But Sarne, a senior credit clerk, is so certain that O'ahu's concrete workers strike will end soon that she's leaving her 5-year-old bamboo plant on top of her desk and trusting her supervisor's word that it will be watered and cared for.

Sarne is one of approximately 25 Ameron Hawaii employees who will work their last shifts today until the strike ends.

With Ameron's normally bustling operation nearly idled, Sarne said, "there's no more work."

They will join a growing, but unknown, number of construction workers, developers, contractors and even unrelated businesses that have been affected by the strike.

The 25 Ameron employees being laid off today are neither management nor union.

They've nevertheless found themselves swept up in the strike that has slowed O'ahu's construction industry just as it was starting to lead Hawai'i's economic recovery.

"It doesn't really have anything to do with us," Sarne said.

Sarne said her salary is significantly less than the median salary of $71,433 that members of Hawai'i Teamsters and Allied Workers Local 996 earned at Ameron in 2002. Still, Sarne has no time for hard feelings toward either the striking Teamsters or Ameron's managers, who have been unable to settle the strike that began a week ago.

Many of the 144 striking Ameron employees are Sarne's friends. She's also grateful to work at a place she considers something like a family.

"The guys on the (picket) line are all nice," Sarne said. "It's a really big company but they really do like us ... and they treat us fairly."

It's just unfortunate, Sarne said, that the strike has slowed business and people now won't get their usual paychecks.

"I guess we're all in the same boat," Sarne said. "You can be mad at somebody or you can accept it and move on."

Sarne knew as soon as the strike started last week that her job could be in jeopardy.

But she was still stunned when her supervisor told her on Tuesday that today would be her last day at Ameron until the strike ends.

"I wasn't expecting it so soon," Sarne said. "It's going to be rough."

Sarne also has been surprised by the reports of construction workers, construction projects and business owners all over O'ahu that have been hurt, as well.

"I didn't think it would affect so many people," she said.

Her husband, Alika, works as a heavy equipment operator at Ted Makalena Golf Course and his paycheck will have to cover the mortgage on their three-bedroom, one-bathroom house in Pearl City.

They've already canceled plans for a Las Vegas trip in April. And Sarne, only half-jokingly, said she plans to raid the refrigerator at her in-laws — Bert and Lucky Sarne — who live in a separate house on the same lot.

"We'll be (grocery) shopping in their home," Sarne said.

To keep active, Sarne plans to crank up production of the jumbo, Hawaiian print pillows she normally sells only at Christmas craft fairs. She also plans to look for a temporary job to help with the bills.

But as soon as the strike ends, Sarne plans to return to her cubicle at Ameron handling credit applications and bills from customers.

"I don't want to switch companies," Sarne said. "I'll be back."