News Labour Relations
Ontario spending $270,000 on employment action centre to support Cooper-Standard workers who lost jobs

Ontario is spending more than $270,000 on a new employment action centre in Glencoe to help the 116 manufacturing workers who lost their jobs when the Cooper-Standard plant closed.

The centre is designed to help the workers connect with the services and training they need to find new jobs, the province said.

“Ontario’s workers are the backbone of our economy and we want to ensure no one is left behind,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “Our government is proud to give a hand-up to workers in Glencoe so they can explore new opportunities, land better jobs and earn bigger paycheques for themselves and their families.”

Working in partnership with Unifor National and Unifor Local 27, the Cooper-Standard Action Centre will work with community partners to provide a variety of supports and services to the technicians, support staff, assembly line staff, and skilled trades workers who have lost their jobs, the province said.

These supports include short term training for in-demand jobs, literacy and essential skills training, budgeting and financial training as well as mental health supports. The action centre will also be hosting a job fair in the community to connect employers and workers.

“It was with great regret that we were given the news of Cooper-Standard closing,” said Brian Chapman, President Unifor Local 27. “This workplace has played an important role not only within Local 27 but also within the Glencoe community, providing good paying jobs for decades. Clearly, we would very much prefer that we were talking about adding new product to this plant. Unfortunately, that is not the case, so we are very happy that the government has stepped up and will be assisting these workers in finding their way forward to a successful future.”

The Cooper-Standard Action Centre will operate until at least December 2024 and is located at 254 Main Street in Glencoe.

Cooper-Standard and Unifor Local 27 will also be investing $57,000 in the action centre.