Joint Labor Committees to question Department of Labor

WHAT: The House Committee on Labor & Public Employment and the Senate Committee on Labor will hold a joint informational briefing on two subjects pertaining to the State Department of Labor:

Photo of Juan Navarro: Honolulu Star-Bulletin courtesy of Sandra Navarro

1. In May 2009, Juan Navarro, a construction worker, was killed by the collapse of a Hawaiian Cement tower at Campbell Industrial Park. Numerous questions have been raised over the department’s investigation by the Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division. News story on accident here. Union asks Legislature to follow up here.

2. Due to the current economic downturn, the state’s unemployment insurance fund was considered in jeopardy of depletion without the aid of federal assistance funds. The Department has decided to forego its efforts to obtain the federal funds. Lawmakers will ask why the decision was made and what is the status of the unemployment fund.

WHEN: Monday, June 7, 2010 – 10:00 a.m.

WHERE: State Capitol, Conference Room 329