U.S. Department of Labor Blog

Editor’s note: The following is cross-posted from the U.S. Commerce Department’s blog.

This is cross-posted from the Department of Justice blog. See the original post here.

29 October 2013 - Washington, DC - Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez delivers the keynote at the Half in Ten Anti-Poverty Launch at the Center for American Progress.

Where mine safety is concerned, few enforcement tools are as effective as the pattern of violations (POV) notice. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) -- the agency which I oversee -- is authorized to issue a POV notice to mine operators that demonstrate a disregard for the health and safety of miners through a pattern of significant and substantial violations. It is reserved for the mines that pose the greatest risk to the safety of miners. Last week, MSHA put three mines on a POV notice.

On Sept. 25, 2013, the Labor Department hosted a Twitter chat focusing on education as a pathway to employment for veterans and returning service members. The department's Veterans' Employment and Training Service - along with a number of veterans service organizations, other government agencies and employers - answered questions and shared resources for one hour.

We take environmental stewardship seriously at the Gainesville, Fla., Job Corps Center solar program. In the past year, my students have installed 8 kilowatts of Photovoltaic panels on pole mounted racks and then tied them into the center’s internal grid to supply electricity. While not replacing all of our energy usage, these panels do lower our carbon footprint.

It’s official.

This Wednesday, Sept. 25, the Labor Department’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service will host a Twitter chat from 3-4 p.m. EDT on education as a pathway to employment for veterans and returning service members.

The Rehabilitation Act was codified on Sept. 26, 1973, prohibiting discrimination against qualified workers with disabilities in programs supported by federal tax dollars.