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Support Program for Displaced Fortune FPI Plant Industry Workers announced Jack Byrne, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, today announced that a $1 million support program for displaced Fisheries Products International (FPI) plant workers in Fortune has been negotiated between the province, the Fortune Concerned Citizens Committee, the FFAW and FPI. The program is being implemented in fulfillment of one of the specific commitments government made in its negotiations with FPI, which was subsequently approved by the House of Assembly. The effort is being undertaken on the basis that FPI plans to enhance its secondary processing capabilities on the Burin Peninsula. In the interim, FPI workers in Fortune will continue to be given priority consideration for any available work in Marystown. Should work not be available at the Marystown plant or elsewhere, Fortune FPI workers will be able to avail of this program. The program has the potential to assist approximately 240 members of the workforce who have attained less than 14 weeks of employment this year and who may require some employment support to supplement existing earned weeks of employment. The project approval process will begin during the week of August 1, with employment expected as early as this week. "We were pleased to have reached an agreement with all parties involved, to ensure that an employment support program was up and running quickly and would provide quality, meaningful projects to address the needs of workers in Fortune," stated Minister Byrne. "Of the 320 workers in Fortune, 80 already have at least 14 weeks of employment, while many others have achieved significant weeks of employment. By reaching an agreement quickly, employment needs were minimized, so we will be able to get people working in the next few days, and FPI will top up the hourly wage rate." The province will contribute $6.25 to the rate of pay, consistent with provincial government support of other employment initiatives, and FPI will provide a $3.75 per hour top-up. The cost to the province will be in the order of $750,000, with an additional contribution from FPI of $250,000. Jake Thornhill, Chair of the Concerned Citizens Committee, is pleased that the committee will assist as coordinating agent for employment projects. "Cooperation between government, the union and town has been essential in moving this program forward. We will be working to help administer projects and administrative functions to assist with a smooth introduction of this program." The support program for Fortune is an extension of the Community Enhancement Program. Fortune joins Harbour Breton as a community with unique circumstances which necessitated a financial boost to support workers and programming, to ensure that employment shortfalls were met and the needs of workers were respected. "We remain committed to address the employment shortfalls experienced in communities affected by the closure of their primary industry. We will work with communities and unions to find suitable solutions to ensure that the interests of rural communities are addressed. We must be realistic and realize that we cannot satisfy everyone; however, we are working extremely hard and remain committed to do the best that we can," added Minister Byrne. "Establishing fair employment support programs and developing worthwhile projects will provide lasting benefit to communities. We continue to actively participate in negotiations for workers in Harbour Breton with the town, FFAW and FPI, with hopes to reach an agreement with regard to programming, wage rate and other outstanding issues in the near future." Media contact: Heather MacLean, Communications, (709) 729 1983, 690 2498 or heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca 2005 08 02 4:00 p.m. |
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