Tyson Foods’ Green Forest plant implicated in child labor investigation

by Kim Souza (ksouza@talkbusiness.net)

Springdale-based Tyson Foods and George’s Inc. were among the 13 companies found to have used Packer Sanitation Services who hired minority workers ages 13-17 working overnight shifts in plants around the country.

The U.S. Department of Labor said Packers Sanitation Services employed minors to work in meat packing plants on third-shift sanitation crews. The Labor Department found 102 children between the ages 13 and 17 working in hazardous occupations.

Tyson Foods plant in Green Forest is reported to have had 6 minors working, resulting in fines of $90,828 by the Labor Department against Packers Sanitation. Tyson’s plant in Goodlettsville, Tenn., was found to have one minor, and that penalty was $15,138. The investigation found Springdale-based George’s Inc. had four minors working its Batesville, Ark. plant. That penalty was $60,552.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/03/tyson-foods-green-forest-plant-implicated-in-child-labor-investigation/

Photo from the U.S. Department of Labor of a child working in a slaughterhouse.

UA Cossatot Chosen To Receive US Department Of Labor Grant Of Nearly $1.6 Million

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 16, 2023

CONTACT: Loren Hinton, Community Relations Coordinator

UA Cossatot Chosen To Receive US Department Of Labor Grant Of Nearly $1.6 Million

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $50 million in grants to help 15 community colleges in 14 states expand access to education and training for good-paying jobs and equitably meet employers’ and workers’ skill development needs.

The funding announced today – together with the $45 million awarded in September 2022 – is a combined investment of $95 million since 2022 in the community college system from the Department of Labor under the Biden-Harris administration, allowing 28 community colleges in 24 states to provide career pathways for participants to train in healthcare, teaching, clean energy and other key industries.

In January 2023, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that full-time college graduates earn almost twice as much each week as workers with high school diplomas. For people in marginalized and underserved communities, a lack of access to education and training hinders career pathways and often worsens their economic disparities.

“Community colleges offer accessibility and affordability that make them great options for people in marginalized and underrepresented communities to learn the skills needed to succeed in the workforce,” said Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “Combined with our September 2022 funding, today’s award will put $95 million to work to help community colleges in 24 states tailor their curriculum to respond to regional labor market needs, continue the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to investing in education programs that connect people to quality jobs, and create a more inclusive and equitable workforce.”

Upon the announcement of the grant, UA Cossatot Chancellor Dr. Steve Cole said, "This grant will mean 1.6 million dollars to our college to aid us in our ongoing effort to help hard-to-reach students succeed in certain education and medical programs. This is fantastic news for our college and our area!"

Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, the third round of Strengthening Community Colleges training grants will enable recipients to increase educational and economic opportunities for people in underrepresented communities. Grants will provide opportunities to design and align education and training to respond to regional and state labor market needs through accelerated learning pathways.

In March 2022, the department announced funding availability for the second round of Strengthening Community College Training grants. A subsequent announcement – in June 2022 – made $50 million available for the round of funding awarded today.

Grant recipients include:

Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas

De Queen, AR $1,597,031

Los Angeles Community College District

Sylmar, CA$ 1,600,000

Arapahoe Community College

Littleton, CO $4,989,434

College of Central Florida

Ocala, FL $4,732,384

William Rainey Harper College

Palatine, IL $1,599,842

Des Moines Area Community College

Ankeny, IA $4,999,094

Minnesota State Community and Technical College

Fergus Falls, MN $4,201,050

County College of Morris

Randolph, NJ $1,600,000

Lorain County Community College District

Elyria, OH $5,000,000

Tulsa Community College

Tulsa, OK $1,600,000

Northeastern Technical College

Cheraw, SC $4,900,636

Piedmont Technical College

Greenwood, SC $4,987,461

Brazosport College

Lake Jackson, TX $1,598,762

Southside Virginia Community College

Alberta, VA $1,599,530

Chippewa Valley Technical College

Eau Claire, WI $4,994,776

Unemployment Rate, and Job Growth in Manufacturing, Hospitality, and Food Services Encouraging, Governor Says

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas’s rate of unemployment in May remained stable at 4.4 percent, unchanged from April, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor. The state’s unemployment rate remained below the national rate, as it has throughout the pandemic, according to the report, which the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services released today.

“The state’s unemployment rate continues to be more than a full percentage point below the national average,” Governor Asa Hutchinson said. “It is also encouraging that the state saw growth in jobs in manufacturing, hospitality, and food services. Our workforce is in a transition now. Some are seeking retraining opportunities and others are delaying their return to employment. With workforce training programs available and with the urgent demand for workers, this is an excellent time for those who left the labor force during the pandemic to transition to a higher-skills job or a better-paying job.”