Del Monte Fresh Produce Hawaii has been ordered to pay workers who were laid off last year additional severance and medical benefits.

The Hawaii Labour Relations Board has ordered the company to provide additional benefits for up to 500 workers who lost their jobs following the abrupt closure of Del Monte’s local pineapple operations last year. The payments must be made based on the original intended closure date of December 2008.

The labour board’s ruling stemmed from a complaint filed in August by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142.

The union charged that Del Monte failed to bargain in good faith after making its first closure announcement in February 2006. At the time, Del Monte Fresh said it would originally cease all Hawaii pineapple operations in December 2008.

But in November, it announced it would close immediately, two years ahead of schedule.

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