Dear Editor

A few years ago, around 14,000 signatures were taken to President Obama requesting the delay of the minimum wage increases. All of the signatories knew the sacrifices of a lot of workers and their families in stopping the increases, but many of them signed the petition anyway. 

My wife and I, with a group of volunteers, collected a lot of signatures from cannery workers and government workers. I personally don’t regret what we did. At the time, one cannery was ready to leave, and StarKist Samoa was threatening to leave if the minimum wages were increased. In our view, if the two canneries left, it would have a devastating impact to our economy. And now, one year from now, by September 2015, another increase has been scheduled to happen. 

Are we going to fight it?  Or are we going to let it happen? This is the question. 

The Governor, the Lt. Governor, cabinet members, the Fono in general are looking for huge increases in pay for themselves. In other words, the big shot leaders and cultural chiefs of the island, agree that the cost of living has risen, and they need more money to live. Does this mean that the cost of living is up for them and only them?  What about the rest of the workers in the territory? Are they going to get the wages increased for all of us in September no matter what?  Or are they going to ask for the worker’s wages to be kept at the current rate, while they take pay raises for themselves?

There is no question that the cost of living has gone up for everyone. Who remembers when gas was only $1.95 a gallon? A 5# Chicken box was only $2.50?

Are our leaders ready to recognize this increase in the cost of living and allow all wages to go up? By asking for increases for themselves, they are eliminating any excuse to not do this for everyone else.

We know that there will be consequences. Good for the government workers, and bad for the canneries and some of the workers in the private sector and other workers that will lose their jobs.

Are we ready for this? It will be very interesting to know the opinions of those that are this year's candidates for the Fono and candidates for Congress. 

We want to know this before Election Day, since they will have to deal with these issues.  It is best to let us know now — so there are no excuses later.

Carlos M. Sanchez

A voter

(Editor’s Note: In my Gong Show 6, published last week Friday in Samoa News, I did not mention the minimum wage that is due to increase next year in September. My error. It is indeed one of the most serious barriers to our economic survival here in the territory. Many of us, employers, have continued to battle rising costs from off-island and on-island, i.e. electricity, water rates, supplies, etc. trying to keep our workers employed at a reasonable pay scale, and keep our doors open, while delivering affordable and quality services and goods. With the next increase, we are looking at having to lay off some of our workers to survive — that is a fact. We have nowhere else to turn. If the raises the directors, the governor and lt. gov., and lawmakers are asking for happen, it is obvious that we need to start doing some serious changes — including making our vote count this November, and again 2 years from now! ra)