Ont. government announces more than $680K for laid-off mfg. workers
by CM Staff
The funding will allow Unifor to offer job search assistance, job training access, one-on-one career counselling and help with resume and interview preparation.
Doug Ford, Wikimedia Commons.
OAKVILLE — The Ontario government is investing more than $684,000 in a new action centre that will help 3,179 laid-off workers impacted by the retooling of the Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited plant in Halton. The funding will allow Unifor to offer job search assistance, job training access, one-on-one career counselling and help with resume and interview preparation.
“Ontario’s world-leading auto industry is the engine of our economy and our government stands with its workers,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “As the Oakville Ford plant retools to build electric vehicles (EV), the action centre will provide the services workers need to get back on their feet quickly and find jobs to support themselves and their families while the company works hard to retool and reopen the plant.”
“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government recognizes that blue-collar jobs are building our province,” said Patrice Barnes, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “Our government will continue to work to help workers upgrade their skills and find good jobs.”
Run by Unifor, the new action centre will operate in Oakville until at least March 2025. It will offer up-to-date information on available jobs, skills development programs, personalized career counselling, networking opportunities, free access to computers and other services to workers impacted by the recent plant shutdown.
“Our union worked closely with the Government of Ontario to ensure that all auto and auto parts workers affected by the transition across the Halton region receive access to the peer-led employment supports and services this action centre will provide when they are needed most,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “While we were pleased to open this action centre quickly, our priority remains to protect every job and every worker’s livelihood throughout the EV transition to ensure no auto or auto parts workers are left behind.”
“Ford Oakville workers are essential to the future of this plant, the Halton Region and the province of Ontario. While we work with all parties towards a solution that shortens the retooling of the Ford Oakville plant, we will ensure that we’re here for our community and deploy urgently needed resources from the Local 707 union hall with coordinators and helpers who come directly from the shop floor,” said Marc Brennan, Ford Oakville Plant Chairperson, Unifor Local 707.
