Sitka Job Center Issues Call For Seafood Workers
May 22, 2000
No. 00-52
125 Additional Workers Needed by July 1, 2000
Sitka seafood processing companies need at least 125 additional workers by July 1. "The Sitka Job Center needs many seafood processors to work during salmon season this year," said Bonnie Richards, manager of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development's Sitka Job Center. "There are plenty of seafood jobs waiting in Sitka, and we are encouraging residents from Southeast Alaska's rural communities to apply."
"Sitka's seafood jobs are nearby and convenient places to work in the summer for Southeast Alaska residents," said Carolyn Evans, Sitka Community seafood employment specialist. Evans particularly is encouraging workers who live in Pelican, Angoon, Kake, Hoonah and Wrangell to take advantage of the opportunity to process salmon for the summer. "Transportation is convenient, costs are low, and they may have relatives in Sitka willing to house them," Evans said, adding that all Alaskans are welcome to apply.
Good news to the community of Sitka this year is that one of the seafood companies can house up to 45 additional seafood workers over 1999. Workers who apply early have the best chance of obtaining housing. Transportation, room and board, and bonuses may apply for those who work the entire season and complete their contract.
Sitka is a major trolling port with jobs for seafood workers to process the high-quality troll-caught fish. The Sitka area Chinook troll fishery begins July 1 and is expected to last for four days. Trollers then switch to coho. There may be a second chinook troll opening the third week of August.
The Department of Fish and Game expects good wild pink salmon and Sitka area hatchery chum salmon returns this year. Three million chum are estimated to return to Deep Inlet and Silver Bay starting in early July, and an estimated 2.75 million chum are estimated to return to Hidden Falls. The Sitka area salmon season lasts from late June through approximately September 10 with work picking up in mid-to-late July. Seafood companies hire the largest numbers of workers no later than July 15th to prepare for the peak season in mid-August. This means that seafood processing workers could keep very busy with good opportunities for overtime.
Interested applicants from Alaska may call the Sitka Job Center collect at (907)747-3423 or the toll-free Seafood Employment Unit number at 1-800-473-0688. For more information, visit the Alaska Seafood Jobs website at: jobs.alaska.gov and click on Seafood Jobs.
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