Helena, Mont.-Early today, the Montana Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) was informed that Sibanye-Stillwater mine intends to lay off a significant portion of its Montana workforce. DLI immediately began coordinating with mine leadership, representatives from the Montana chapter of United Steel Workers, community leaders, and other government leaders to develop a plan to support workers and focus resources to minimize the effects of the layoff.
"Governor Greg Gianforte has directed DLI to support Montana's hardworking miners and their families as we navigate this significant blow to our mining community. In the coming days, DLI will release a mining-specific Skills Matching Tool to help every impacted worker identify new employment opportunities, leveraging the skills they mastered at the mine," said Commissioner Sarah Swanson. "Using this tool combined with the exemplary work of our Job Service Workforce Consultants, we will help affected workers navigate employment opportunities, identify any skill gaps needed to advance into new careers, and source funding for any necessary training programs needed to acquire additional skills."
Closure of the Stillwater Mine would have considerable impacts felt locally in Stillwater and Sweet Grass County, with wider regional and statewide impacts.
Layoffs would likely affect workers all over the region. Over half of jobs in Stillwater County and 37% in Sweet Grass County are worked by people residing in nearby cities such as Billings, Laurel, and Livingston.
"Our team will host multiple in-person, onsite rapid response and career fair events in Columbus in the coming weeks and will be onsite when layoffs begin to ensure the Sibanye-Stillwater workers have the tools needed to identify new training and employment opportunities and to navigate Montana’s unemployment insurance system," said Commissioner Swanson.
DLI has immediately began pursuing dislocated worker funding from the US Department of Labor to retrain and upskill impacted workers. The DLI team is also working closely with labor unions to better determine the needs of the workers.
"Workers across Montana were deeply concerned by the sudden announcement earlier today of layoffs at Sibanye-Stillwater," said Montana AFL-CIO Executive Secretary Jason Small. "This layoff will have a serious and immediate impact on the economy in Central and Eastern Montana and the livelihoods of miners and their families. The Montana AFL-CIO is following the lead of USW 11-0001 and the miners at Sibanye Stillwater, who are fighting to ensure that immediate action is taken at every level of government to address these layoffs and provide support to workers and their families. We are working together with the Montana Department of Labor and Industry to ensure material support is provided moving forward."
Workers and families with questions about the layoff process or next steps can contact their local Job Service office at 406-652-3080.
