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LIHUE -- Kauai County is scoring as successful two "Kokua Fairs" put on this week for Amfac/JMB sugar workers who will be unemployed on Nov. 17 when the company closes its sugar operations. But many of the workers' questions on benefits and severance could not be answered. Kauai fairs offer
help during layoffAbout 400 will lose their
jobs when Amfac closesBy Anthony Sommer
Kauai correspondentTuesday night's session in Lihue drew 135 Amfac/JMB employees, and 85 went to a Kekaha fair Wednesday night. Most brought family members.
About 400 employees will be laid off, the largest single loss of agricultural jobs in the island's history.
Twenty-five state and county agencies, as well as several nonprofit organizations and the two credit unions that serve the sugar workers, explained the programs and benefits that will be available. But they couldn't go into much detail because Amfac/JMB and the ILWU have yet to reach agreement on a severance package.
"You could see the frustration," said Gini Kapali, head of the county Economic Development Office, which organized the two fairs.
"People wanted to know if they would lose money if they accept a job now rather than waiting until Nov. 17. Or if their government benefits will be reduced if they accept severance pay.
"Those questions couldn't be answered because there is no ratified severance agreement. And each worker will have different circumstances depending on their current hourly wage and length of service and family size," she said.
The county is planning a large "Job Fair" at the Lihue convention center on Nov. 9. Kapali said possible employers are being asked to participate, even if they only have a single opening.