KAMLOOPS, B.C. – the government of British Columbia will use $450,000 to assist up to 25 workers affected by the recent downturn in the forestry industry to retrain and receive work experience in asphalt paving and heavy construction.
The International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 115, Emil Anderson Construction, Dawson Blacktop and Dawson Group will deliver heavy-construction and road-building training programs for residents of the Clearwater, Merritt, South Cariboo and Kamloops areas.
“We know that heavy equipment operators and similar construction occupations will be in great demand over the next 10 years,” said Shane Simpson, minister of social development and poverty reduction. “The provincial government is working with industry and unions to hire trainees and provide training for new career path opportunities that will allow British Columbians to support themselves and their families.”
Training will include classroom instruction, technical training in asphalt and heavy equipment operations, and work experience with an IUOE Local 115 signatory employer.
“Providing new skills to workers is a much-needed solution to addressing the worker shortage in B.C. The IUOE Local 115 is a leader in teaching new workers heavy equipment operating skills and is proud to be working with the B.C. government to train them to rise above in B.C.’s Interior communities,” IUOE Local 115 business manager Brian Cochrane said.
“Our priority is supporting workers and their families when it comes to the challenges facing British Columbia’s forestry sector. Training and employment opportunities like this help impacted workers expand their skills and open up more job options for them, enabling them to support themselves and their families,” provincial minister of forests, lands, natural resource operations and rural development Doug Donaldson said.
The Roadworks in the B.C. Interior Project Based Labour Market Training (PBLMT) project is recruiting for Feb. 18 and April 6, 2020 with start dates in Kamloops and 100 Mile House. There are spaces for 25 participants for the two projects.
To apply or attend an information session, contact IUOEtraining@iuoe115.ca.
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