Many potash workers from Lanigan say they’ve received several job offers from outside Saskatchewan while waiting for the province’s rapid response team to arrive.
“There are lots of jobs out in Alberta. The rig I used to work on called me back right away,” said Luke Hill, who was one of 250 workers laid off Dec. 3 at PotashCorp’s Lanigan mine.
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said the day layoffs were announced that a rapid response team would be dispatched immediately help the 440 workers laid off in the province.
The team arrived in Lanigan Tuesday.
“A lot of guys are just angry — hurt, I guess,” said Nathan Smith-Neuert, who was also laid off. “Not a lot of hopeful people.”
A number of workers said they’ve been offered jobs in Alberta, but the consensus among many at a meeting with the province’s rapid response team was that they’d like to stay in Saskatchewan.
“There will be an opportunity to meet with these people, get their resumes in and start discussions,” said Pat Bauer with Saskatchewan’s economic ministry.
Several workers could end up with another potash company as K + S Potash is hosting a job fair in Saskatoon this week.
The company needs tradespeople to build a new potash mine near Moose Jaw.
“We’re looking to hire over 60 positions in 2014, which will be mostly trades and on the operations side of the project,” said Maeghan Dubois, a spokesperson for the company. “We also have some supervisory positions opening up as well.”
K + S will have 180 positions opening up in 2015 and 2016, Dubois added.
The company’s job fair will run Wednesday and Thursday at Lawson Heights mall.
PotashCorp laid off 1,045 people Dec. 3, with most losses coming in Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Florida.
