Recently the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities has implemented sweeping changes to the Second Career program. As a result we are now able to process applicants wishing to return to school within a 2 week process. This process is done on sight at the Action Centre with the aid of myself and Service Providers. Step one is to come to a 2 hour session and have a file opened. Step 2 is to complete the training package and return the following week for review at which time the package will be sent away for MTCU approval. The packages which were once 20 pages are now condensed to 5 pages. After MTCU approval you will be required to come in a sign for your course payments. Sound easy? IT IS. Sessions are currently held every Tuesday and Thursday. Please call for time and request a reserved spot.
It has been officially stated that no door will be closed for entry into funding for retraining meaning that no matter where you live you can now access service directly through your Sterling Action Centre.
For those of you whom may have received a letter from the Govt. stating you would be eligible for EI payments of up to 2 years I encourage you also to attend one of the upcoming sessions mentioned above. As usual courses for college training fill quickly and letters of acceptance are required by the Ministry prior to approval for training dollars. DO NOT LOOSE this letter as it is your potential key for receiving EI dollars.
The Action Centre is still hosting resume classes as well. Remember it is still a requirement of the Ministry that you have a good, well written, and formatted resume before you can access training dollars.
Many of our employees have a ready taken the necessary steps in enhance their futures and take advantage of what is now being offered by the GOVT. How long will this current program continue without negative change is anyone’s guess. New programs come and go and this one to date is the best I have seen in 3 years.
Give our office a call or better yet drop in and lets put your plan to work for you and your family.
Chris Johnston
Action Centre Coordiantor
Memorial Stones
TO ALL STERLING WORKERS
When a member passed away at Sterling a Memorial Stone was placed with a tree behind the plant. With the closing of the Plant these stones have now been removed. Some of the stones the company was able to contact their family members to pick these stones up. The rest of them are being kept at the Local 1001. We would like to get these stones to someone in the family of these deceased workers. So where asking if anyone who has known someone at the plant who has passed away, if they could contact Andy Armstrong or Dave MacArthur at the Local to see if the stone has gone to the family and if it hasn’t if they could Provide contact information.
Thank You
Andy Armstrong
ACTION CENTRE UPDATE
ACTION CENTRE UPDATE
JUNE, 2009
As most are aware the Action Centre has moved to the CAW 1001 building at 4 Curtis St. in St. Thomas. Our hours of operation for the summer months are Monday through Friday from 8am till 4 pm.
Some new exciting developments have taken place over the last 2 weeks with the Action Centre now being able to play a significant role in aiding our employees who are wishing to return to school thus dramatically cutting the time involved from the original govt. programs. Anyone considering returning to school in September or earlier should contact us as soon as possible for further details.( 519-631-4924 ). The opportunity now exists for employees to come to the Action Centre for the initial mandatory introduction info session to Second Career, as well as work through the information packages required by the Ministry with myself and peer helpers. Councilors from the service group will be called in to open a file for you and also review the final package before sending it off to the Ministry for approval.
Next, changes to Second Career have now opened the door to E-Learning (online line courses from different colleges and universities) There are over 7000 courses available which may fit the Second Career profile. This will give the opportunity for our employees to learn from home and save on travel expenses and babysitting fees while re-educating themselves. An information session will be held June 16th at 11 am at the Action Centre. This session should last approx. 1 hour.
June 5th: John Griffith from Goodwill Career Centre in London will be at the Action Centre to fast track those wishing to look at Second Career. Appointments are necessary and limited, so please call in advance to book your appointment. This will be an ongoing process but please remember that many educational programs are filling up quickly, and paperwork must still be sent to the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities.
A quick reminder that resume courses are still ongoing. Just give us a call to sign you in for the course. This is the most important step in your retraining package as well as the best step for learning how to write a descriptive resume as well as understanding the interview process.
Stop in and say hello to our new peer helpers.
All the Best from Chris
Action Centre Coordinator
EI information!!
TO ALL EMPLOYEES HIRED IN AND AFTER 2004
For employees in this group who are still on EI, have received severance, and did not start a new claim. Please contact Andy Armstrong at the Local Office 519-637-5888. There is important information concerning your claim and eligibility for benefits. This is something that needs to be addressed as we near June 7 2009.
Andy Armstrong
CAW Benefits Rep
ACTION CENTRE NEWS ALERT
ACTION CENTRE NEWS ALERT
March 31, 2009
The following is news regarding an update to the last email concerning the $50,000.00 negotiated education fund. After reviewing the contracts there were 2 grey areas. Our committee together as a whole has agreed that $15,000.00 of the above mentioned sum will be put forth as a bursary for those attending FULL time College or University programs. A maximum one time payment of up to $500.00 will be available for those who qualify. The metrics for approval will be based on a point system. Please call your Action Centre 519-63... for further details. Submissions should be made no later than May 15th, 2009. At this point all submissions will be graded and successful candidates will be notified and payments will be made.
The Action Centre has now completed its move to our new home which is located at 4 Curtis St. in St. Thomas. We are open for business as usual. Our hours also remain the same 8am- 5 pm Monday through Friday.
Upcoming info sessions for the month of April are as follows:
As a result of our late week Adjustment Committee meeting it was unanimously decided by the members that the $50,000.00 the CAW 1001 negotiated in the closing agreement will be handed over to the Action Centre. These dollars should not be confused with the one time government Q4 part time training dollars although they will serve the same purpose.
