StarKist Co. to lay off nearly 400 tuna cannery workers in American Samoa this weekend

Nearly 400 StarKist Co. cannery workers lose jobs

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa — About half of the 800 workers that StarKist Co. plans to lay off at its tuna cannery in American Samoa will lose their jobs this weekend.

StarKist Samoa General Manager Brett Butler told lawmakers in the U.S. territory Thursday that the first phase of layoffs will affect 380 workers on Saturday.

Butler testified before the House Commerce Committee, which called the hearing to learn about the status of the planned layoffs. The Pittsburgh-based company announced in May that it would reduce its work force at the cannery by the end of the year.

StarKist has had to contend with federally mandated minimum wage increases. Butler says other costs are also rising in such areas as utilities and transportation.