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Chamber of Commerce members not directly affected by wage hikes but worried about canneries
Tuesday,
June 5, 2007
Members of the business community who attended a special meeting of the Chamber of Commerce today said that they would not be directly affected by the minimum wage increase but they will be impacted indirectly if the canneries were to reduce operations. Chamber secretary Jason Thomas said most of the businesses represented are paying more than the minimum age in their industries. He said there was a genuine concern about the future of the canneries but local businesses cannot cement their plans to offset the impact of the wage hikes without knowing the canneries plans. Everyone is trying to figure what Star Kist and Samoa Packing's plans are said Thomas.
Members also felt that the federal wage legislation is the result of politics and as such it is really the government, which must shoulder the responsibility of helping cushion the effects of what has developed. He said the chamber is committed to assisting the government. Thomas pointed out that chamber members also recognize that the territory cannot continue to focus solely on the canneries and there’s a desperate need to move past the talking stage of diversifying the economy. The chamber is incorporating the views expressed at today’s meeting for a position paper to be presented to Governor Togiola.
Attending the chamber meeting today was Malcolm McPhee, whose company is conducting the canneries closure economic impact study.
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