CBF to include Apprenticeship Programs for
Veterans, Women, Disadvantaged, Underrepresented and Underserved
Workers
ST. CLOUD, MN, Jan. 20, 2020 /CNW/ - (TSX: NFI) New Flyer
of America Inc. ("New Flyer"), a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc.
("NFI"), one of the world's leading independent global bus
manufacturers, today announced that it is expanding its partnership
with Transportation Diversity Council (TDC), a nonprofit
organization providing world class education and development
programs that promote diversity in the transportation and
construction industries, to announce the forthcoming release of a
national Community Benefits Framework (CBF) to be unveiled next
month.
"On King Day, as we reflect on
the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr., we remember his legacy not only for civil and
human rights but also for workers' rights," said Dwayne Sampson, Founder and Chief Executive
Officer of the TDC." In that tradition, TDC will lead the direction
and implementation of this framework with the New Flyer of America
team, to expand upon the company's foundation of providing good
jobs with great support for recruitment, training, and retention of
those working in America's advanced transportation manufacturing
industry."
The objective of the national CBF is to build upon New Flyer's
existing workforce diversity and workforce development model, and
to administer local agreements with transit agencies, community
partners, and local agencies, all focused on unique community
needs. The CBF will also focus on identifying, training, and
onboarding new hires at New Flyer's Anniston, Alabama facility, with national
expansion to other New Flyer sites to amplify workforce development
benefits.
"Since 2013, New Flyer has provided our community with expanding
employment and an exceptional place to work, investing over
$50 million to date in upgrading,
expanding, and renovating its Anniston facility to be a world-class
manufacturing operation and work environment," said Jack Draper, Mayor of Anniston, Alabama. "In addition to employing
over 700 people today, New Flyer has actively supported our local
community through investment, voluntarism, and donations to support
disadvantaged individuals. New Flyer has truly made Anniston a better place to work and live, and
I am proud to call them one of our own."
"While working at New Flyer, I've had the opportunity to enhance
my career through skills development and training, along with
opportunities to learn more about the transportation industry and
methods to better meet the needs of our customers," said
James McKellar, Engineering Design
Manager with New Flyer, based in Anniston. "For the past eight years, I have
experienced firsthand the benefit of New Flyer's focus on improving
its team and providing a better place to work. Our leadership is
supportive, our team is involved, and as an individual employee, I
feel included in the advancement and growth of our company. I am
proud to work for New Flyer, and to build mobility solutions that
help people across America arrive safely at their
destinations."
"We are so proud to expand our hiring, training and workforce
development efforts alongside the Transportation Diversity Council
with this new framework. Together, we will continue to build a
workplace where every person can thrive with safe, stable
employment in an environment that fosters greater diversity,
inclusion and development," said Janice
Harper, NFI's Executive Vice President of Human Resources.
"As the largest employer in America's bus and coach manufacturing
industry, we will build on our 90-year legacy to continually evolve
our workforce practices and local community support, helping team
members to advance and grow."
"The prospect of working in the transportation industry
motivated me to turn my life around," said Jason Webster, New Flyer Acceptance and Delivery
Specialist, based in Ontario,
California. "I've been given a
second chance at life. Having been previously incarcerated, the New
Flyer and TDC partnership allowed me to start work readiness and
life skills training, as well as empower me with financial
planning. As a worker, I have been provided an opportunity to learn
and grow, and to build a better life. I am so grateful for the
opportunity with New Flyer and am excited about my future."
About Transportation Diversity Council (TDC)
Transportation Diversity Council "is a 501 (C) (3)
not-for-profit corporation" and is led by seasoned executives from
the worlds of transportation, education and construction who are
dedicated to ensuring that every individual and company has the
opportunity to fully contribute to America's future.
TDC was formed in 2010 to meet the growing need for leaders,
technical professionals, educators and construction workers in the
transportation and construction industries. Those needs can only be
met by engaging and developing a large and diverse workforce. TDC
reaches out to students of all ages to provide exposure to
engineering and construction trades, provides development programs
to individuals, companies and agencies to ensure that all talents
are recognized and nurtured, and helps bridge the gaps between
needs and opportunities for the entire industry.
About NFI
With 9,000 team members operating from more than 50 facilities
across ten countries, NFI is a leading independent global bus
manufacturer providing a comprehensive suite of mass transportation
solutions under brands: New Flyer® (heavy-duty transit
buses), Alexander Dennis Limited (single and double-deck buses),
Plaxton (motor coaches), MCI® (motor coaches),
ARBOC® (low-floor cutaway and medium-duty buses), and
NFI Parts™.
NFI buses and motor coaches incorporate the widest range of
drive systems available including: clean diesel, natural gas,
diesel-electric hybrid, and zero-emission electric (trolley,
battery, and fuel cell). In total, NFI now supports over
105,000 buses and coaches currently in service around the
world.
NFI common shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under
the symbol NFI. News and information are available at
www.nfigroup.com, www.newflyer.com, www.mcicoach.com,
www.arbocsv.com, www.alexander-dennis.com, and www.nfi.parts.
About New Flyer
New Flyer is North America's
heavy-duty transit bus leader and offers the most advanced product
line under the Xcelsior® and Xcelsior CHARGE™ brands. It
also offers infrastructure development through New Flyer
Infrastructure Solutions™, a service dedicated to providing safe,
sustainable, and reliable charging and mobility solutions. New
Flyer actively supports over 41,000 heavy-duty transit buses (New
Flyer, NABI, and Orion) currently in service, of which 7,300 are
powered by electric motors and battery propulsion and 1,600 are
zero-emission. Further information is available at
www.newflyer.com.
SOURCE New Flyer of America Inc.