Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that he is
aggressively working to protect more than 1,000 jobs at COS/Samoa Packing.
“While I am working to protect more than 1,000 jobs at Chicken of
the Sea/Samoa Packing, StarKist is busy trying to convince the U.S. Congress
that American Samoa’s tuna operations are at full capacity with no ability
to expand,” Congressman Faleomavaega said. “While I am working to
protect our fisherman, our grocery store owners and our fragile island
economy, H.J. Heinz is trying to convince the U.S. Congress that Ecuador
deserves the same preferential trade status as the U.S. Territory of American
Samoa.”
“On August 3, 2001, StarKist testified before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee
on International Trade that it supports providing duty-free status to canned
tuna from Ecuador. StarKist is the only U.S. tuna processor that
supports this measure. Chicken of the Sea, Bumble Bee and the entire
U.S. fishing fleet are adamantly opposed to granting Ecuador the same privileges
as American Samoa,” Congressman Faleomavaega said.
“What StarKist isn’t saying is that it only pays cannery workers
in Ecuador $0.69 per hour. StarKist is also denying the impact that
this legislation will have on workers in American Samoa. The fact
of the matter is if this legislation passes in its current form -- if StarKist
has its way with the U.S. Congress -- the CEO of Chicken of the Sea will
eventually be forced to lay off more than 1,000 workers at Samoa Packing,”
Congressman Faleomavaega said. “This is a serious matter. And
it is time for StarKist to talk straight.”
“The people of American Samoa deserve straight talk. We deserve
a respectful, equitable partnership. Most of all the people of American
Samoa deserve the truth surrounding the Andean Trade Agreement,” Congressman
Faleomavaega said. “It is not right for StarKist to say one thing
in Washington and another thing in American Samoa. In fact, it is
shameful that StarKist would be less than forthcoming with the hard-working
people of American Samoa.”
“Let’s set the record straight. StarKist came to Washington,
DC on August 3, 2001. StarKist and Heinz officials were making contacts
in Washington for some three weeks and never bothered to contact my office.
To my knowledge, StarKist did not contact the Governor’s office.
To my knowledge, StarKist did not contact the Fono members,” Congressman
Faleomavaega said. “Of course, StarKist is not obliged to make contact
or have a conversation with any of us. But the fact of the matter
is, StarKist paid its high-priced lobbying team to testify before the Senate
Subcommittee on International Trade in support of Ecuador. StarKist
did so without making any assurances to American Samoa at the time.”
“When StarKist learned later that Dennis Mussell, President of Chicken
of the Sea and Chris Lischewski, President of Bumble Bee, had requested
to meet with me on September 5, 2001, Heinz executives then contacted my
office to request a meeting,” Congressman Faleomavaega said. “StarKist
and Heinz executives even asked to be included in my meeting with Mr. Mussell
and Mr. Lischewski. As a courtesy to the CEO’s of Chicken of the
Sea and Bumble Bee, I agreed to meet with StarKist separately.”
“During the course of our discussions, StarKist insisted that it
was firmly committed to fighting the entire tuna industry. While
I respect StarKist’s right to pursue its own course of action, I told StarKist
that I would have to oppose its decision since more than 1,000 workers
at Samoa Packing could potentially lose their jobs,” Congressman Faleomavaega
said.
“I am firmly committed to protecting the workers at Samoa Packing,”
Congressman Faleomavaega continued. “You can be assured that I am
also firmly committed to protecting workers at StarKist Samoa. If
StarKist Samoa was forced to downsize its operations tomorrow, I would
be working aggressively to protect its interests.”
“In this particular instance, however, StarKist and I are on opposing
sides. I must protect workers in American Samoa. I must do
everything in my ability to see that Ecuador is not granted the same preferential
trade status as the U.S. Territory of American Samoa. At present,
tuna processing is the only industry holding together the fragile economy
of American Samoa. American Samoa’s only advantage in the global
market-place is duty-free access to the U.S. market,” Congressman Faleomavaega
said.
“What price has American Samoa paid to have U.S. trade privileges?
As a Territory of the United States, our men and women have paid the ultimate
sacrifice in military service to this country. American Samoa pledges
its allegiance to the United
States. Ecuador does not. American Samoa has been the backbone
of StarKist sales. Ecuador has not. In the past 25 years, StarKist
and Chicken of the Sea have exported more than $6 billion worth of tuna
from American Samoa to the United States. Thanks to American Samoa,
StarKist is now the number one brand of tuna,” Congressman Faleomavaega
said.
“I am disappointed that StarKist would threaten the very existence
of the U.S. tuna industry in exchange for low-labor rates in Ecuador,”
Congressman Faleomavaega said. “Our people must understand that cannery
workers in Ecuador get paid $0.69 per hour. StarKist testified at
our minimum wage hearings that if countries like Ecuador were granted duty-free
trade privileges, tuna operations would almost immediately shift to low-cost
labor areas, like Ecuador. Is StarKist leaving or staying?
Depending on the occasion, StarKist shifts its position.”
“When StarKist is interested in suppressing wages in American Samoa,
StarKsit says it is leaving. When StarKist is concerned about its
reputation in the U.S. Congress, StarKist says it is staying. If
StarKist is staying, then I am pleased that my efforts to bring this matter
to the attention of the U.S. Congress and our local leaders has led to
StarKist’s renewed commitment to our Territory. I am pleased that
my humble efforts in behalf of 1,000 of our workers have caused StarKist
to call for a new public-private partnership to enhance the future of American
Samoa,” Congressman Faleomavaega said.
“But I am puzzled by recent comments from StarKist that suggest
that American Samoa’s reputation is being weakened in Congress because
of my efforts. On the contrary, two of the major U.S. tuna companies
and the entire U.S. tuna fishing fleet support my efforts and are in total
opposition to StarKist’s position,” Congressman Faleomavaega said.
“The U.S. Congress understands that I am trying to save the livelihood
of 1,000 Samoan cannery workers at Samoa Packing because of StarKist’s
push for low-cost labor. I will not roll over and play dead,” Congressman
Faleomavaega said. “I will not allow StarKist to throw its weight
around and intimidate our Samoan leaders and people. Enough is enough.”
“It is time for StarKist to come to its senses and support our efforts
to save the U.S. tuna industry. I am willing to work with StarKist
at a moment’s notice, if it will retract or rescind this insidious provision
in the Andean Trade Agreement bill. I call upon StarKist to join
our united efforts to exempt canned tuna from the Andean Trade Agreement,”
Congressman Faleomavaega said.
“I call upon StarKist to join with Chicken of the Sea, Bumble Bee,
and the U.S. fishing fleet in supporting America and an industry that we
have come to love and trust for more than 95 years,” Congressman Faleomavaega
said. |
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