A BETTER WAY FORWARD:
PARTNERING FOR
STRATEGIC PROGRESS
Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007
OVERVIEW
Overview - Michelin
 The demographic opportunity
 Why have a strategy?
 Partnership progress
 Challenges
 Next areas of focus

Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007
Michelin: 75 Manufacturing Locations
Worldwide
GERMANY ( WEST)
FRANCE
Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007
GROUP MICHELIN
 180
 22
million tires/year
million maps and guides
 Over
125,000 employees
 2006
sales of $25 billion CDN
Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007
MICHELIN IN CANADA
3
Factories in rural Nova Scotia
 Marketing and Sales across Canada
 Good pay, benefits, working conditions
 Almost no attrition other than retirement
Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007
WHY A PARTNERSHIP? – SOME
DEMOGRAPHICS IN 2003
Total employees in NS:
3400
 Average age:
43
 Average service:
20 years
 70% eligible to retire in next 10 years
 2007: still 50% in next 7 years

Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007
NOVA SCOTIA DEMOGRAPHICS
 13
First Nations
 Aboriginal population roughly 2% of
total
 Fastest growing segment of Nova
Scotia population
Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007
ABORIGINAL EMPLOYMENT
HISTORY
 Lots
of effort by many people over
many years
 Discouraging results until we partnered
with AWPI
 This is the essence of why having a
strategy - and partners - makes such a
difference
Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007
AWPI – WHAT APPEALED TO US?

Business focused; business approach
– showed up early
– responded quickly; stayed in touch
– listened and understood our needs
“No preferential treatment”
 Long term view
 Proactive

Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007
PARTNERSHIP
Signing Ceremony in Halifax
November 2003
 Signatories:

–
–
–
–
–
AWPI (Government of Canada)
Government of NS
Union of NS Indians
Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq
Michelin
Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007
Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007
PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
 Facilitate
constructive cultural relations
 Enhance labour force linkages
 Promote employment, retention, career
development
 Identify business development
opportunities
 Develop short and long term actions
Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007
STRATEGIC ELEMENTS
 Workplace
review and preparation
 Occupational survey of the workforce
 Procurement
 Setting goals
 Recruitment, retention
 Career development
 Advisory Council
Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007
ADVISORY COUNCIL

Members:
– AWPI (Federal government)
– Province of Nova Scotia
» Aboriginal Affairs and now Dept. of Education
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Union of Nova Scotia Indians
Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq
APTEC/Native Council of Nova Scotia
Mi’kmaq Emplt. & Training Secretariat
Consultants
Service Canada (HRSDC)
Michelin
Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007
INVENTORY - OCCUPATIONS
Our partners need to be able to plan
ahead
 Positions in the company
 Skills/education required
 Pay levels
 Simple
 Next steps: enhanced link to recruiting
and Aboriginal websites

Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007
RECRUITMENT
Michelin began recruiting early
 Early network worked
 More applications
 Most applicants unsuccessful

Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007
WORKSHOP
Michelin’s employment process
 Literacy testing
 Behavioural interviewing
 Scoring of applications
Results
 Learnings all around
 Modifications to parts of the process
based on feedback received
 Better for all candidates

Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007
PROGRESS/CHALLENGES
2002
 2003:
 2004:
 2005:
~ 20 applications, 1 hire
~ 40 applications, 2 hires
> 90 applications, 2 hires
> 240 applications, at least
10 hires
 WSI average pass rate:
69%
 Aboriginal WSI pass rate: 34%
 85% of Aboriginal applicants had
achieved Grade 12 or higher

Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007
EDUCATION:
UPGRADING PILOTS
Led and run by APTEC
 Academic upgrading and workplace
preparation
 8 weeks
 Plant tour, literacy testing, behavioural
interviewing training
 Two recent programs supported by
Service Canada; new program
planned by CMMNS, UNSI, with NSCC

Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007
EDUCATION:
OTHER PROGRESS
Department of Education involvement
re: low pass rates for WSI
 Excellent follow up
 Exploration of TOWES
 Guidance counsellors presentation
and tour
 Exploring options to support High
School students
 Mik M’aq education now to be part of
Grade 10 curriculum

Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007
FURTHER RECRUITMENT AND
DEVELOPMENT PROGRESS
FirstNet
 Email network
 Promotion, mentoring
 Summer students
 Pre-employment refresher through NS
Community College
 One-on-one coaching

Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007
WORKPLACE REVIEW AND
PREPARATION
Comprehensive Employment Systems
Review
 Diversity training for all employees;
extra Diversity training for leaders
 Aboriginal employment overview for all
senior managers
 Pilot Aboriginal Awareness training
conducted

– HR, recruiters, some employees, leaders
– All senior managers next
Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007
PROGRESS - PROCUREMENT
List of procured goods and services
has been developed and shared
 Member of CAMSC

– generating opportunities
 Working
on broad dispersal of needs
and opportunities
Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007
RETENTION
 Low
attrition, but some
 EAP: some concerns, provider involved
Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007
KEY REASONS FOR PROGRESS
 Having
a sound and informed strategy
 Commitment – partners, ourselves
 Advisory Council
 Sustained follow up
 Willingness to step outside our boxes
 Transcendence of barriers
 People who care, and show it
 Positive reinforcement and energy
Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007
NEXT AREAS OF FOCUS
 More
pre-employment preparation
 Supporting enhanced education
 Linking Aboriginal groups to the
Michelin website for recruiting
 Procurement actions to follow strategy
 Further Aboriginal
Awareness/workplace preparation
training
Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007
LEADING THE CHANGE
1. Build many bridges; use resources
like BCAWS, local leaders
2. Search out energy and passion
- you cannot delegate passion
3. Visit/tour/experience
4. Speak the language
- “Merit and character”
Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007
LEADING THE CHANGE
5. Help others become dissatisfied with
the status quo
- do your homework
6. Use “pilots”
7. Seek out enthusiastic people,
regardless of title
8. Give away the credit
Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007
SUMMARY
Significant progress on many fronts
 Delighted with the support we’re
getting
 We’re addressing core issues to
build both short and long term
success and sustainability
 We and our partners are serious,
committed, and making real
headway

Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007
A
BETTER
WAY
FORWARD!
Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007
Okanagan Workforce Connects Forum
Kelowna
February 27, 2007