WARM WELCOME ON INDUSTRY TOUR
by Senator Merle Flowers
The month of August is traditionally a slow time for legislative activities and state meetings. I use this period to embark on fact-finding tours within my district. Last year, I dedicated the month of August to public K-12 education and visited all 15 public schools in my Senate district. This year, I focused my attention on industry and commerce. Specifically, I visited numerous manufacturers in DeSoto County this week to obtain feedback on Mississippi‚s labor force, employment trends, and concerns from employers and employees alike. One of the companies I visited was Owens Corning Vinyl Operations. The firm manufactures vinyl siding for houses. I met with the management staff, visited with workers on their lunch break, and held a roundtable discussion with about 20 employees in a conference room. We discussed a variety of topics including hiring concerns, workforce training, safety, as well as local concerns ranging from voting procedures to municipal annexation. I also visited Quebecor World in Olive Branch. The company is a world leader in the delivery of print communication services to book and magazine publishers, retailers, catalogers, telephone companies and direct mail customers. Quebecor World is one of the world's largest printers with a comprehensive range of services and a technically advanced manufacturing platform in each of North America, Europe and Latin America. The plant in DeSoto County operates 24/7 and employs over 300 people. The common theme among these plants and the other plants I visited on my Industry and Commerce Tour, was the need for more reliable labor in entry-level positions. Most of the plants on my tour require a minimum of a high school diploma or a GED in order to be considered for employment. Employers want to know for certain that employees can read, write, understand basic math, and be able to work with others as a team. Plant managers told me that many of the entry-level position turnover rates were substantially higher than the other operational positions. I want our people to have higher paying jobs. In order to do so, we must focus our attention on workforce training and provide those employers with the educated and skilled workforce that they are seeking. The legislature has made great strides in the past two years in making changes to our existing workforce development plans and the implementation of our training efforts. In 2004, we passed the Mississippi Comprehensive Workforce Training and Education Consolidation Act. This legislation streamlined the workforce development process and partnered with our community college system for a more efficient and cost-effective way for the delivery of those training and education services. We also provided a dedicated $20 million Workforce Training Fund in the 2005 session that will be used to help train and re-train our workforce. Overall, I am very pleased with the direction our state is moving. We are constantly improving our approach to government‚s role in creating a positive business environment. We have raised the level of expectations for our students, employees, and employers. I am very proud of the hardworking men and women that I had the opportunity to meet this week. They help make up the fabric of our great state. Mississippians have always risen to meet the challenges before us. Whether it is programming robotic equipment along an assembly line or adapting to computer-based queuing inventory systems or simply learning how to read, I know we will continue to meet our challenges head on. Our soil is fertile, our backs are strong, our hands are steady, and our hearts are full of hope. We are truly blessed. Please continue to give me your thoughts and opinions. It is an honor to serve as your Senator. May God continue to bless you and your family this fall and always. Senator Merle Flowers P.O. Box 750 Southaven, Mississippi 38671 Phone: 662-349-3983 Fax: 662-349-3985 Email:merle@merleflowers.com Website: www.merleflowers.com
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