The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Local 7606 and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2067 have released more information on a project that they received federal funding for.
The federal government announced last month it would provide $677,880 to the UMWA Local 7606 and IBEW Local 2067 to establish a transition centre for coal workers in the Estevan and Coronach region, through the Coal Communities Transition Initiative.
Ashley Johnson, the financial secretary of UMWA Local 7606, said they will have an office set up at the Southeast College. A coal transition co-ordinator has been hired to work at the centre using money from the feds.
“He will take resumésfrom people looking for other types of employment and discuss retraining and whatever other options we can find to help people who are going to be displaced by the phasing out of coal,” said Johnson.
Johnson believes it’s important to have someone who can assist those losing a job that they’re proud of.
“Losing your job or losing your employment can cause some mental or emotional impacts,” said Johnson. “So it will help point people in the direction for help, and to help get them the help they need in their time of need.”
Ideally, the transition centre and its employee will help people find jobs within the community.
If people want to see the co-ordinator, they would contact him and book an appointment.
William Campbell, the business manager and financial secretary for the IBEW 2067, added that they still have to decide what will be done for the workers out in Coronach, which is also going to be adversely affected by the phasing out of conventional coal power.
SaskPower’s Poplar River Power Station is located near Coronach, and there are coal miners who work for Westmoreland Mining LLC. IBEW represents the Westmoreland employees in the Coronach region.
“We put out an expression of interest, and we have a member there from the coal mines that has expressed an interest at coming on as an advisor to sit on the committee.”
Johnson expects this will be open for three years, and the money will be needed for wages, the office space and materials for those who will need the retraining option.
When Westmoreland announced earlier this year they would be laying off employees, the union saw the need for a transition site such as this. Ten people were ultimately laid off, while more than a dozen others took early retirement or a voluntary layoff to keep newer employees from losing their jobs.
“At that time, it would have been nice to have it. It would have been able to help with a resumélooking for other work, and even support in general,” said Johnson.
Once it does get up and running, and people know it’s there, Johnson expects there will be a demand for it, because people are concerned about their future and how everything’s going to play out.
Johnson hopes the office can be open in the near future, possibly even before the end of the month. But there are some things that need to happen before that can occur.
