Submitted by the team at Plumas Work Connection

January 1 - March 31, 2009

Plumas Work Connection

1953 E. Main Street Quincy, CA 95971
(530) 283-1606
www.aworkforce.org

 

 

 

 

Alliance For Workforce Development, Inc. Provides Customized Training!

AFWD received a request from Mike Flanigan of Flanigan-Leavitt Insurance Agency in Quincy, to provide Sexual Harassment Prevention Training as a favor to one of their clients, the Quincy Volunteer Fire Department.
In the spirit of community service, Holly Schirmer, Director of Business Services, presented this training to seven supervisors on 1/26/09, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the Quincy Fire Station. This interactive training consisted of a discussion on practical applications to assist supervisors in preventing and dealing with workplace sexual harassment including the following topics:
The Law
Defining and Understanding what Sexual Harassment Is and Isn’t
Supervisor’s Roles and Responsibilities
Sexual Harassment Prevention
Complaint and Investigation Procedures


 

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Rapid Response Activity

Sierra Pacific Industries – Quincy, CA


Sierra Pacific Industries, (SPI) One of Plumas County’s largest private employer, met with their employees on March 2, 2009 to announce a serious log shortage and the Company's resulting decision to permanently close the facility in May 2009.
According to SPI, the challenging lumber market combined with litigation over timber harvests on nearby national forest lands were the primary drivers behind the decision to close the plant. This mill is part of a two-mill complex – one cutting small diameter logs and the other cutting large diameter logs into lumber for domestic consumption. About 150 employees will be affected by this closure.
Upon receiving the notification, the Rapid Response Team at the Plumas Work Connection immediately went in to action. By Tuesday morning, the Rapid Response Team had coordinated with SPI and began notifying employees of the services available to them during this time. Rapid Response orientations were in place and the employees of SPI had been notified of the orientations.
The Rapid Response Team is tasked with responding to a business closure or substantial layoff of any business in Plumas County. The Rapid Response Team worked closely with local SPI staff to get the word out about informational meetings for employees affected by this closure.
The Workforce Professionals and Partners of the Plumas Work Connection in Quincy are available to provide assistance to workers affected by the SPI Quincy layoff. Employees can attend one of these important meetings for more information on how we can assist during this time.
The Rapid Response Team is comprised of the following agencies:
1. Alliance for Workforce Development, Inc. – Operator of the Plumas Work Connection.
2. California Employment Development Department
3. Plumas County Department of Social Services
4. Plumas Rural Services
5. Plumas Crisis Intervention and Resource Center
6. Plumas County Literacy Services

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Collins Pine Company – Chester, CA


The Plumas Work Connection was notified by Collins Pine of Chester of a shut down of 30 days or more. Due to a sluggish market, and other economic competition factors, Collins Pine laid off their workforce on March 13, 2009.
No concrete decisions have been made but with Collins being one of Plumas Counties largest private sector employers it does draw great concern to the community of Chester, population 2,500. Many residents of the Lake Almanor community work in the Collins Pine Mill as well as for logging operations and timber harvesters in the community.
Rapid Response Orientations were conducted on March 9th and 11th by Alliance For Workforce Development, Inc., Employment Development Department, Plumas Rural Services, and Union #3074 staff.
Outreach facilities have been secured at the Almanor Basin Community Resource Center with rental of office space and conference rooms three days per week. Plumas Work Connection staff will be available at the Center on a regular basis. Many thanks to all of the staff that have provided their time in support of this Rapid Response effort.
There is no indication of a permanent closure however, the Plumas Work Connection will be watching this one closely and hope for the best for the future of Collins Pine in Plumas County.

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Workshop Series Assists Laid Off Sawmill Workers with Job Search

In an effort to provide immediate assistance to 330 laid off sawmill workers of two Plumas County sawmills, Alliance for Workforce Development, Inc. (AFWD) hosted a 3-workshop series on March 25th-27th to help employees launch an effective job search. The series featured workshops on; “Job Hunting Strategies,” Transferrable Skills,” and “Effective Resumes and Interviewing Techniques.” Each 2-hour workshop was aimed at providing participants with practical tips and tools to aid them in their job search.
According to Holly Schirmer, AFWDs Director of Business Services, “We are responding to the needs of the employees to help them in looking for meaningful work. The goal of AFWD is to help make our clients’ transition between jobs as smooth and short as possible.” She also added, “The best jobs go to the best job searchers, and we work with each client to prepare them to be an effective and successful job searcher.”
The workshop series was held in Chester for the employees from Collins Pine on March 25th through March 27th and in Quincy for the workers from the Sierra Pacific Industries sawmill on March 30th and 31st. The “job Hunting Strategies” workshop focused on the most effective methods to look for work, how to get started, where to do research, and the process of job search. The second workshop on “Transferrable Skills” concentrated on the importance of identifying all of one’s skills and how those skills can be successfully applied to new jobs and careers. The third workshop, “Effective Resumes and Interviewing Techniques” covered, what is a resume, the purpose of a resume, and what a resume should say about the candidate. The interviewing portion of the workshop covered interview preparation, first impression, timing, what to say and what not to say, and sample questions that candidates should be prepared to answer.
The first series of workshops was very successful being attended by 24 participants from both sawmills. AFWD plans on hosting an additional workshop series in the coming weeks. For further information on AFWD services including workshops please visit www.aworkforce.org

 

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Entrepreneur Boot Camp - April 28th-30th, 2009