquidated damages for 144 underpaid workers of an Arizona construction employer. Repeat violations A Georgia pillow manufacturer whose history of safety and health violations includes three different amputation incidents is once again the focus of an OSHA investigation, this time involving numerous repeat and serious violations. Preventing worker abuse The Departments of Labor and State and the U.S. Agency for International Development issued principles and guidelines on protecting temporary migrant workers from abuse. Safety and health Secretary Walsh issued a statement on the International Labor Organization’s recognition of occupational safety and health as a Fundamental Principle and Right at Work for the first time. Embezzlement sentence The former president of a Wisconsin union who embezzled $219,000 from the union’s employee benefit plan must pay restitution and serve eight months of home confinement. #WDACL On World Day Against Child Labor, we highlighted some department-funded projects supporting efforts to end child labor. UPCOMING EVENTS Watch live: Good Jobs Summit June 21, 9:15 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET Watch live: The Future of Work - Flexibility in the Workplace June 23, 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. ET Panel: The 50th anniversary of the National Commission on State Workmen’s Compensation Laws July 11, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. ET