AFFIRMATIVE action is not difficult to deliver yet many businesses are still having trouble in finding a pathway to do so.
Local fruit packing giant, Jeftomson Fruit Packing has recently taken positive steps to see women get ahead with its latest advertisement in a predominantly male role in their plant, driving a forklift.
Currently the company has around 40 licenced forklift drivers working at the plant, three of them are women.
Sally Hunter is one of those women. She has been driving a forklift for about five years of the twelve she has worked for Jeftomson Fruit Packing.
“I was working on scheduling when the opportunity came up. They asked me if I would have a go so I did and have not looked back since,” said Sally.
“The benefit of getting a forklift licence is that it can take me anywhere if I choose but this is a good job.”
Executive chairman of the company, Geoffrey Thompson sees opportunities for women in the community to find a place with the company driving forklifts. “There are women on farms and in other industries in the region who have the skills with machinery that we want to invest in.”
“We see a lot of praise for those people who were the front-line service providers during the worst of the lockdowns but behind the scenes, there were many people like Sally who came to work each day to make sure that produce got delivered and on time,” said Geoff.
The training to be provided will commence in early December to mid-January looking to provide six months employment during the peak of the season.
For women in the community wanting a job driving a forklift they should send their resume to stomarchio@jeftomson.com as soon as possible.
