labor lawAdivision of labor law center

 A tragic case in California illustrates exactly why federal legislators recently passed stiffer penalties for employers who fail to provide safe working conditions for workers under the age of 18.

GINA, the recently passed Genetic Information Non-disclosure Act, provides for a $50,000 fine for any employer who is found in violation of a safety regulation, resulting in the death of a worker who is a minor.

Recently, the California Department of Industrial Relations’ Division of Occupational Safety & Health (DIR/Cal/OSHA) issued six citations in the sad death of a 17-year-old female Hispanic farm worker. Even more tragically, this death could easily have been prevented if the employer had taken a few minutes to comply with a few simple safety rules.

Maria Vasquez Jimenez died of (more…)

Alaska employers are invited to comment on new workers’ compensation regulations proposed by Labor Commissioner Clark “Click” Bishop.

The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development recently proposed new regulations aimed at making workers’ compensation hearings more ethical.

Workers’  compensation hearings are held when the employer or employee does not agree with the original finding. Often, this is because an employee is denied workers’ compensation and feels that he or she was entitled to it.

Under the proposed regulations, a new (more…)

Alaska employers are forewarned that the state Labor Commissioner is focusing on safety regulations regarding the use of cranes in the workplace.

A number of serious crane accidents in New York and across the country have prompted these changes. More recently, a crane tipped over and crushed a spectator during a building ceremony in Oklahoma. Other fatal crane accidents have taken place in Nevada, Florida and Texas in just the past few months.

The Alaska Labor Commissioner Click Bishop (more…)

The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced a $250,000 Regional Innovation Grant to northern Idaho, The funds will be used  to establish a strategic plan to expand the local economy.

The grant will train workers and develop the regional economy in Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, in Idaho.

This area of Idaho has long depended upon wood, paper and other forest products for its economic security. However, in today’s market, those industries (more…)

The US Department of Labor recently announced community-based worker training grants for Arkansas totaling just under $3.5 million. The President’s Community-Based Job Training Grants Initiative awarded $125 million to 69 community colleges across the United States.

The competition was announced in August of 2007, and received 341 applications. The funds go to training facilities and community colleges to aid workers in competing for high-growth industry jobs.

The two Arkansas grants go to (more…)