June 21, 2012
Minister Provides Update on Progress in
Supporting Displaced Fish Plant Workers
The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture and Chair of the Cabinet Committee on Fisheries Issues, provided an update today on progress being made in supporting workers displaced by the permanent closure of seven fish plants throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
“The Cabinet Committee on Fisheries Issues has been active in the last two months meeting with town councils and employee representatives,” said Minister King. “During this time, meetings have occurred with eight groups. These groups were provided with detailed information regarding the available suite of programs and services offered by the Provincial Government. Our government is committed to supporting displaced workers who have been negatively impacted by the closure of their local fish plant.”
Members of the committee have met with representatives from the Town of Marystown; the Town of Burin; the Town of Port Union; the Town of Little Bay Islands; the Fish, Food and Allied Workers’ Union local committees from Marystown, Burin, and Port Union; as well as officials from community-based organizations on the Burin Peninsula. A meeting with representatives from the community of Jackson’s Arm will take place this evening (Thursday, June 21) in Deer Lake, and meetings with representatives from the communities of Black Tickle and St. Lewis will occur in July.
The Department of Municipal Affairs is making contact with displaced workers to deliver employment supports through the Fish Plant Workers Employment Support Program. Projects have started for workers from the Marystown plant who have Employment Insurance claims expiring by the end of August 2012. For workers from the remaining plants with claims expiring in August, projects are expected to be in place next week. The process for a second round of projects will commence in July for workers not yet placed.
The Department of Innovation, Business and Rural Development is engaged with its community partners on an ongoing basis to explore opportunities for economic development. This approach is based on levering regional strengths to build capacity for economic activity.
The Department of Advanced Education and Skills encourages displaced workers who have not already done so to call toll-free 1-888-231-2882, or visit their local Career Work Centre, to begin the process of attaining supports. Career counsellors will work with individuals and help navigate the programs and services that best suit individual needs.
The Cabinet Committee on Fisheries Issues was re-activated in May 2012 in response to the permanent closure of seven fish plants located throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. Since then, the committee and Provincial Government departments have begun the process of facilitating the connection of displaced workers with available programs and services. This suite of programs and services is intended to help individuals find new employment, secure short-term insurable hours to qualify for employment insurance, and provide financial support to retrain or upgrade skills. Included in the measures will also be a coordinated effort to foster economic development opportunities that will develop long-term sustainability for affected regions.
Information regarding Career Work Centres and the Fish Plant Worker Employment Support Program are contained in the backgrounder below.
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Media contact:
Bradley Power
Director of Communications
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
709-729-3733, 699-5707
BradleyPower@gov.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Provincial Government Career Work Centres
Marystown
Marystown and area Career Work Centre
3 Mall Street, Marystown
Telephone: 709-279-5534
St. Bride’s
Mount Pearl and area Career Work Centre
1170 Topsail Road, Mount Peal
Telephone: 709-729-0107
Little Bay Islands
Springdale and area Career Work Centre
142 Little Bay Road, Springdale
Telephone: 709-673-2615
Jackson’s Arm
Corner Brook and area Career Work Centre
1-3 Union Street, 2nd Floor Alyward Building
Corner Brook
Telephone: 709-637-2601
Port Union
Bonavista and area Career Work Centre
122 Confederation Drive, Bonavista
Telephone: 709-468-5401
Clarenville and area Career Work Centre
White Dove Building, 294 Memorial Drive
Clarenville
Telephone: 709-466-0275
St Lewis and Black Tickle
Happy Valley-Goose Bay and area Career Work Centre
163 Hamilton River Road, Happy Valley-Goose Bay
Telephone: 709-896-8846
Fish Plant Worker Employment Support Program
What is the Fish Plant Worker Employment Support Program?
- The Fish Plant Worker Employment Support Program is a provincially funded, targeted employment creation program focused on creating short-term employment initiatives for fish plant workers who are unemployed as a result of the permanent closure of a fish plant, and have not been successful in securing a sufficient number of insurable hours of employment during the current year to apply for Employment Insurance Benefits.
- The program is intended to provide former fish plant workers with a maximum of one 14-week rotation (560 hours), less any insurable hours of employment they have already earned during the current year, for the purpose of establishing Employment Insurance Benefits.
- The program utilizes a community-based delivery model. Employment assistance is provided through non-profit sponsors delivering projects that strive to provide an enduring benefit to communities.
- Eligible plant workers have one year from the date the plant is deemed permanently closed to accept an employment project.
Who qualifies for employment?
- To qualify for employment, fish plant workers must be unemployed as a result of a permanent fish plant closure and have not been successful in securing a sufficient number of insurable hours of employment during the current year to apply for Employment Insurance Benefits.
- Unemployed fish plant workers must demonstrate an attachment to the fish plant designated closed. Eligible individuals must be identified either from a seniority list provided by a union or from a company list of employees.
2012 06 21 9:55 a.m.