Chicken of the Sea’s labor practices falsely attacked

A recent op-ed by Del. Eni Faleomavaega (D-American Samoa) (“The buzz on Bumble Bee,” Jan. 27) contained incorrect information regarding Chicken of the Sea International’s labor practices.  

Chicken of the Sea and our parent company, Thai Union, are equal opportunity and nondiscriminatory employers that treat all of our employees with respect and dignity regardless of race or ethnicity. We are 100 percent committed to operating with integrity, to sustaining high ethical standards and to upholding the human rights of our workers. We are in compliance with every aspect of Thai labor laws and always insist on official government-issued documentation including national ID photo cards, work permits and passports to confirm that all employees are of legal age. We are rigorous in our recruitment selection process and refute the allegation that underage workers are employed in our production plants. We work closely with Thai government agencies and are regularly audited by the Ministry of Labor in Thailand, our multinational customers and independent third parties to ensure compliance. 

{mosads}Thai Union is also a member of the United Nations Global Compact on Labor and the International Labor Organization’s Good Labor Practice Group — we consider ourselves not only to be an example for other companies to follow, but we are actively working to change conditions in our industry in areas not under our direct control.

Further, the accusation that our company is “under investigation for employing 14- to 17-year-old migrants” is simply untrue. There was a report issued in 2013 that incorrectly characterized our corporate position, which was immediately and publicly refuted by our company. 

We are disappointed in these attacks, which are an attempt to shift the focus away from the real issue: opening up competition in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s purchasing program to ensure the availability of tuna on school lunch menus for American children. Chicken of the Sea is proud of the fact that it employs more than 300 employees in our Lyons, Ga., facility and more than 100 employees in our head office in San Diego. Opening up competition will, therefore, not only provide American children the opportunity to eat a healthy and affordable protein as part of their school lunch menus, but it will create more American jobs. Unfortunately, the only losers in this debate are American schoolchildren and workers.

San Diego, Calif. 

Government ‘fairness’ threatens our future

From Patricia Barrett Woodham

I grow increasingly tired of the increase of government and the expense that goes with it, all in the name of “fairness.”

Life is not fair. I tell my 10-year-old and 6-year-old this fact on a regular basis. They roll their eyes at me, but I will continue to drive the point home with them. One day, they will get it. We cannot continue to teach our kids that we are going to make everything fair for them. The lack of fairness in the world gives us a desire to work harder for that win in life. When that win is achieved, it is that much sweeter.  

If we continue this pursuit of fairness, what drive will there be for our children to excel and be better than the standard they are constantly compared to? Not to mention those who want to come to our country — legally, please — to pursue the American Dream. Have we forgotten that the basis and core of the American Dream is capitalism? Capitalism, my friends, is healthy and nurtures strength. Socialism and communism, in theory, are fair. Historically, both have resulted in failure and weakness. History seems to be an inconvenient truth these days. I tell you, fairness does not equal opportunity. 

This “fairness” that politicians from both sides are selling is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, the sole purpose of which is to fundamentally change the America of the past 230 years. The result of a continued path to fairness with be the extermination of the dream.

I was blessed to have grown up when the American Dream was still alive and well. It breaks for my children, who may not. I will do my part to counter the political correctness and weakness they are being taught. I will do my part to let them know that meeting the standard and being average is not success and it is in no way good enough. I will tell them that they should not expect anything and to always want to work harder for more. And I will teach them to continue to fight for the dream with their words, their actions and someday their votes.
Canton, Ga.

Insurance companies shouldn’t get a bailout

From Sean Moran

We have seen that one bailout after another has cost Americans dearly.

I want to express my opposition to any bailout of insurance companies by the president, his administration or Congress.

If ObamaCare is the great program they claim it to be, then no subsidy is needed. If it is a failure, we should let it fail on its own.

The insurance companies lobbied for this law, so if they lose money on it, that is their problem. They should suffer the loss, not us.

Herndon, Va.