Mine manager pleads guilty to second-degree manslaughter for recklessly operating crane that killed Grafton mine mechanic TROY, NY – An upstate New York court accepted a mine manager’s guilty plea today to manslaughter in the second degree, a Class C felony. Anthony Valente, a mine manager at a Grafton limestone quarry, admitted to causing Darren Miller’s death in October 2022 by recklessly disregarding and overriding safety features of a crane Valente was operating, which resulted in a piece of the crane striking Miller, a 35-year-old mechanic, and causing his death. The manager agreed to serve a six-month jail sentence and five years of probation. He is expected to report to jail on June 14, 2024.The guilty plea follows an investigation into a worker’s death at the R J Valente Grafton Quarry. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration determined that Valente overrode a crane’s safety features when he used it to lower a replacement engine into a haul truck. Miller was guiding the engine into place when the crane’s overhaul hook ball detached and fell on him. MSHA found the crane tagged “out of service” during prior inspections, but the investigation into Miller’s death revealed that Valente operated the damaged crane without repairing it. “Like every miner, Darren Miller had the right to go home at the end of the day, but Anthony Valente’s reckless actions denied him that opportunity,” said Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health Chris Williamson. “MSHA remains committed to ensuring a safe and healthy workplace for miners, and will continue to use every tool available to us as we work with states to keep miners safe.”After its investigation, MSHA cited the mining company R J Valente Gravel for failing to remove the damaged crane from service and for not ensuring Miller stayed clear of suspended loads as he worked to replace the haul truck’s engine. “Tragically, this incident was completely preventable,” said Solicitor of Labor Seema Nanda. “When employers avoid their legal obligations, the U.S. Department of Labor will use its enforcement powers to hold them accountable, including working with state and local prosecutors whenever we discover potentially criminal misconduct. We thank Chief Assistant District Attorney Matthew Hauf and the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office for partnering with us to address these unsafe work practices.”Rensselaer County Chief Assistant District Attorney Matthew B. Hauf appeared at today’s proceeding on behalf of the People of New York. “The Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office is pleased to have partnered with the U.S. Department of Labor, MSHA and the NYSP in order to hold the defendant in this case criminally responsible for the death of Darren Miller,” said Rensselaer County District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly. “This case should serve as a reminder to those who profit from the mining industry that a failure to maintain safe conditions for all employees may result in criminal prosecution.”
http://www.dol.gov/newsroom/re....leases/sol/sol202404

Mine manager pleads guilty to second-degree manslaughter for recklessly operating crane that killed Grafton mine mechanic TROY, NY – An upstate New York court accepted a mine manager’s guilty plea today to manslaughter in the second degree, a Class C felony. Anthony Valente, a mine manager at a Grafton limestone quarry, admitted to causing Darren Miller’s death in October 2022 by recklessly disregarding and overriding safety features of a crane Valente was operating, which resulted in a piece of the crane striking Miller, a 35-year-old mechanic, and causing his death. The manager agreed to serve a six-month jail sentence and five years of probation. He is expected to report to jail on June 14, 2024.The guilty plea follows an investigation into a worker’s death at the R J Valente Grafton Quarry. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration determined that Valente overrode a crane’s safety features when he used it to lower a replacement engine into a haul truck. Miller was guiding the engine into place when the crane’s overhaul hook ball detached and fell on him. MSHA found the crane tagged “out of service” during prior inspections, but the investigation into Miller’s death revealed that Valente operated the damaged crane without repairing it. “Like every miner, Darren Miller had the right to go home at the end of the day, but Anthony Valente’s reckless actions denied him that opportunity,” said Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health Chris Williamson. “MSHA remains committed to ensuring a safe and healthy workplace for miners, and will continue to use every tool available to us as we work with states to keep miners safe.”After its investigation, MSHA cited the mining company R J Valente Gravel for failing to remove the damaged crane from service and for not ensuring Miller stayed clear of suspended loads as he worked to replace the haul truck’s engine. “Tragically, this incident was completely preventable,” said Solicitor of Labor Seema Nanda. “When employers avoid their legal obligations, the U.S. Department of Labor will use its enforcement powers to hold them accountable, including working with state and local prosecutors whenever we discover potentially criminal misconduct. We thank Chief Assistant District Attorney Matthew Hauf and the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office for partnering with us to address these unsafe work practices.”Rensselaer County Chief Assistant District Attorney Matthew B. Hauf appeared at today’s proceeding on behalf of the People of New York. “The Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office is pleased to have partnered with the U.S. Department of Labor, MSHA and the NYSP in order to hold the defendant in this case criminally responsible for the death of Darren Miller,” said Rensselaer County District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly. “This case should serve as a reminder to those who profit from the mining industry that a failure to maintain safe conditions for all employees may result in criminal prosecution.”
http://www.dol.gov/newsroom/re....leases/sol/sol202404

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report In the week ending April 13, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 212,000, unchanged from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 211,000 to 212,000. The 4-week moving average was 214,500, unchanged from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 214,250 to 214,500.
http://www.dol.gov/newsroom/re....leases/eta/eta202404

US Department of Labor recovers $447K in back wages, damages for 60 grocery workers denied overtime by Kern County employer SACRAMENTO, CA – The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $447,952 in back wages and damages from the operator of three Kern County grocery stores for 60 workers after a federal investigation found the employer illegally withheld overtime wages for hours over 40 in a workweek.The department’s Wage and Hour Division determined the owners of Fiesta Market and Mi Rancho Market in McFarland and Fiesta Market #2 in Lamont excluded the affected employees from overtime eligibility and, by doing so, failed to pay them overtime as required by law. The division also found the employer did not meet federal recordkeeping requirements. The employer’s actions violated provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The investigation led the division to recover $223,976 in unpaid overtime wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages. In addition, the department assessed $24,210 in civil money penalties for the willful nature of the employer’s violations.“The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to ensuring that all workers receive a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Cesar Avila in Sacramento. “The division uses every tool at its disposal to protect workers’ rights and help employers understand their obligations and avoid violations. We invite anyone with questions to contact us for assistance.” Workers can use the Wage and Hour Division’s Workers Owed Wages search tool to check if they are owed back wages collected by the division. Employers and workers can contact the division confidentially for help at its toll-free number, 1-866-4-US-WAGE (487-9243), regardless of where they are from. The division can speak with callers in more than 200 languages. Workers and employers alike can help ensure hours worked and pay are accurate by downloading the department’s Android and i-OS Timesheet App for free in English or Spanish.  This news release is also available in Spanish.   
http://www.dol.gov/newsroom/re....leases/whd/whd202404

Departamento de Trabajo recupera $447,000 para 60 trabajadores de tiendas de alimentos a los que empleador en condado de Kern no pagó horas extras SACRAMENTO, CA. El Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU. recuperó $447,952 en salarios y compensación por daños a operador de tres tiendas de alimentación del condado de Kern para 60 trabajadores después de que una investigación federal descubrió que el empleador ilegalmente negó pagar como sobretiempo las horas trabajadas por encima de 40 en una semana laboral.La División de Horas y Salarios del departamento determinó que los dueños de Fiesta Market y Mi Rancho Market en McFarland, y Fiesta Market #2 en Lamont excluyeron a los empleados afectados de su elegibilidad de recibir pago por horas extras y, al hacerlo, no pagaron esas horas extras como exige la ley. La división también descubrió que el empleador no cumplía con los requisitos de mantenimiento de registros. Las acciones del empleador infringieron las disposiciones de la Ley de Normas Justas de Trabajo. La investigación llevó a la división a recuperar $223,976 en horas extras no pagadas y una cantidad igual en indemnización por daños. Además, el departamento impuso $24,210 en multas por el carácter intencional de las violaciones.“El Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU. se compromete a garantizar que todos los trabajadores reciban un sueldo justo por una jornada de trabajo justa”, declaró el director distrital de la División de Horas y Salarios, Cesar Avila, en Sacramento. “La división utiliza todas las herramientas a su alcance para proteger los derechos de los trabajadores y ayudar a los empleadores a comprender sus obligaciones y evitar infracciones. Invitamos a todos los que tengan preguntas a que se pongan en contacto con nosotros para recibir ayuda”. Los trabajadores pueden utilizar la herramienta de búsqueda de sueldos debidos de la División de Horas y Salarios para comprobar si se les deben sueldos atrasados cobrados por la división. Tanto los empleadores como los trabajadores pueden ponerse en contacto, de manera confidencial, con la división para solicitar ayuda a través de su número de teléfono gratuito 1-866-4-US-WAGE (487-9243), independientemente de su lugar de procedencia. La división puede hablar con las personas que llaman en más de 200 idiomas. Tanto los empleadores como los trabajadores pueden ayudar a garantizar que las horas trabajadas y los pagos sean correctos al descargarse la aplicación gratuita de la Hoja de Tiempo del departamento para i-OS y Android disponible en inglés o en español.  Este comunicado de prensa también está disponible en inglés.   
http://www.dol.gov/newsroom/re....leases/whd/whd202404