N.L. needs to be ready to fill thousands of Churchill Falls jobs, says labour leader
Government says four combined projects could generate 5,000 direct jobs
Thousands of jobs could be at stake in the tentative Churchill Falls hydro deal and one labour leader says the Newfoundland and Labrador government has to start planning now to ensure there are skilled workers to get the job done.
The government estimates the combined four projects — from updates to Churchill Falls' existing plant, the Gull Island project and installing transmission lines — could generate thousands of jobs, with an average of 3,000 jobs during construction, and a peak of 5,000 direct jobs.
Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour president Jessica McCormick wants the provincial government to sit down with worker organizations to develop a strategy to ensure N.L is positioned to fill those jobs once they are needed.
"That work needs to start happening right now," McCormick told CBC Radio's Newfoundland Morning.
She is asking the government to take a proactive approach to ensure there is a local skilled workforce for when these jobs are online in order to ensure the projects' benefits reach everyone.
"Both in terms of revenue to the province, but also stability in jobs for workers," she said. "So that collaboration and that transparency and developing a strategy together — that's going to be key for us."
The MOU, which is expected to be formalized by 2026, was debated by MHAs last week in a special four-day sitting of the House of Assembly. Most politicians voted in favour of moving forward with it, while the 14 members of the PC caucus walked out.
Skills needed
McCormick said government needs to do a lot of work in the school system to ensure people are trained for these opportunities when they are ready to enter the workforce.
"Now is the time to really get out there in the K-12 system and speak to young people about opportunities and construction and trades to utilize our College of the North Atlantic system — with campuses spread out across the province — to ensure that our education system is matching what our labour force needs are."
McCormick said it will also include making sure that the immigration system is also ready for an influx of skilled workforce.
"But first and foremost, we want to make sure that …Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are able to really benefit from these mega projects," said McCormick.
New jobs in Labrador could also lure back people who left the province to look for work, she said.
"This could have the potential to be really transformational for workers in Newfoundland and Labrador, if we get it right, and if we don't rush into things and make sure that we have the right benefits agreements in place and that we have the right criteria in place to protect workers and to support workers."
She said the Federation of Labour hasn't yet been invited to have discussions with the government.
"As we prepare for the upcoming provincial budget, some of these recommendations will be a key part of what we're talking to the Minister of Finance about in those consultations," said McCormick.
She said those conversations will include recommendations for where investments could be made in the education system, as well as possible changes to provincial labour laws and legislation to support workers and unions.
"We look forward to working with the provincial government as the projects unfold. But we can't wait. We have to, you know, get to the table right now and start making those plans."
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With files from Newfoundland Morning