StarKist Samoa is still pressed for cold storage space to support its fish processing and canning operation.
The cannery usually closes for two days over the Thanksgiving Day holiday but this week its shut down for the whole week.
Cannery workers are without paychecks when there’s no work.
And with the holidays coming up, the week long shutdown will affect their holiday spending.
Normally StarKist Samoa shuts down for two weeks in December for the Christmas and New Year holidays and then re-open the first week of January.
But Starkist Senior Manager Corporate Affairs Michelle Faist told KHJ News that StarKist has made the difficult decision to remain closed the first week of January as well.
She said StarKist Samoa continues to experience volatility in its plant operations, and much of the strain is due to limited cold storage space.
She said lack of space “is having a negative impact on our business and our workers.”
Asked about progress in the cannery’s negotiations with ASG for space to put in additional cold storage, Faist said, “At this point, we are continuing to work with the local government to finalize a lease agreement. We are not aware of any issues related to these discussions and hope to come to American Samoa in January to officially sign a lease agreement.”
She added that securing land for freezer space is “necessary in order for us to make the StarKist Samoa plant a more efficient, sustainable operation.”
