Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that he supports a minimum wage increase in American Samoa and submitted testimony before Special Industry Committee No. 26 stating that he is disappointed that StarKist is opposing an increase in minimum wage for cannery workers based on what it calls “guiding economic principles.”  A complete copy of the Congressman’s testimony can be found on this website under "Statements."  Excerpts are included below. 

“In 2003, StarKist submitted almost identical testimony to Special Industry Committee No. 25 and once again states on page 5 of its pre-hearing statement before Special Industry Committee No. 26 that ‘one basic idea guides the actions of all major businesses [and that is] a business has an economic, legal, and moral responsibility to maximize the return it gives to its investors or shareholders.’”

“As I stated before Special Industry Committees No. 24 and 25, I believe higher laws should guide our actions and that we have a moral responsibility to do unto others as we would have them do unto us.  I also believe all major businesses, including those of the tuna industry, have an obligation to be fair to our workers when applying their ‘guiding economic principles,’” the Congressman said.   

“For example, if StarKist is going to ask Special Industry Committee No. 26 to oppose a minimum wage increase for our cannery workers because it has an obligation ‘to maximize [its] profits’ then StarKist must also review the salaries of its top executives to be sure it is acting ‘in the interests of its investors and/or shareholders’ as stated on page 5 of its pre-hearing statement.”

“On the one hand, StarKist says it cannot afford to pay our people more than $3.26 per hour because it would be unable ‘to attract needed investment dollars’ or ‘generate the best return possible’ for its investors.  On the other hand, Del Monte, which owns StarKist, paid its CEO $1.7 million in salary, bonuses and other compensation in FY 2004.  With stock options, Del Monte’s CEO earned almost $2.65 million in FY04.”

“In other words, Del Monte’s CEO is making 200 to 300 times more per year than the average cannery worker in American Samoa.  This said, can an intelligent person really believe that an increase in minimum wage is going to hurt StarKist’s ability to maximize its profits?  If StarKist wishes to maximize its profits for its investors,” Faleomavaega said, “let Del Monte begin by cutting the salaries of its top management including its CEO.  Let Chicken of the Sea do the same.” 

“As I said before Special Industry Committees No. 24 and 25, I believe the right to live is higher than the right to own a business.  Furthermore, I believe a business has an economic, legal, and moral responsibility to pay its employees enough to enable them to live and I believe this should be the basic idea that guides the actions of all major businesses, including those of the tuna industry.”

“Nevertheless, the U.S. Department of Labor picks and chooses its Special Industry Committee and, for the most part, the outcome is determined before we testify.  In some ways,” Faleomavaega said, “it is unclear to me why the U.S. Department of Labor bothers to hold these hearings.  If the Department of Labor was serious about minimum wage then it would be serious about conducting a study to determine the cost of living in American Samoa.  If it was serious about minimum wage it would be serious about making the tuna industry declare its margin of profit.  Simply put, until we know what the canneries are making we cannot determine what a fair wage is for our workers.”

“Having spent the past four years fighting to protect American Samoa’s tuna industry in the U.S. Congress, I can tell you that I understand what our canneries are up against when it comes to competing against countries with low wage rates.  I understand the realities of supply and demand.  I understand that production will leave high cost locations when low cost alternatives exist.  I also understand that these are the same words the U.S. tuna industry has been regurgitating for the past 50 years.”

“In our 50 year history with the tuna industry, not once has StarKist or Chicken of the Sea offered profit-sharing incentives or stock options to our workers.  Instead, our cannery workers are given a case of wahoo at Christmas and a turkey at Thanksgiving. And now we’re told that our wages must remain below the federal minimum wage rate because cannery workers in Thailand and the Andean countries are cleaning fish for $0.60 an hour.”

“Well guess what?  Autoworkers in China are building cars for less than autoworkers in Detroit.  And garment workers in India are making clothes for less than factory workers in New York.  And farmers in Mexico are growing food for less than farmers in the Midwest.  And McDonald employees in Taiwan are flipping hamburgers for less than McDonald employees in the United States.  So what is the tuna industry’s point?”

“We are not here before Special Industry Committee No. 26 to discuss wage rates in third world countries.  We are here to discuss U.S. wage rates.  American Samoa is a U.S. Territory and our cannery workers should be entitled to American pay.  If our corporate executives wish to discuss wage rates around the world, then let us also discuss the global wage rates of corporate executives.  I believe such a discussion would show that a CEO in Thailand or Ecuador makes nothing compared to the CEOs of StarKist and Chicken of the Sea and I again make the point that if our canneries are interested in maximizing their profits, let them begin by cutting corporate salaries and make adjustments on corporate profits.” 

“Let me also address the issue of international trade agreements.  It is well-known that StarKist, under the management of the H.J. Heinz Foundation, opened a pandora’s box in 2001 when it went against the entire U.S. tuna fishing and processing industries and attempted to include canned tuna in the Andean Trade Preference Act.  StarKist did this for one simple reason, to displace $3.26 workers in American Samoa and exploit $0.60 labor in Ecuador.” 

“At the time, StarKist said this would not affect its business in American Samoa.  Today, at these minimum wage hearings and at the minimum wage hearings in 2003, StarKist testified that the Committee must not increase minimum wage rates because an increase would affect its business in American Samoa and its ability to compete against Ecuador, Thailand and other low wage rate countries.  StarKist cannot have it both ways and, in fairness to our cannery workers, I believe Special Industry Committee No. 26 has an economic, legal and moral responsibility to make sure that StarKist testifies truthfully before this federally constituted committee,” Congressman Faleomavaega said. 

“I also want to address the issue of IRS Section 936.  Again, in its pre-hearing statement submitted to Special Industry Committee No. 25, StarKist stated that favorable local and federal tax treatment makes little difference to our canneries.  Before this Committee, StarKist says IRS section 936 does make a difference.  While agreements are in place to extend section 936 benefits to American Samoa, I question why StarKist continues to contradict itself before this Committee.” 

“Regarding tuna loins, I would like to publicly state that I am deeply concerned about the number of loins that are being shipped to American Samoa for processing.  It is an insult to our intelligence for both StarKist and Samoa Packing to assume that Samoans do not understand what this means for the Territory.  Samoans understand that the use of precooked tuna loins as a raw material in canning operations could significantly influence the amount of labor needed in the production process.  Samoans also understand that the production of loins, including the butchering and cleaning steps, accounts for up to 80% of the cost of labor in a full-scale cannery.” 

“This means that if a cannery buys loins instead of whole fish it can substantially reduce its labor costs.  In other words, the more loins you send to American Samoa, the less labor you need in our canneries.  Less labor means downsizing and downsizing means many of our cannery workers will be out of jobs if StarKist and Samoa Packing continue to ship loins into American Samoa.  Furthermore, our U.S. tuna boat owners who not only contribute more than $22 million per year to our economy but also supply 70% of the tuna processed in our canneries will also be out of business.”

“As I have said before, I cannot and will not support an increase in loins being shipped from foreign countries into American Samoa for use in our canneries.  This trend must stop or American Samoa must be compensated for revenue lost as a result of this backdoor attempt to reduce our labor force, suppress our wages, and allow foreign countries to send their tuna into the U.S. exempt from duty.”

“I am also disturbed by a recent letter received in my office regarding Project Nemo, an alleged ‘plan by Chicken of the Sea and StarKist to consolidate their tuna canneries in American Samoa.  The letter states, ‘The objective of this plan will be to substantially reduce tuna production, which will allow the companies to increase prices.  The effect will be closure of one of the two canneries in Samoa and the elimination of more than 2,000 jobs.’”

“This letter, dated May 27, 2005 and received in my office on June 15, 2005, is unsigned and was copied to Governor Togiola, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice and Samoa News.  The letter is addressed to me.  While I cannot and will not act on an unsigned letter, I will take steps to forward this letter to the proper officials at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice.  I have also included this letter as an attachment to the testimony I submitted to Special Industry Committee No. 26 and I remain hopeful that both canneries will deny any knowledge of a plan to reduce American Samoa’s production or to increase prices.” 

“In conclusion, I would like to state that I believe workers in American Samoa are the backbone of the U.S. tuna industry.  I also believe that men and women of conscience will agree that businesses are obligated to act not only in the interest of their shareholders but also in the interest of their workers.  I also believe that after 50 years in our Territory, and having exported over $7 billion worth of canned tuna to the U.S., it is time for our canneries to work with us.”

“If the minimum wage cannot be increased, I believe our canneries should subsidize the medical care of their workers.  In any other U.S. location, the tuna industry would be required to provide health care benefits for its employees.  In American Samoa, however, ASG subsidizes the tuna industry by providing health care for sick or injured employees and their families.  In itself, this is a savings of at least $5 million per year to our canneries and it is time for our canneries to return this money to LBJ and assume responsibility for the medical care of its employees.” 

“It is also time for our canneries to increase pensions for our workers and I believe something needs to be said on and in behalf of Samoans who stand for 8 hours a day cleaning fish and after 20 years of service only get a pension of approximately $160 per month.  This is not right and this is simply un-American.”

“For 50 years, the U.S. tuna industry has told us it would leave American Samoa if wages were increased.  Fifty years later, both canneries are with us.  Given that the industry often contradicts itself, I have come to believe that the only thing we may know for certain is that our future with the industry is uncertain.  But I am hopeful that we will settle our differences and work together to protect American Samoa’s tuna industry.” 

“To this end, I support business and the need for business to make a reasonable profit.  To this end, I also support an increase in minimum wage for our cannery workers.  I believe this is what fair trade demands and I am hopeful that this is what men and women of conscience will thoughtfully consider,” the Congressman concluded.