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ASG accommodates part time HAL workers after flight times changed

Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga [SN file photo]
compiled by Samoa News staff

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga has requested ASG entities to assist their employees who work part time for Hawaiian Airlines with their work schedule as the airline has temporarily retimed flights in and out of Pago Pago to Tuesday and Friday mornings.

The change in Hawaiian's flight times went into effect late last month because of repairs needed to be carried out by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to the Instrument Landing System at Pago Pago International Airport. Hawaiian had previously operated on Monday and Thursday nights.

Arrivals and departures in the evening hours have worked well for ASG employees who work part-time for Hawaiian’s local station. But when the flights were retimed, some employees were concerned about not only their ASG jobs, but also losing out on their part time job, which provides additional income for their families.

In a May 4th letter to CEOs and directors of ASG departments, offices and authorities, the governor explained that the “concerns of job security” raised by ASG employees working part time for Hawaiian has prompted the request from the company for “accommodation of this temporary situation, placing these employees in a precarious situation.”

The current flight schedule will tentatively terminate at the end of July.

“While the American Samoa Government is not responsible for the accommodation of employees engaging in second jobs, the change was sudden and it is not permanent,” Lolo explained.

“Accordingly, no policy is in place to address this type of issue hence the latitude is extended to you as leaders of your respective organizations to address this request to ensure compliance with existing personnel rules and regulations,” Lolo wrote.

The governor provided in his letter, the names of 13 ASG employees who work at 9 ASG entities - and work part time for Hawaiian - so directors/CEOs can deal with each employee according to the work schedule and responsibilities.

Lolo asks that he is provided information on what has been worked out with each employee “to ensure that a ‘win-win’ outcome is achieved.”

As reported yesterday in Samoa News, the FAA has installed new antennas for the ILS at the Tafuna airport and flight check is moved from July to this week: May 16-18th.

LAST WEEK FOR DRC, TRANSITION TO SBA DISASTER LOAN OUTREACH CENTER

Pago Pago, AS – May 14, 2018 - The DRC will transition to a U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Outreach Center at the close of business Saturday, May 19.

After May 19, FEMA applicants may still get FEMA help by contacting the following:

  • Call the Helpline at 699-2018
  • Go online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov
  • Call 699-2018 (Voice/711/VRS), and
  • Call 800-462-7585 or 800-855-2880 (TTY/TDD)

All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585(TTY/TDD).

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. 

The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.