Looking for temporary employers for young co-operators

CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI – July 17, 2014 – Armed with tons of energy and enthusiasm, the 14 teenaged worker-members of the Coopérative service jeunesse (Youth Services Co-op) are ready to roll up their sleeves to provide all kinds of services to their communities.

“We are therefore inviting people, organizations and business from the Evangeline and surrounding areas to hire one or more of our young odd-job squad for a few hours or a few days to carry out all kinds of work, whether it be to cut your lawn, bring in your wood, do some gardening or painting, do housework or cleaning, restock store shelves or babysit,” says Daniel Gallant, the co-op’s coordinator for the summer of 2014.

“All you have to do,” he adds, “is call me at my Charlottetown office at 902-370-7333, extension 407, or send me an email at daniel@rdeeipe.org and provide me with the details of the work you would want our members to do. Then, I’ll find the youth that is best placed, qualified and prepared to help you out. I’ll provide him or her with the details. The youth will then go to your location at the designated time.”

He explains that after every job, he will contact the clients to ensure that the work was performed to their satisfaction. They will then receive a bill for $11.20 an hour for each hour worked by each youth. The young members will then receive the minimum wage of $10.20 an hour; the other $1 will go to the co-op to pay for operational and promotional costs.

Gallant mentions that the co-op’s worker-members recognize the importance of acquiring work experience, which will of course be useful when it will be time to find jobs later in life. And of course, the youth earn a bit of pocket money.

Also, over the course of the summer, the youth will learn the basic concepts of the co-op movement, including its democratic philosophy. “Since we’ll be operating a worker co-op, each youth will serve as a member of a team, rather than just an employee,” he explains.

The Youth Services Co-op is a joint initiative of the Conseil de développement coopératif de l’Î.-P.-É. and of RDÉE Prince Edward Island. It will operate for the months of July and August.

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CUTLINE: Youth Services Co-op coordinator Daniel Gallant, centre, chats with workers Keith Turbide, 15, and Jessica Turbidem 13, about the types of work they might be asked to perform this summer.

 

For more information:

Daniel Gallant
Coordinator
Youth Services Co-op
(902) 370-7333, ext. 407
daniel@rdeeipe.org