StarKist Samoa will be winding down production for the year next week.
The cannery will be closed for two weeks for its usual end of the year maintenance and the more than 2,000 production employees will take a two week vacation for Christmas and New Year.
StarKist spokesperson Michelle Faist says the cannery’s last day of production is December 21st.
During the shutdown, the plant at Satala will undergo major maintenance work to get it operating at full speed when the new year starts.
A few days before the shutdown, Starkist will be distributing cases of wahoo as presents for the workers and their final paychecks for the year.
They will also be encouraged to be back at the plant on the first day of production for 2019 which is scheduled for January 7.
Since more than 80 % of the cannery workers are from Samoa, many head home for the holidays.
Employees are eager to find out if the Lady Naomi will be back in service by that time.
The Samoa Government vessel has been out of service for a couple of months now and the Fotu o Samoa has been plying the inter Samoa route, but it can only take cargo…no passengers allowed.
