CAW centre offers help to laid-off workers

Posted By ELLWOOD SHREVE, THE DAILY NEWS

Laid-off CAW workers have a place to go to help prepare them to find other job opportunities.

The CAW Workers Adjustment Centre opened on Monday at 462 Riverview Dr. Unit 7, with funding from Employment Ontario.

Aaron Neaves, president of CAW Local 127, said, "it's the first time that I know of that we've gone forward and approached the provincial government and got some funding."

He said the need for the adjustment centre "stemmed from the massive layoff that we did have at Navistar."

There are approximately 790 people laid off from the Chatham truck assembly plant.

The union approached the company to pitch in some funding, but to no avail, Neaves said.

"So we went ahead to make sure our members are taken care of," he added.

Jason King, adjustment centre co-ordinator, said he and other peer helpers at the centre, who are all laid off from Navistar, are here to help their fellow workers.

"It's a familiar face for someone to come in and see," he said.

Although they are not employment counsellors, King said, "we're here to listen and to help direct (people) to what they need."

He said those working at the centre can refer people to existing services and programs being offered by government and community agencies.

Since taking on this job, King said, "I'm shocked at the amount of services available in our community."

There are a variety of programs and options available through these various organizations, he said.

"We want people to find out what's out there and get the ball rolling," he said.

Mark Jackson, 39, of Chatham, came into the centre yesterday to have a one-on-one consultation with a peer helper.

He dropped off a skills survey that has been entered into the centre's data bank as well as checked out the job opportunity board and went over the different courses and seminars that the centre plans to offer.

Jackson also has a resume prepared, but plans to bring it into the centre to see if there are aspects that can be improved.

With 15 years in at Navistar before getting laid off at the beginning of February, Jackson said, "it's great to know there's a team here working for us."

He believes all laid off workers should use the centre.



News from Chatham Daily News

Chatham's truck plant isn't in any immediate danger of closing despite a June 30 layoff notice to all employees, the company says.

The notice, issued Thursday, had CAW Local 127 officials scrambling for answers.

"The notice has taken us completely by surprise,'' said CAW national representative Joe McCabe of Chatham. "Union officials and plant workers are extremely worried.''

But company spokesman Roy Wiley of Chicago told The Chatham Daily News yesterday the layoff notice is "simply procedural.''

He said under Ontario law, the company must provide 12 weeks notice if there is a possibility of a massive layoff.

Wiley said the notice is simply "precautionary.''

He said the layoff notice coincides with the expiration of the current contract with the CAW.

McCabe said he voiced his concerns yesterday to Chatham-Kent Essex MP Dave Van Kesteren and MPP Pat Hoy.

"We have no idea why the company has issued the layoff notice,'' he said. "I'm confused. We don't know if it's a bluff.''

McCabe said the union is prepared and hopeful a new contract agreement can be reached with the company.

"We are extremely upset by this latest move and plan to use everything at our disposal to get a new collective agreement,'' he said.

McCabe said the company has an obligation to Chatham-Kent because of the millions of dollars in concessions made by employees and the millions given the company by the provincial and federal governments.

McCabe said it appears the company is playing "mind games'' with the people of Chatham-Kent.

"It's unacceptable,'' he said. A longtime employee, who

wished to remain anonymous, told The Chatham Daily News, "I'm not impressed with that" with respect to the plant-wide layoff notice.

He's heard rumours the company is looking to retool the Chatham plant.

"I'm thinking they can't do that when we're running production," he said.

As for the plant's future, he said, "there's all kinds of rumours flying around. You don't know what to believe."

Van Kesteren, after talking with McCabe and other top CAW officials, called the office of federal Industry Minister Tony Clement.

"I'm very concerned about this layoff notice,'' said Van Kesteren.

He said he wants the company to negotiate in good faith with the CAW.

Van Kesteren said the loss of the truck plant would be a huge blow to not only Chatham-Kent but southwestern Ontario.

"I'll be watching the developments very closely,'' he said. "Staff in the industry minister's office are also looking into it.''

During a March meeting, the company told the union it wanted "a radically different" collective agreement. The union said the company didn't go into details. Negotiations for a new contract are to begin in May.

There are 280 employees on the shop floor and 65 in the office. Almost 2,300 workers worked there in 2000.