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In January 2018, Sweden-based manufacturer Electrolux announced the 2019 closure of it’s St. Cloud production facility. Like many employers, Electrolux is moving operations to right-to-work states, investing in and expanding their plants in Tennessee and South Carolina.
The impacts in St. Cloud are expected to be tremendous. The 900 jobs associated with the plant represent about 17 percent of the city’s 5,300 total manufacturing jobs. While the possibility of securing another job is high given the low unemployment rate, it is likely that pay and benefits will be lacking when compared to union-protected positions like those at Electrolux.
In response to the possibility of up to 900 displaced workers, a unique partnership is emerging.
This last Monday a collaborative partnership that includes St. Cloud Technical & Community College Customized Training, Career Solutions, The Minnesota Regional Training Partnership Center of Excellence, the Minnesota AFL-CIO, International Association of Machinists Local Lodge 623, and Electrolux Home Products announces its joint effort to offer the Industrial Manufacturing Technician (IMT) Apprenticeship. This training will help workers gain certifications, college credits, and a state certified journey card prior to plant closure.
The IMT Apprenticeship is registered with Apprenticeship Minnesota. The program trains front-line manufacturing production workers in skills manufacturers look for in diverse settings such as food processing, foundries, plastics and bio-medical production.
The 18-month or 3,000-hour apprenticeship trains workers in a hybrid competency-based format with 2,736 hours on-the-job learning and 264 hours related classroom instruction delivered on-site with a live instructor via mediated-telepresence. Courses include Safety Awareness, Manufacturing Processes, Quality Practices, Maintenance Awareness, Technical Math, Print Reading in addition to soft-skills training, OSHA 10 and First Aid/CPR certifications. Participants earn a Journeyperson Card in Manufacturing. With one additional course, Introduction to Computers, participants earn a 16-credit Production Technologies Certificate from SCTCC Customized Training.
The IMT Apprenticeship was initially funded by a $6 million U.S. Department of Labor grant. The program has helped develop a highly skilled and diverse workforce at 30 companies in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan.
Career Solutions a partner of the Minnesota WorkForce Center, St. Cloud has been awarded the Dislocated Worker project to serve the Electrolux workers by the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Through the Dislocated Worker Program employees are able to access career counseling, job search assistance and retraining benefits including the IMT Apprenticeship to help with a smooth transition to their next career.
“As we support our Electrolux team through this transition, we are pleased employees are participating in a great apprenticeship,” said Peggy Berry, Electrolux plant manager. “The St. Cloud job market is strong and we are glad to work with other community groups to provide this opportunity for our team.”
According to Career Solutions Executive Director Tammy Biery, “There are over 50 workers registered to start classes on September 17th. This a great opportunity for the Electrolux workers as well as manufacturers in the area who will be recruiting employees with advanced manufacturing skills. Manufacturing makes up a large part of our private industry in Central Minnesota and these businesses are always in need of skilled workers. The Electrolux employees will be able to gain the skills needed for today’s job market.”
Electrolux employee Joe Barrata said “I’m glad that we have this opportunity to better our lives as our employer closes down. This program will hopefully set us all up to keep or improve our livelihoods for the future. Working with a union sponsored program to keep us in good, union jobs is a very reassuring feeling.”