Workers at the West Footscray CMI Forge site have benefitted from a governmetn sponsored upskilling program aimed at enhancing the skill set of workers facing redundancy.
With the help of the AMWU , the workers received government funding to gain a Certificate III in Competitive Manufacturing, which will better enable redundant workers to find re-employment in their industry.
Taking part in the upskilling program has meant that the workers receive their full wages and accruals while gaining new skills, instead of being forced to use up their own leave on down days.
The 87 workers, who have been facing an average of 90 down days per year over the past two years, have enthusiastically taken to the two-week program.
“It’s a good process for the workers, and it should also benefit the company in their workplace processes,” said Tony Hynds, who is the site organiser.
“The workers have really got a lot out of it, giving them the skills which will help in finding new work in the industry has been a good morale boost ”, he said.
When CMI management announced in May that 87 workers were to be stood down for two weeks and 25workers would be made redundant, the AMWU was able to persuade CMI management to agree to the upskilling, which took place over two weeks of down days in July.
A Registered Training Organisation (RTO), which coordinated the training under the Federal Government’s Structural Adjustment Places program.
AMWU project officer Mark Spyker is in charge of helping AMWU members take advantage of the program.
“The response from the workers has being extremely supportive. They are genuinely excited to be receiving training that they can use out in the factory.
“The fact that this course is Government funded has really eased the pressure on both the workers and the company, and brought benefits for everyone.
“It will bring the company’s production methods up to the latest standards, as well as enhancing the skill sets of up-and-coming redundant workers, which will help them find another job in the industry.”
The program has been so successful that CMI management are now looking to roll out the training to their other plants in Camberfield, Ballarat and Horsham over the next two years.