Employment
The State of Hawaii’s current seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.0 is better than most of the U.S., but these figures do not reflect the quality of jobs available. Many of the employed are working at low wages and/or have to travel long distances to work or hold more than one job to get by. In 2004, the average annual per capita income for O'okala was less than $14,000. Hawaii’s cost of living expenses are 108% of the U.S. average. This means a lot of people are working hard to stay ahead.
We believe that family is important. The current economic atmosphere has driven many younger people to move off-island to find desirable jobs. We would like to see that change.
Tradewinds will make jobs available to the people residing on the Hamakua Coast first. We have distributed a pre-employment survey along the coast and will use the responses to develop a plan for training and education as necessary. Tradewinds is coordinating with the local community college to ensure the appropriate classes are offered to provide the necessary skills to work at our facility. At the start-up, some off-island workers will be employed to provide training and fill high skill specialized jobs.
We expect to employ about 100 people. Jobs will range from groundskeepers to computer operators to electrical engineers. Wages will range from $14 to $22 an hour plus benefits.
New business will spring up to support the facility. Already we have been approached by one person who wants to open a general store and child care near the post office, an idea we strongly support.
We are hoping to see other service businesses drawn to town.
What qualities does Tradewinds want in its employees?
- People who take pride in their work.
- People who understand that when their company does well, they do well.
- People who never want to stop learning.
- People who value ohana.
Positions
| Millwrights | Repair and maintenance of veneer mill and cogeneration plant equipment and machinery. Must be able to trouble shoot and repair mechanical , hydraulic and pneumatic systems, weld, cut and fabricate. Must have own tools. | ||
| Mechanic | Perform service and maintenance on heavy equipment (front end loaders, forklifts, crane etc.). Be able to trouble shoot and repair electrical and hydraulic systems, rebuild engines when necessary and fill in as a millwright on mill repairs as required. Must have own tools. | ||
| Electrician | Repair and maintenance of electrical systems in a production facility and cogeneration plant. | ||
| Oiler Millwright Apprentice | Assist millwrights, oil machinery, check bearings, serve apprenticeship and take necessary classes. | ||
| Scale House Operators |
Weigh all incoming and outgoing trucks. Fill out weight tickets, coordinate incoming and outgoing products with appropriate department and maintain shipping and receiving reports. |
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| Crane Operator | Operate pedestal crane, unloading incoming log trucks, decking logs and feeding logs to mill. | ||
| Front End Loader Operators | Maintain hog fuel pile at hog fuel dump, feed hog fuel to cogeneration plant and move logs in log yard as needed. | ||
| Barker Operators | Operate barker system, for optimum through put, consistent with a quality products. | ||
| Deck Saw Operators | Operate deck saw, cutting logs into appropriate lengths. | ||
| General Laborers Deck | Help keep logs running straight on the deck, free any plug-ups and clean up on deck. | ||
| Lathe Operators | Set up and running of veneer lathe, sharpen lathe knives and perform preventive maintenance on lathe. | ||
| Scanner Operators | Make sure veneer is presented to knife square and unfolded. | ||
| Stacker Operators | Operate green and/or dry stackers. Make sure veneer is neatly stacked and straightened in appropriate grade stack. | ||
| Forklift Operators | Move units of veneer from green end to dryer. Count dry veneer units, fill out tally tickets and move units to package operator station. | ||
| Clean-up | Perform clean-up of debris from around mill machinery and general clean up of mill and cogeneration plant. | ||
| Dryer Tenders | Oversee dryer feeders and dry stacker operators. Monitor moisture content and grading stacks. Set Dryer controls for optimal drying. | ||
| Package Operators | Run machine that puts protective wrapping on the dry veneer units. | ||
| Truck Loaders | Load veneer units on outgoing trucks with a fork lift, fill out bills of lading and shipping tally sheets. Coordinate shipments and paper work with scale house operator. | ||
| General Laborer Painter | Keep machinery and equipment clean and painted. | ||
| Receptionist Admin. Assistant | Answer telephones, assist office manager with human resource activities, payroll, accounts receivable and correspondence. | ||
| Accounts
Payable Clerk |
Assist office manager with accounts payable and log accounting. | ||
| Control Operator | Lead person to control all aspects of the boiler and steam turbine generator. | ||
| Assistant control Operator | Assists Control Operator as well as perform other duties outside of the control room. | ||
| Fuel Operator | Manages fuel truck unloading and assures steady fuel supply by moving fuel from fuel pile into the boiler. |
***EMPLOYEES THAT ENROLL AND COMPLETE TRADEWINDS PRE EMPLOYMENT VENEER MILL CERTIFICATION CLASS WILL RECEIVE A $.50 PER HOUR RAISE IN PAY.
EMPLOYEES THAT CROSS-TRAIN AND BECOME PROFICIENT IN ADDITIONAL POSITIONS WILL RECEIVE A YET TO BE DETERMINED INCREASE IN PAY.
THERE WILL ALSO BE A BONUS PLAN.