Long lines continue for wind turbine work
Thursday,
May 2, 2013 6:34:10 EDT PM
Job
seekers are lined up in front of Job Gym on East Main St. for the second day
trying to get a position at PowerBlades Inc., a German wind turbine
manufacturer opening up a blade plant in Welland in July.
WELLAND - With
resumes in hand, more job seekers lined East Main St. in front of Job Gym
Thursday morning, hoping to land one of 125 initial positions at PowerBlades
Inc., or possibly one of the 75 to follow.
Job Gym
manager Deanna Villella had expected at least 600 people to pass through its
downtown doors in hopes of landing a future at the manufacturing plant on the
east side of the Welland Canal.
Hamburg,
Germany-based REpower Systems is setting up shop for its subsidiary on Rusholme
Rd. Production is expected to start in July.
“From our
perspective, things are going really well,” Villella said of the job hunt. “The
employer is really happy with the candidates coming through and the people they
are meeting with. With 200 jobs to fill, they have to see a lot of people.”
People
who lined the street on Wednesday and Thursday were asked to meet criteria for
production workers, with experience in manufacturing of plastic parts and
surface finishing, an ability to read blueprints, experience with composites
manufacturing, and certification for overhead cranes and forklift. Quality
inspector and laboratory technicians are sought with experience in composites;
and production/maintenance/support technicians are also required.
“People
who met the criteria were given a number to meet with the employer for a
face-to-face interview,” said Villella, adding there were seven people from the
company on hand at Job Gym.
Though
they were trying to keep interviews short, between five and 10 minutes, to keep
people moving through the line and process, Villella said some interviews were
taking a while. Seventy people were asked to come back on Thursday for
interviews because of the huge lineups on Wednesday.
Second
interviews were set up by the employer for those people that made it through
the first interview.
“We’re
happy to help the employer,” said Villella, who walked the lineup on Wednesday.
“Our staff have been working 12 to 14 hours, but their spirits are positive.
© 2012 St. Catharines Standard.
All rights reserved. The St. Catharines Standard are members of Canoe Sun Media Community
Newspapers.
Powered by Fatwire
No comments:
Post a Comment