Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that he is calling for cooperation not confrontation in response to Samoa Packing’s closing.

“At a time when our Territory is faced with the challenges caused by the collapse of the global economy which has also impacted our local businesses, including Samoa Packing, I believe it is very important for our leaders to pull together and do what is right for our people, rather than waste time engaged in personal attacks.  For this reason, I will not respond to the negative comments being made on radio and in the press, but I will continue to provide information which is important for the public to know.”

“First and foremost, since the day Chicken of the Sea announced it would be closing its operations, my office has been aggressively working to find solutions at the federal level that would complement local efforts.  In fact, it was my office, not ASG, that first contacted the U.S. Department of Labor on behalf of our cannery workers to make sure they could be provided with a stipend and an opportunity to be re-trained or to attend ASCC.”

“In a letter dated May 7, 2009, I informed the Governor of this opportunity and stated that national emergency grant (NEG) funds would be made available if he would submit the necessary application.  I also provided the Governor with names and email addresses of contacts at the U.S. Department of Labor who could assist him in this effort.”

“On May 7, I wrote to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to make him aware of our situation and request his support.  On May 8, I wrote to Senator Daniel Inouye, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Chairman David Obey of the House Committee on Appropriations, requesting $20 million in emergency aid which they were unable to provide in the supplemental, although I am hopeful that they will be able to set aside some funds at a later date.”

“On May 14, I held a meeting in my office with officials from the Employment Training Agency at the U.S. Department of Labor, and followed up with a letter on the same day personally thanking Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis for working closely with my office since May 7, 2009 to find real solutions for American Samoa’s cannery workers.  In a letter dated June 10, 2009 and received in my office on June 17, the DOL thanked me for my letter and stated the following:

‘The DOL’s San Francisco Regional Office has been providing technical assistance to American Samoa on how to submit a NEG application; however, American Samoa has not submitted a NEG application as of yet.’”

The DOL also stated:

‘ I can assure you than once the application is submitted, it will be afforded every consideration, and your office and the Governor will be notified as soon as a decision has been made.’

“Regarding the minimum wage issue, it was my office that contacted Chairman Miller and asked for a delay in minimum wage increases, and it was my office that informed Senator Inouye that Chairman Miller and Chairman Kennedy had agreed to my request for the delay of the fourth increase until their Committees have a chance to review the GAO report due in April 2010.”

“Unfortunately, the Governor issued a press release last week stating that Congress was not supportive of the delay, and both Chairman Miller and Senator Kennedy’s staff went on record to state that this was not true.  Both Chairman Miller and Chairman Kennedy are supportive of a delay and Senator Inouye’s office informed my office that he will be working to include our language in the FY2010 Appropriations bill.”

“Also, as a matter of fact, I opposed automatic increases in minimum wage and from the outset have been united with ASG officials in calling for an end to automatic increases.”

 “Finally, while I do not know what ASG is doing to keep StarKist in American Samoa or to buy back the cannery from Samoa Packing at a nominal fee in order to attract other investors to set up tuna canning operations, my office has been in discussions with StarKist, Bumble Bee, Taiwan, China, and the Philippines, and I have every intention of continuing discussions until we find a solution to provide employment for our workers.”

 “While it would have been best if ASG had prepared for this day and diversified its economy and acted on the recommendations of the American Samoa Economic Advisory Commission some seven years ago, what matters most is how ASG now responds to Samoa Packing’s departure.”

“This is why my door will continue to remain open to the Governor and our Fono leaders, no matter what, and this is why I will also clarify the record every step of the way.  In response to the Governor’s most recent statements to the press, he stated that I said I was not aware that he was in Washington.  To be clear, what I said was that I was unaware of who the Governor was meeting with while he was in Washington.”

“As a matter of record, it was Senator Inouye, not the Governor, who informed me that the two had met.  The only information I received from the Governor was through his consultant who left a voicemail with my staff stating that if I wanted to meet with the Governor, to call and let her know.  My office returned the call and set up a time to meet with the Governor at which time I invited Chairman Miller’s senior staff and Nik Pula of the OIA to meet with us, and I thought we had an excellent meeting in my office.”

“Hopefully, we will continue to move forward in a positive manner and, with the support and prayers of our people, I remain optimistic that American Samoa will come through this stronger and better than before.”

“As a final point, I also want to correct the record regarding Bumble Bee.  Up until November of last year, Bumble Bee was Canadian owned until the U.S. management team partnered with U.S. Centre Partners to buy the company and take it private,” Faleomavaega concluded.