labor lawAdivision of labor law center

The US Department of Labor recently awarded $250,000 to develop strategic economic growth plans for Kentucky and Tennessee. Most of the area affected is in the extreme western tip of Kentucky.

“This $250,000 grant to the West Kentucky Workforce Investment Board will boost efforts to expand the region’s economy and increase job opportunities for Kentucky workers,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.

The primary focus of the grant is the (more…)

Two community colleges in Tennessee have won worker training grants from the US Department of Labor totaling more than $3.7 million.

Jackson State Community College was awarded $1,997,683 to establish and enhance programs to train highly skilled workers for the healthcare industry. With locations in Lexington, Savannah and Humboldt, as well as Jackson, the school offers distance learning and continuing education as well as daytime classes in a number of allied health specialties.

Northeast State Technical Community College won a grant of $1,946,563 to train workers for the Advanced Manufacturing field. The school is located in Blountville, Tennessee. The school offers associate degrees, apprenticeships and continuing education in the technical field through The Institute for Business and Industry Services.

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 Just in time to celebrate Memorial Day, the Department of Justice or DOJ announces a spate of recent convictions under USERRA. The USERRA regulations provide job protection for veterans.

In the first class action lawsuit ever under USERRA, on April 17, 2008 the DOJ

Reached an agreement that American Airlines will pay 353 pilots a total of $345,773 for the loss of vacation and sick leave benefits while on military duty. In addition, American agreed to provide additional sick leave worth about $215,000.

American Airlines is the nation’s largest commercial air carrier. Not coincidentally, American recently announced that it will charge every passenger $15 for the first checked bag on each domestic flight.

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