MONTGOMERY – Effective next Monday, October 1, 2012, the Alabama Department of Labor will merge with the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations, creating one new department, which will assume the name of the Alabama Department of Labor.
The merger is the result of legislation passed in the 2012 regular legislative session. The bill was sponsored by Senator Paul Sanford, (R) Huntsville, and was signed into law on May 22, 2012.
The merger combines the two state agencies into one. Employees of the existing Alabama Department of Labor have moved into the building housing the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations in downtown Montgomery.
“This merger just makes sense,” said ADIR Director Tom Surtees. “We are eliminating costly rents and operating expenses and consolidating functions. As far as the name change goes, we are simply bringing the ‘new’ department’s name in line with what most of our corresponding state agencies use, as well as the U.S. Department of Labor.”
The merger is expected to save approximately $100,000 to $200,000 dollars per year. Existing ADOL Commissioner Jim Bennett will retire October 1, after 34 years of service
in various capacities, including Secretary of State. He has served the last nine years as
Commissioner of the ADOL.
ADIR Director Tom Surtees will assume the duties as the Commissioner of the newly reorganized Alabama 
Department of Labor.
Also effective October 1, the website for the ADIR will change to
www.labor.alabama.gov. All persons filing unemployment compensation claims online should begin to use the new web address.
Other contact information for the existing ADOL will remain the same.
