Acting Secretary Sonderling statement on April jobs report

Acting Secretary Sonderling statement on April jobs report WASHINGTON – U.S. Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling issued the following statement regarding the April 2026 Employment Situation Report:“Despite doom-and-gloom rhetoric from pundits and economists, America’s economic comeback is clearly accelerating under President Trump, with job growth now shattering expectations two months in a row. 115,000 jobs were added in April, doubling expectations and proving 94% of Bloomberg economists wrong. The unemployment rate remained steady and total private sector job growth under this Administration now stands at more than 700,000 new jobs.“Thanks to President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts, job creators were clearly feeling empowered this tax season and are investing in American workers. Our skilled workforce is seeing the benefits, with continued job growth in construction and a strong 5.2% year-over-year increase in manufacturing weekly earnings.“The President is bringing work...

US Department of Labor files suit alleging South Dakota construction company wrongfully fired whistleblower for reporting work-related injury

US Department of Labor files suit alleging South Dakota construction company wrongfully fired whistleblower for reporting work-related injury
SIOUX FALLS, SD – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed suit against a Valley Springs construction contractor for the wrongful termination of an employee who reported a severe work-related injury.An investigation by the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found the employee received second- and third-degree burns from scalding water in a pressurized pipe. OSHA determined Stone Hill Excavation LLC, and its successor Split Rock Sand & Gravel, violated the whistleblower provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act by firing the worker two days after the injury was reported.The department’s suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota, asks the court to hold the company and its successor liable for illegal retaliation. It also calls for the reinstatement of the employee and payment of back wages and damages, including $100,000 in punitive damages. OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Program enforces the whistleblower provisions of 25 whistleblower statutes protecting employees from retaliation for reporting violations of workplace airline, anti-money laundering, commercial motor carrier, consumer product, criminal antitrust, environmental, financial reform, food safety, health insurance reform, maritime, motor vehicle safety, nuclear, pipeline, public transportation agency, railroad, safety and health, securities and tax laws. For more information on whistleblower protections, visit OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Programs webpage.Editor’s note: The U.S. Department of Labor does not release the names of employees involved in whistleblower complaints.

Published at 2026-04-06T12:00:00Z
Read more at https://dol.gov

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