The province has announced a $445,000-plus investment for “a new action centre” to help workers after Cascades shuttered its doors to containerboard-packaging plants in Trenton and Belleville.
The government announced $445,252 to help 180 workers impacted by the closures of the manufacturing plants in a press release on Tuesday, June 25. Officials say the investment will help workers connect with services and training they need to get back to work quickly.
“Ontario is a world leader in manufacturing and our government stands with its workers,” said David Piccini, minister of labour, immigration, training and skills development.
“Our government is investing in the Cascades Action Centre to ensure that these workers in Belleville and Trenton have access to resources and opportunities to land better jobs and bigger paycheques for themselves and their families,” said Piccini.
The Cascades Action Centre will be run by Unifor and will operate until April 2025 in an effort to support laid-off workers represented by both Unifor Local 1470 and the Independent Paperworkers of Canada Local 7, reads the province’s release.
The Cascades Action Centre is located at 250 Sidney St. in Belleville.
Back in February, the company confirmed the shutdown of the plants as part of what was described as an operational realignment and optimization of its containerboard-packaging platform.
Some 230 local workers would be impacted by layoffs – including 148 employees out of the Trent plant and 80 in Belleville.
However, the company also earlier vowed to assist with relocation of employees who wanted to continue to work for Cascades at other locations – and to mitigate, where possible, impacts of the announcement.
In summary, in terms of reasons for the closures, challenges were cited back in February around rising interest rates, a slowing economy and a correlation to consumption and a demand for products. The combination of the current market environment, but also higher operating costs and aging technology were also factors, it was explained.
The February announcement marked a hard and “sad day” for the community, with the Trenton mill building standing since 1927 – it also long served as one of the community’s largest employers.
As previously reported, Unifor blamed a lack of capital investment during good economic times on the decision by Cascades to close its plant in Trenton.
According to the province, the action centre will focus on hosting workshops and seminars, providing peer-to-peer support and job search assistance, teaching financial management and computer skills and provide certification training in WHMIS and other short-term training.
“These customized resources will help affected workers prepare for other well-paying jobs in manufacturing and the skilled trades in Eastern Ontario,” reads the province’s release.
Unifor National President Lana Payne expressed high hopes for the new centre.
“Providing peer-led support during this challenging transition in workers’ lives will offer the best opportunity to (access) the training needed to secure new work,” said Payne. “Losing a large employer presents challenges for the entire community, which we hope the action centre can help address.”
According to the release, Unifor National also provided an in-kind contribution of $2,500 for the action centre.
Bay of Quinte MPP Todd Smith also credited the government for standing by workers.
“Cascades’ decision to close its facilities in Trenton and in Belleville was sad news for the skilled workers they employed and for our entire region, but there remains great opportunity within the Quinte manufacturing sector,” said Smith.
“I’m pleased that our government is standing by these workers to offer the training and supports they need to find their next position. The action centre is an important resource for that process.”
Written by Sarah Hyatt
