labor lawAdivision of labor law center

On September 24, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a grant of more than $15 million to Texas in the wake of Hurricane Ike. Of the total grant, $7.9 million will be released initially. The balance will be released as the state demonstrates a continued need for disaster assistance.

“This $15.9 million National Emergency Grant  will put several hundred Texans to work helping communities recover from Hurricane Ike damage,” said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “This grant will also fund humanitarian assistance such as food, clothing, shelter and other critical aid that Texans affected by the hurricane devastation are in need of.”

The grant, totaling $15,883,200 will be used to (more…)

With 2 major hurricanes affecting the Gulf Coast in just 11 days, the US Department of Labor personnel is stretched thin, but responding to demands for assistance, thanks to volunteers from Alabama, Montana, New Mexico, Ohio, South Dakota and Utah.

Initially volunteers from Texas traveled to Louisiana to assist survivors of Hurricane Gustav.  

However, as Hurricane Ike pummeled the Texas coast just days later, most of them returned to their home state to aid in recovery efforts there.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and state and local workforce organizations have (more…)

OSHA, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is warning employers to follow proper safety precautions in the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav, Hurricane Ike, and the related Midwest floods.

The federal agency has released several public service announcements to remind employers that they are still responsible for worker safety, even under such trying conditions as these natural disasters.

Employers should particularly be aware of the dangers of electrocution and falls from heights during the cleanup and recovery operations.

“In the wake of Hurricane Gustav, (more…)

 The federal government has a number of resources for employers affected by natural disasters.

In just the last two weeks, a number of regions have been struck by hurricanes, floods and other disasters. On September 2, Hurricane Gustav struck Louisiana, resulting in FEMA granting emergency assistance to 24 parishes.

On September 13, Hurricane Ike struck Texas and parts of Louisiana with devastating consequences for Galveston, Houston and other areas.

The storm systems continued north, and by September 14 had caused catastrophic flooding in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and parts of the Midwest.

The US Department of Labor has set aside $22.2 million in funds (more…)

 The US Department of Labor has a number of resources in place for Louisiana victims of Hurricane Gustav. Similar programs for survivors of Hurricane Ike in Texas are sure to follow.

So far, the US Department of Labor has announced a $22.2 million national emergency grant  to Louisiana to aid workers displaced by the hurricane. Emergency grant funds are available to employers, small business owners and self-employed workers as well as employees displaced by the natural disaster.

The funds will be used to create more than 4,000 (more…)