Fred Dente, right, and Gary Hooser, second from right, lead a line of sign-wavers asking for the state unemployment office to reopen, and for the minimum wage to be raised, Monday along Kaumuali‘i Highway in Lihu‘e.
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Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island
Blu Dux, right, leads a line of sign-wavers calling on Gov. David Ige to reopen the state unemployment office Monday along Kaumuali‘i Highway in Lihu‘e.
Dennis Fujimoto The Garden Island
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LIHU‘E — Ray Catania said there are thousands of workers statewide still waiting for unemployment benefits, Monday along Kaumuali‘i Highway near the Nawiliwili Road junction.
LIHU‘E — Ray Catania said there are thousands of workers statewide still waiting for unemployment benefits, Monday along Kaumuali‘i Highway near the Nawiliwili Road junction.
Coordinated through the Hawai‘i Workers Center, a handful of people took to the street with their message asking Gov. David Ige to reopen the state unemployment office. The Hawai‘i Workers Center’s efforts get support from Local 5 and Living Wage Hawai‘i.
“This is part of a statewide effort,” Catania said. “They have a similar rally on O‘ahu. The Hawai‘i Workers Center only recently established a Kaua‘i chapter where we try to help the most-needing unemployed people. Recently, the HWC provided relief checks to the needing unemployed people here as well as O‘ahu, Maui and the Big Island.”
Sign-waver Betty Dux is one of those getting relief help on Kaua‘i.
Fred Dente, unemployed since being laid off in April 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, said he was getting his unemployment benefits until December.
“All of a sudden, they stopped in January,” Dente said. “I called, but there’s no response. It’s been seven months — is that a ‘reasonable’ amount of time? — and all I get told is they’re looking into the case. Finally, I contacted Rep. James Tokioka’s office, who didn’t just pass me off. They’re looking into the matter and, hopefully, I can get some help.”
On June 22, the state Department of Labor &Industrial Relations announced that the seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for May was 8.1% compared to 8.5% in April. Statewide, 595,300 people were employed, and 52,150 unemployed in May. The national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.8% in May, down from 6.1% in April.
I see a ton of ‘Help Wanted’ signs everywhere, but the unemployment rate is still that high? Too many are denying job offers in favor of collecting unemployment. There needs to be a way to put an end to regulate that.
Its definitely time for people to start weening themselves off of unemployment. There are a lot of jobs out there. Maybe not as high paying as before for some but stop looking for handouts if you are perfectly capable of finding work.
There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of jobs on Kauai available on Kauai. Many employers have elevated starting pay rates to nearly or over double the federal minimum wage. It is time to end the additional federal unemployment benefits and enforce the unemployment rules in place prior to the pandemic. Unemployment is a safety net, not a lifestyle.
Almost every employer on Kauai is desperate for workers. Anyone who isn’t employed at the moment is not willing to work. If you’re not willing to work you’re ineligible to collect unemployment. Those are the rules. I can see people trying to collect what is owed to them from the past, but not having a job now, and asking for taxpayer’s money instead of working, is bordering on fraud.
When I see this former government leader supporting this behavior I can see why he’s no longer electable.
State and county have opened up the WHOLE state to FULL tourism. These state govt agencies should have ALL been opened up at the same time being we the taxpayers are paying their meal tickets and are depending on these departments to get our lives in order.
I see a ton of ‘Help Wanted’ signs everywhere, but the unemployment rate is still that high? Too many are denying job offers in favor of collecting unemployment. There needs to be a way to put an end to regulate that.
Fire all of the department heads in the unemployment office.
Its definitely time for people to start weening themselves off of unemployment. There are a lot of jobs out there. Maybe not as high paying as before for some but stop looking for handouts if you are perfectly capable of finding work.
There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of jobs on Kauai available on Kauai. Many employers have elevated starting pay rates to nearly or over double the federal minimum wage. It is time to end the additional federal unemployment benefits and enforce the unemployment rules in place prior to the pandemic. Unemployment is a safety net, not a lifestyle.
Almost every employer on Kauai is desperate for workers. Anyone who isn’t employed at the moment is not willing to work. If you’re not willing to work you’re ineligible to collect unemployment. Those are the rules. I can see people trying to collect what is owed to them from the past, but not having a job now, and asking for taxpayer’s money instead of working, is bordering on fraud.
When I see this former government leader supporting this behavior I can see why he’s no longer electable.
I am assuming these unemployed include county officials who are unqualified. And this names run rampant through out the state. 8.1% May 2021
I could have sworn I never heard of Mufi Hannemann or Keith Vierra. HTA related I suppose.
Aaaa…..”there are a lot of businesses hiring now!” Go out and find one you like instead of using up our tax dollars.
There are thousands of jobs needing to be filled. You won’t need the unemployment office if you have a job. JUST SAYING.
That’s right. Wal-mart is always hiring. Starting at cart associate move your way up to stock clerk. $10.05 being stock clerk.
State and county have opened up the WHOLE state to FULL tourism. These state govt agencies should have ALL been opened up at the same time being we the taxpayers are paying their meal tickets and are depending on these departments to get our lives in order.