Posted at 10:44 a.m., Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Laid off Del Monte workers attend Kunia job fair
Advertiser Staff
More than 80 companies have signed up for a job fair today at Del Monte Fresh Produce's Kunia pineapple operations, which is shutting down and letting go 551 employees.Companies taking applications range from Aloha Airllines to Oahu Transit Services to Zipppy's. Among the positions available to the workers are airline ramp agents, welders, kitchen helpers, cashiers, and security guards.
The job fair was organized by the state Department of Labor, which estimated at least 220 of the workers would attend the job fair on Del Monte's property. It said the remainder of the workers are expected to retire, find jobs elsewhere or seek employment after their last paycheck in January.
Del Monte, in a surprise move, shut down its century-old Hawai'i pineapple operations six days before Thanksgiving and said it would pay employees through Jan. 22. The company cited lower production and pineapple prices in its decision to shutter the operation.
The state said it had more companies that wanted to be included in the job fair than there was space. While a little more than 50 companies are on hand today, the state will be handing out information for more than 30 others.
