274 layoffs ‘difficult but necessary’
MLP's agriculture, resort and real estate enterprises are all suffering major losses
STORY SUMMARY »
Maui Land & Pineapple Co. announced today it will lay off 274 employees in an effort to stem losses from rising energy and operating costs.
It is the largest Maui layoff in recent memory, surpassing the 271 employees laid off in the closure of Lahaina's Kapalua Bay Hotel in 2006, said James Hardway, special assistant to the director of Labor and Industrial Relations.
Hardway said it could take a few months to know whether Maui businesses can rehire the workers.
Kahului-based MLP estimates it will save $11 million in annual operating costs.
The cuts represent a 26.2 percent decrease in MLP's 1,045-person work force. MLP's agriculture segment, Maui Pineapple Co., will be the hardest hit, losing 204 jobs, or about half its work force.
MLP's Kapalua Resort on Maui is cutting 46 jobs, and 24 positions will be lost in the corporate and community development unit.
"This is a difficult but necessary decision as we respond to higher energy-related costs in our operating units and sluggish conditions in the real estate market," David Cole, MLP's president and chief executive officer, said in the statement.
Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares called it a sad day.
Some workers said this morning as they headed into meetings at the pineapple plant in Kahului that they felt more layoffs might be coming, in light of previous layoffs.
"We knew something like this was going to happen, considering the company's downsizing," said Jerry Javier, the lead machinist.
"But we didn't know when it was going to happen."
Rosalio Bio said he's unsure about the future.
"It's really sad," Bio said.
STORY SUMMARY »
Maui Land & Pineapple Co. announced today it will lay off 274 employees in an effort to stem losses from rising energy and operating costs.
It is the largest Maui layoff in recent memory, surpassing the 271 employees laid off in the closure of Lahaina's Kapalua Bay Hotel in 2006, said James Hardway, special assistant to the director of Labor and Industrial Relations.
Hardway said it could take a few months to know whether Maui businesses can rehire the workers.
Kahului-based MLP estimates it will save $11 million in annual operating costs.
The cuts represent a 26.2 percent decrease in MLP's 1,045-person work force. MLP's agriculture segment, Maui Pineapple Co., will be the hardest hit, losing 204 jobs, or about half its work force.
MLP's Kapalua Resort on Maui is cutting 46 jobs, and 24 positions will be lost in the corporate and community development unit.
"This is a difficult but necessary decision as we respond to higher energy-related costs in our operating units and sluggish conditions in the real estate market," David Cole, MLP's president and chief executive officer, said in the statement.
Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares called it a sad day.
Some workers said this morning as they headed into meetings at the pineapple plant in Kahului that they felt more layoffs might be coming, in light of previous layoffs.
"We knew something like this was going to happen, considering the company's downsizing," said Jerry Javier, the lead machinist.
"But we didn't know when it was going to happen."
Rosalio Bio said he's unsure about the future.
"It's really sad," Bio said.
Labels: Hawaii, layoffs, Maui, Maui Land and Pineapple Co
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