Obszerne informacje na temat pracy na Alasce na stronie:

www.workandtravelalaska.org

Obejrzyj miejsca pracy na Alasce:

Snopac Products
Kodiak Salmon Products
Trident Seafoods

Historia jednej z uczestniczek WAT na Alasce:

Hello Everybody!
My name is Agnieszka. Four years ago I decided to visit the US. I did not have too much money but wanted to buy a nice camera and take some pictures of the Grand Canyon. I decided to go to Alaska because even though I don't like the smell of fish, the money seemed to smell great ? It was a crazy experience; a new continent, new people, fish sliming - the job I had never done before, funny outfit (boots and raingears), long hours of work, a bit wet and cold conditions. But I made it and at the end of the season what I really had was new friends, a few gained kilograms and a nice paycheck. Wow it really covered the trip costs. I bought the cam and a laptop, and went to see the Grand Canyon! And still had a couple bucks left in my pocket.
I came to Alaska the next year. At that time I knew I wouldn't find a better summer job. By chance, one of our supervisors had to leave the plant earlier, so I managed to take over her position and I did ok. That year I was invited to come back next year, so I had no choice but come back ?
I worked for other, a brand new plant where thanks to my experience and knowledge of the product I was offer a position of an Egg House manager. (It is a place where you process eggs/roe). It was a really great period in my life because besides the money I learned a lot. Both about the industry and people management, the experience that is priceless in any job.
Last year I worked for another company as a production manager and again worked hard, long hours, sleepless nights but had satisfaction with the job. And it was the place where my new, real job "found me". CEO of Cetusa (a sponsor agency), Mr. Rick Anaya visited our plant. I talked to him for a while and asked if his company had any open positions. I sent my resume... and here I am, in sunny California, having regular job.
I know that my experience and good opinion from Alaska helped me to get this job. Something I would never dream of getting on the plane to America four years ago.
Agnieszka

Informacje o pracy na Alasce od Brian'a- dyrektora regionalnego

WORK IN A PLANT
JOB DESCRITION
Salmon plants, canneries are often called by the beginners "fish factories". In fact, there are the places where fish is being processed. Fish is delivered to a plant on a big boat (tender), pump to the huge tanks and cut by machines. Of course, the plant could not run without people - processors. The job of a processor is to operate all the machines, make sure the fish is really clean after mechanical clean up (sliming), prepare fish for freezing or making fillets, pack the fish into bags or plastic sleeves (case up) and load a van. You can also work in a can section where you pack fish in cans or in the egg house, the place where caviar is being made.
Nowadays the processing crew is made of international students, girls and boys, from all over the world including Turks, Poles, Russians, Taiwanese, Columbians, Americans and many more.
All of the jobs require long hours of working in a standing position, often in wet, cold conditions. You might get bored with rather monotonous routine and tied of luck of sleep in peak season. However, the benefits the job offers compensate all inconvenient. In a high season you might work over 100 hours a week, overtimes are paid 150%! You also don't spend too much money because usually housing and bored is for free or for a minimum fee and there are not too many places to spend the money in. This is why hundreds of students working in the plants come back there next season.
LOCALIZATION & TRANSPORT
Most of the plants are being located in remote places of Alaska where there are no stores, discotheques and tempting places to spend money. (If you want to buy things such as laptop you can always order them on line.) Most of the plants provide Wi-Fi.
How to get to the plant? Usually you need to fly to Anchorage where you need to apply for your Social Security Number if it is your first visit in US. It is the plant that organizes your flight from Anchorage to the place of destination and the return way. If you are going to work in Sitka, probably you will get transferred from Seattle. When you arrive to the place of destination there should be some representatives from the plant at the airport that pick you up and take you to the plant.
ACCOMODATION AND FOOD
Processing plant looks a bit like a camp. There is the processing area, bunkhouses, a kitchen with a mess hall, a laundry room, sometimes a TV room or a volleyball court.
Because the bunkhouses are located in the plant area, you don't waste time and money on commuting to work. Usually there are 2 up to 4 people per room with a restroom and showers in a corridor.
Depending on the plant, laundry either is being made by a laundry lady or you have access to washing machines and driers by yourselves.
The plants provide full board for free or a minimum fee. You get breakfast, lunch, dinner plus a few snacks during a day.
For example: providing that working day lasts from 7:30 AM to 10 PM, you have breakfast at 7 AM, work start at 7:30, first snack break, in Alaska we call it "mug up" is around 10:30. It is a 15 minute break to have tea or coffee and a piece of cake, cookie or slice of pizza. Mug ups, opposite to meal breaks (breakfast, lunch, dinner) are being paid. Around 1 PM you have 30 or 45 minute meal break for lunch. Next mug up is around 4 and dinner around 6, 7 PM. Both the length of meal breaks and the schedule might vary depending on a plant and the time of the season. If there is 24 hour production the schedule is planned in the way that also processors who work night shift get warm meals.
WORKING HOURS AND PAYMENT
At the beginning of the season you work not too many hours, so you have a chance to get used to the working conditions and get proper training. It might happen that you have days off. When the season starts for good you are supposed to work always where there is fish, which means every day, seven days a week. When there is really a lot of fish probably you will be assigned to one of three or two shifts and work 16 or 12 hours a day. You are going to be tired and sleepy but... you are going to make good money, especially once you are paid for overtimes 150%.
Overtimes - First 8 hours a day is paid as regular time, everything above 8 hours is overtime. If you work 40 hours of regular times a week the rest of the hours is overtimes.
For example: You work 16 hours a day every day, seven days a week. The paying period starts on Monday. From Monday to Friday you work (16x5=80) 40 hours regular and 40 hours overtime plus 32 hours overtime at the weekend.
Usually you get your paycheck every other week, sometimes at the end of the contract. It is a good idea to open a bank account (you can open such an account for free) and have the plant deposit you checks. In this way your money is safe and you can do the shopping on line (all purchases are tax free)