An 18-month pilot project that provides skills training to forest workers in the North ends July 31.
The Forest Worker Skills Training Project (APT) is funded through a $2 million dollar labour market agreement between the Canadian Government, B.C., and USW local 1-424.
Over 600 employed forest workers and others ineligible for employment insurance (EI) have accessed the APT project.
Not only was the project viewed as a success, but the participant level managed to triple from 200 to 600 without any additional funding. "Our focus was on providing training dollars based on need, not want," said Frank Everitt, president of USW local 1-424.
The APT program utilized local service providers already familiar with the people and challenges in each community. Open to union and non union participants, it's also the first model in Canada that works with employed workers.
"Investing resources in employed workers provided increased stability, security and skill sets that gave them the ability to meet challenges of today and in the future," said Everitt.
