The Greenstone Labour Adjustment Committee Action Centre has fulfilled its mandate and is now closed. Although it is hard to say goodbye, we are happy to inform you that More than Words / Paroles et Actions is available to serve you. More than Words / Paroles et Actions is located in exactly the same places that the Action Centres were! Please call 807-854-1234 or 807-876-4222 to speak to a More than Words representative.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Greenstone Labour Adjustment Committee and the Action Centres - without your assistance we wouldn't have achieved all that we did!
The Greenstone Labour Adjustment Committee (GLAC) was formed to assist displaced / laid off workers in the Greenstone area.
This adjustment program was initiated in October, 2007 by the Municipality of Greenstone and the Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities (MTCU) (Appendix B). With increased signs of a weakening forest sector, the GLAC was tasked with proactively addressing the unprecedented unemployment in the area.
The GLAC has provided a board range of individualized products and services to all affected workers and their families. The committee pursues its goals using a unique labour adjustment “downside sectoral” model of labour adjustment, which relies heavily on the cooperation of local and national unions, management representatives from all affected mills, Federal and Provincial governments, laid-off workers, and action centre staff. While committee representatives comprise various stakeholders with different interests, they have forged a unique partnership to pursue several goals: plan, develop, and deliver quality labour adjustment services that will help affected workers and their families during their transitional periods.
This area has seen all of its mills shut down; layoffs at the Nakina Forest Products (NFP) mill (137 workers) in August 2008, layoffs at the Long Lake Forest Products (LLFP) mill (290 workers) in October 2008, permanent closure of the Longlac Wood Industries (LWI) mill (205 workers). In response to this the committee hired a full-time coordinator, and a 1.5 job developer. Effective October 2008 the Action Centres were open to service the four communities (Geraldton, Longlac, Beardmore, Nakina) and the villages (Jellicoe, Caramat and MacDiarmid) serviced by the GLAC. Since then, the LWI mill closed permanently in January 2009 and the Neenah Paper Woodlands workers (61 workers) ended their job action of several years against the company in May 2009.
One of the first activities the committee undertook was the assessment of workers already laid off in the area. This exploratory process identified many issues and concerns workers had and affirmed some of the rumors of the impending challenges the industry faced. (Appendix C)
With the trickle down effects of job loss throughout the Municipality of Greenstone the GLAC requested an extension from MTCU for another 6 months to provide further assistance to the affected workers along with taking on a few more roles with the service providers and the gaps that had surfaced. The GLAC was successful in securing an extension from October 2009 – until April 2010 to complete the task of assisting displaced workers, and identifying gaps within our services.
The operation of the Greenstone Labour Adjustment Committee – Action Centre was primarily financed by MTCU with the assistance of some in-kind contributions from the Municipality of Greenstone and More Than Words / Paroles et Actions. We hosted workshops, information sessions, provided family activities throughout the communities, along with funding for many courses to help increase skills to have a greater chance at finding employment. The one time funding was used to provide GED courses, Computer courses, and an SP100 Fire fighter course. There was an initial lay-off of 738 residents of Greenstone; the GLAC Action Centre was able to assist 689 individuals at a cost of $1,124.12 per person.
As the GLAC comes to an end the staff at More Than Words / Paroles et Actions will be able to assist you in job searching, resume writing, and information on funding for education and training. You can reach a staff member in Geraldton at 854-1234; and in Longlac at 876-4222 to make an appointment in another community; More Than Words has satellite offices in both Beardmore and Nakina.