Tag: U.S. Department of Labor

Grant to Provide Temp Jobs for Those Impacted by Floods

West Virginia has secured a $3.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to offer 250 temporary jobs for flood disaster clean-up activities in the 12 counties under the Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster declaration. The program will be administered through WorkForce West Virginia.

WorkForce West Virginia submitted a disaster emergency grant application to the U.S. Department of Labor on July 1 for National Dislocated Workers Grant funds, and Gov. Tomblin sent a letter to Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez on July 12 underscoring the critical need to support West Virginia workers and communities as quickly as possible.

Those interested in applying should contact WorkForce West Virginia.

Feds Send $4.3 Million to West Virginia for Displaced Miners

Federal labor officials say another $4.3 million is heading into West Virginia to help out-of-work coal miners.

A U.S. Department of Labor news release Tuesday says the National Dislocated Worker Grant money will go to WorkForce West Virginia.

The release says West Virginia has previously received $10.7 million combined since 2012 through the grant program.

It says the money will help continue services for 1,700 West Virginia participants already enrolled in the reemployment and training services, in addition to about 300 more displaced coal miners.

Laid-Off Coal Miners Get Job Help in Form of Grant

West Virginia will receive another funding boost from the federal government to help with job training and career services for laid-off coal miners.

The U.S. Department of Labor announced Tuesday that the state will receive up to $7.6 million from a grant program.

Labor Department spokesman Joe Versen says the state will receive an initial amount of $3.2 million. The release date for the remainder of the funding will be determined later.

The announcement came the same day that Patriot Coal announces the permanent layoffs of more than 2,000 workers in West Virginia. And Alpha Natural Resources sent out warn notices to 93 miners in Raleigh County. 

It’s the third such grant to the state. WorkForce West Virginia received a $1.8 million grant in 2012 and an additional $5.6 million in 2014. Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin says those grants helped retrain nearly 1,000 workers.

Pilgrim's Pride Cited for Safety Violations

Federal regulators have cited Pilgrim’s Pride for safety violations at the company’s poultry processing plant in Moorefield.

The U.S. Department of Labor said Tuesday that the violations stem from three worker injuries in April, May and June. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that the injuries were caused by preventable violations.

The Department Labor says one employee suffered a fractured arm after contacting an unguarded machine shaft while operating a conveyor system. Another employee fell while refilling a machine with an inadequate step for employee access.

The third worker was caught in a blender while removing poultry from the machine. Three fingers were amputated.

A Pilgrim’s Pride spokesman didn’t immediately return telephone and email messages on Tuesday.

OSHA has proposed fines totaling $46,825.

Marshall to Expand Apprenticeship Opportunities

A Marshall University program has been awarded nearly $5 million to expand its apprenticeship program nationwide.

The U.S. Department of Labor awarded the money to the Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing.

The National Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeship Program at the institute will use the money to broaden existing apprenticeships and promote advanced manufacturing pre-apprenticeships for underrepresented groups such as women, transitioning military personnel and disadvantaged youth.

The university says the institute will provide standardized, industry-endorsed, online instruction and on-the-job learning for companies in multiple states. The RCBI program will serve at least 1,000 apprentices and 415 pre-apprentices across the United States.

The university says the effort will make apprenticeships more affordable to employers and more accessible to employees and individuals considering careers in manufacturing.

Proposed Rule for Black Lung Victims Available for Comment

The public is getting the chance to weigh in on a proposed rule that gives coal miners greater access to their health records.

The U.S. Labor Department’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs has made the proposed Black Lung Benefits Act rule available for public comment starting Wednesday.

The rule also would require that mine owners pay all benefits due in a claim before the award can be challenged through modification.

Black lung is an irreversible and potentially deadly disease caused by exposure to coal dust, where the dust particles accumulate in the lungs. According to the Labor Department, more than 76,000 miners have died at least in part because of the disease since 1968.

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