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Lapse in Appropriations

For workplace safety and health, please call 800-321-6742; for mine safety and health, please call 800-746-1553; for Job Corps, please call 800-733-5627 and for Wage and Hour, please call 1-866-487-9243 (1 866-4-US-WAGE).  This website is currently not being updated due to the suspension of Federal government services. The last update to the site was 10/1/2025.  Updates to the site will start again when the Federal government resumes operations.

W. Willard Wirtz

Tenure: September 25, 1962 to January 20, 1969

From Illinois; Harvard Law School. Teacher of English and law; general counsel, Board of Economic Warfare, War Labor Board; Chairman, Wage Stabilization Board.

Appointed by John F. Kennedy. In labor-management disputes, he encouraged resolution through collective bargaining rather than government intervention. Promoted research to identify labor shortages; led the "War on Poverty" with a host of programs for youth, dropouts, older workers, hardcore unemployed. Implemented new DOL antidiscrimination regulatory responsibilities under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.