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Congressman criticized for wage woes
Monday,
April 28, 2008
Congressman Faleomavaega was heavily criticized in the Senate today for not standing together with the governor and the Fono on the minimum wage issue.
On the first day of the Special Fono session Senator Alo Stevenson said media statements by Congressman Faleomavaega were irresponsible and he blamed the congressman for the predicament that the territory is in with regards to the next 50 cent increase due to go into effect next month. Alo said his constituents are employed by the two canneries and he’s worried about what would happen to them because of the next wage hike. He said the congressman couldn’t save their jobs, or stop losses to the business community if the canneries were to close. He charged that Faleomavaega's irresponsible statements as reported in today’s newspaper were very dangerous for this community. Faleomavaega said that had the canneries made incremental wage increases it would not be in the position it is in now.
He also noted that the two lawmakers in charge of the committees reviewing the federal wage law have determined that they cannot hold off further minimum wage increases at this time. This is because the canneries have not cooperated with requests for information about their operations. Senator Alo’s criticism of the congressman came during discussion of a Senate Concurrent Resolution appealing to Senator Edward Kennedy and Rep George Miller not to go forward with the next 50-cent increase. Senate President Lolo Moliga said while the resolution is non binding it will convey the grave concerns of lawmakers of the severe impact on the economy if the increase is implemented. The resolution points out that executives from the two canneries have stated that they cannot maintain the current workforce if the annual automatic increases continue.
One cannery plans to offset the wage increase by curtailing discretionary employee benefits such as pay differentials for night shift employees, restriction of training opportunities and lowering of year end bonuses and employee pension plans. Senator Pulefaasisina Tuiasosopo said the resolution needs to be strengthened and concrete data must be included rater than general information. Senator Liufau Sonoma came out strongly in support of sending a delegation to Washington to personally convey the territory’s concerns. He said there have been several resolutions on the minimum wage and they have not worked. Senators Tuitele Fofo Tuitele and Tuiagamoa Tavai took the view that the canneries must be more forthcoming. They also said that employees deserve fair wages for their work. The Senate has passed the resolution. The House introduced its own version of the minimum wage resolution to be sent to Congress.
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