The Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-04-01, Page 13Volvo employees ready for job hunt
signal -star publisher
As many Volvo manufacturing
employees returned to work this
week for what should be the final 90 -
day work period at the company's
Maitland Road location, most are
armed with new skills and impres-
sive resumes.
For many of those 335 line em-
ployees, there may well be life after
Volvo.
With the manufacturing line set to
be idled by June 30, employees will
be offering their skills and services to
new potential employers and thanks
to initiatives through Volvo and the
union, 'preparation has been a defi-
nite priority.
Since the company announced its
intention Sept, 30, 2008 to close the
Goderich road grader manufactur-
ing facility over a phased period= the
manufacturing has been slowly mov-
ing to Shippensburg, Pa. The central
parts warehousing has been relocated
to Columbus, Ohio.
Even before the shock of the• job
loss had settled, the company and
union had laid out ambitious pro-
grams to prepare employees for a
new job market that they never imag-
ined they would have. to tap into.
With job security gone, preparation
for the next stage of working life was
paramount.
"In October we had communica-
tion with all levels of government
and local businesses," Amanda
Wright, Training and Transition
Manager said. "Volvo gave employ-
ees nine months notice and we were
in a. unique position to co-ordinate
layoff services. We brought people
on site to conduct resume writing,
interview and job hunting skills ses-
sions for everyone."
For employees like Jamie Chish-
olm, a section manager with less
than five years experience at Volvo,
training offered through the company
and by various levels of government,
gives him the skills and confidence
to find meaningful employment in a
tough job market. The father of three
is confident about the future outside
of Volvo.
"I'm excited for the future and I
feel that with news skills I can get a
job,' he said. "The company has done
a great job to provide skills training
and management courses. The train-
ing will lead to new opportunities
and I feel well-positioned with this
education."
Fifteen -year employee Henry
Van Dyke, of Lucknow, with sev-
eral welding tickets to his credit, has
also taken advantage of company -
arranged programs to improve his
welding and management skills.
"We have had nine months to pre-
pare for this and I don't know how
the company could have done any
better," he said. "I took early classes
and I never had to worry about how
to write a resume until now."
Both were part of a contingent of
50 employees who took part in eight -
Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, April 1, 2009 - Page A13
(RANI)
OPEN iNC
The Salvation Army
Goderich Thrift Store
THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2009
309 Suncoast Dr. E.
519-524-4188 • Hrs: Mon -Sat 10-5pm
Photo by Dave Sykes
Volvo employees, Henry Van Dyke and Jamie Chisholm, train on a
welding simulation machine at the company's Gearco building in the
industrial park. The pair have been part of the company's extensive
training programs, offered since the Sept. 30 announcement that the
manufacturing facility would close later this year.
week welding certification programs
offered by Conestoga College at its
Guelph location through January and
February. An unprecedented total of
50 welding tickets were issued by
the Canadian Welding Bureau to 11
participants in one group.
"I got four separate tickets and it
provides you with a good chance to
get a job," Chisholm said.
Training has been the operative
word at Volvo and 125 employees
took advantage of the 24-hour Proj-
ect Management course 'offered on
site by the International Institute
of Learning. A certificate program,
Heavy Equipment Manufacturing
Fundamentals, offered by St. Clair
College, attracted over 100 partici-
pants.
The company has also provided
$100,000 of funding in departmen-
tal budgets as part of a tuition reim-
bursement program, through which
employees are reimbursed for money
spent on training program. In total,
$800,000 will be spent on training
and transition programs.
CQNPENOMINATIONAL
WEDDINGS
CHRISTENINGS
Your Location or Our?
Rev. Chris Morgan
Pastor Paula Morgan
519-5245124
Employees know that jobs may
take them out of the Huron County
area but both Van Dyke and Chish-
olm are confident that training and
transition programs have prepared
them for even the tough job market.
"The programs offered have been
good for the management side of
things as well and I've learned things
about ergonomics and leadership and
I've used techniques in interviews,"
Chishom said. "There are jobs in the
Kitchener -Waterloo -Guelph -Cam-
bridge area and there may some trav-
eling involved to find work."
Bruce Power has already hired
some Volvo employees and Amanda
Dekker, Human Resources Man-
ager, indicated that about 11 per cent
of the workforce has transitioned to
other employment.
According to Wright, an "army of
local service providers at all levels
have gone above and beyond servic-
ing employees at Volvo."
And that service will definitely
serve Chisholm and Van Dyke well
as they prepare to leave Volvo and
stand out in a difficult job market.
• k
i f t rs "{ f,i
GROW
WORKING
TOGETtiE4R FOR
HURON COUNTY Koos
Idfl N'hu1iii'x'
Chdrtcrcd Account dnl
Accounting and Tax
Services for Individuals &
Business
P.O. box 152 hayfield, ON NOM IGO
p 519-50-5536 f:519-%5-5345 c: 5194421366
iat althew@tcc.on.ca
Buy 3 get the 4"' FREE
Offer valid from April 1;t to May 8tt1 2009
Includes Roman Shade and Cellular European Collection
LEVOLOR.
•
custom
blind &shades
MCAD OFFICE Serving the Lakeshore and Beyond...
35 Colborne St., aodsrlch 519.5245965 C
831 Queen 8t., Kkicardino 519.396.4541 ,,1 L 1
025 Ooderlch 8t., Port Elgin 519.8324543
Woodstock In home Sales Rep. 519.2904 465 A SHADE AB
n fl
e sir an
is
earn
is moving vehiclestoff the lot fast!
,L„ uckn
519=28-2813
• Kincardine
519-396-3436