29 Dec 2008

Canneries in American Samoa wrap up work for 2008

6:41 am on 29 December 2008

More than 3,000 employees of the two largest private employers in American Samoa, tuna canners Samoa Packing and Star Kist Samoa have wrapped up their work for 2008.

The cannery workers are now on their annual holiday break.

Both canneries will carry out maintenance work during the three week shutdown.

Star Kist is releasing 20 salaried employees and is discontinuing nearly all benefits for hourly employees after December 31.

Star Kist, has cited federally mandated hikes in the local minimum wage as one of the reasons for the cutbacks.

Samoa Packing, the smaller of the two canneries is not contemplating any cut backs at this time.