Laid-off Oakville Ford workers getting provincial help to find a job

More than 3,000 workers are looking for work after Oakville’s Ford plant has shut down so the line can retooled.

That’s why the provincial government is investing more than $684,000 in a new action centre that will help 3,179 laid-off workers.

The funding will allow Unifor, the union of the laid-off workers, to offer job search assistance, job training access, one-on-one career counselling and help with resume and interview preparation.

“As the Oakville Ford plant retools to build electric vehicles (EV), the action centre will provide the services workers need to get back on their feet quickly and find jobs to support themselves and their families while the company works hard to retool and reopen the plant,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.

The new action centre will operate in Oakville until at least next March. It will offer up-to-date information on available jobs, skills development programs, personalized career counselling, networking opportunities, free access to computers and other services to workers impacted by the recent plant shutdown.

“Our union worked closely with the Government of Ontario to ensure all auto and auto parts workers across Halton who are affected by the transition receive access to the peer-led employment supports and services this action centre will provide when they are needed most,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National president.

“While we were pleased to open this action centre quickly, our priority remains to protect every job and every worker’s livelihood throughout the EV transition to ensure no auto or auto parts workers are left behind.”

The action centre is located at 475 North Service Road East, in Oakville.

“Ford Oakville workers are essential to the future of this plant, the Halton Region and the province of Ontario,” said Marc Brennan, Ford Oakville Plant chair, Unifor Local 707.

“While we work with all parties towards a solution that shortens the retooling of the Ford Oakville plant, we will ensure we’re here for our community and deploy urgently needed resources from the Local 707 union hall with coordinators and helpers who come directly from the shop floor.”