Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry Announces Grant To Retrain Veterans

The Department of Labor and Industry recently announced a grant in the amount of $311,000 to help retrain veterans for welding jobs. The grant, which will be used by the Steamfitters Local, will fund the Returning Veterans Welding Program, which is scheduled to start in the fall. The veterans will receive 96 hours of beginner welding training during an eight-week period.

An article covering the program in detail can be found on the Pittsburgh Post Gazette website:

http://www.pittsburghpostgazette.com/pg/09147/972933-407.stm

Anyone interested in applying for a position in the Returning Veterans Welding Program should contact Steamfitters Local at 800-253-6960 or 412-381-1133

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Vincent J. Quatrini, Jr., Begins Work On New Edition of Pennsylvania "Workers' Compensation: Practice and Procedure"

Quatrini Rafferty partner Vincent J. Quatrini, Jr., recently traveled to Harrisburg, PA to begin work on the 2010 edition of the Pennsylvania Bar Insitute's publication "Workers' Compensation: Practice and Procedure."


The workers' compensation manual, widely referred to as the "Bible" in workers comp circles, is touted by the Pennsylvania Bar Institute as "a complete survey of the substantive law of workers’ compensation practice, the Workers’ Compensation Act, and the Pennsylvania Occupational Disease Act." PBI also notes that "this book can be found in the chambers of the Commonwealth Court and on the desks of the commissioners of the Appeal Board, workers’ compensation judges, lawyers, and claims personnel throughout Pennsylvania."


Quatrini, who has served as a co-editor of the manual since 1989, will also serve as a moderator for the continuing legal education seminars that accompany the manual's publication.


Publication is scheduled for Spring 2010.



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QR Legislative Alert: Elimination of Civil Legal Services Funding

Quatrini Rafferty received an email from the Pennsylvania Bar Association which issued the following warning about the reduction in Civil Legal Services Funding:

The Pennsylvania Senate introduced SB 850 as their proposed 2009-2010 state budget on Friday, May 1st. That legislation is poised to be voted on, and adopted, by the Senate tomorrow, Wednesday, May 6th. SB 850 eliminates all state funding (all $3,172,000 of the state's appropriation) for civil legal services. Access to justice is a major concern to the members of the PA Bar Association. The reduction of funding for legal services at a time of substantially increased need due to current, severe economic recession is remarkable.
Please call your state senator immediately. Implore him/her to restore the state appropriation for civil legal services. Tell him/her that access to justice for the poorest among us is not an appropriate "bargaining chip" for budget negotiation.

As the PBA urges, please contact your State Senator and/or your local Representative immediately to share your opposition to the reduction. You can find either one through the link below:

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/find.cfm

Thank you.

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Article from Quatrini Rafferty "Legal Blog" Featured on OpenCongress.org

We here at the QR Legal Blog are excited to report that OpenConress.org has featured the April 20, 2009 blog article entitled "Bill Introduced to End Two Year Waiting Period for Medicare" on their site:

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h1719/show

According to its website, OpenCongress is "a free, open-source, non-profit, and non-partisan web resource with a mission to help make Congress more transparent and to encourage civic engagement." The website is a joint project of the Sunlight Foundation and the Participatory Politics Foundation.


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Congratulations to 2009 Pittsburgh Marathon Participants!

The attorneys at Quatrini Rafferty would like to extend their congratulations to all of the runners competing in the 2009 Pittsburgh Marathon, and, to the City of Pittsburgh on a successful event!

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New Secretary of Labor Confirmed by Pennsylvania State Senate

The Pennsylvania Bureau of Labor and Industry, the administrative body that oversees workers' compensation and unemployment in Pennsylvania, recently announced that Sandi Vito will formally take over as Secretary of L&I effective April 22, 2009. The Bureau issued a press release announcing the appointment, which we have reprinted below:

Senate Confirms Sandi Vito as Pennsylvania Secretary of Labor & Industry

HARRISBURG – Sandi Vito, named by Governor Edward G. Rendell to serve as Secretary of Labor & Industry, was confirmed today by the Pennsylvania Senate.

Vito is Pennsylvania’s 32nd Secretary of Labor & Industry, and the second woman to hold the post.
“Sandi has done a tremendous job as acting secretary of Labor & Industry, especially during these challenging economic times,” Governor Rendell said. “I am pleased that members of the Senate, in their vote to confirm Sandi, have shown the same confidence I have in her.”

As secretary, Vito oversees the commonwealth’s fifth-largest agency, employing approximately 6,000 employees in 200 offices. L&I serves many worker and business interests through a variety of programs and initiatives, including unemployment and workers’ compensation, labor law compliance and vocational rehabilitation.

In addition, the department’s workforce development initiatives help Pennsylvanians obtain skills needed for in-demand jobs, and keep businesses competitive in the global economy.

Prior to being named acting secretary last year, Vito served as deputy secretary for workforce development for five years. She helped to reform the commonwealth’s workforce development system and expanded employment and training opportunities in high-skill, high-wage jobs.

“I am honored by the Senate’s vote of confidence,” Vito said. “Pennsylvania is facing significant economic challenges, but L&I is determined to help people find and maintain employment and provide the valuable services that workers and businesses need. I look forward to continuing to work with the General Assembly to carry out our mission, revitalize Pennsylvania’s economy and strengthen our workforce."

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