McClatchy: Once shielded, Northern Marianas Islands included in minimum-wage increases

[Pirate Smile]

Once shielded, Northern Marianas Islands included in minimum-wage increases

By David Whitney
McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON - A week after they took control of Congress, the Democrats are already dismantling the work of disgraced and convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, beginning on the far side of the Pacific Ocean.

On Wednesday, when the House of Representatives voted to raise the minimum wage, it also extended that increase to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, where the minimum wage has been $3.05 for a decade, thanks in part to Abramoff's efforts to keep it there. Separately, a Senate committee has begun asking questions about immigration policy in the Northern Marianas, which critics charge have long been a haven for garment industry sweatshops.

Low wages and easy immigration to the Northern Marianas from China, the Philippines and elsewhere drew cheap labor for foreign-owned factories. They were allowed to sell their low-cost clothing, shoes and other products with "Made in the U.S.A." labels duty-free in the United States.

"Workers in the Northern Marianas have suffered for years without decent workplace standards," said Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., the new chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee and a leader of the move to raise wages and tighten immigration rules in the islands.

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/16456707.htm

[RamboLiberal]

1. So what's the story on American Samoa

I understand they were excluded and the Repukes are attacking Pelosi over it claiming she's beholden to Star Kist? Dems need to make sure all American Territories are included IMHO.

I applaud the Mariannas.

[Pirate Smile]

2. Here is a good diary on that issue:

Understanding the GOP Shitstorm Over American Samoa
by dday

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/1/12/192142/663

[Pirate Smile]

7. I found another article in The Hill with some more info.

Dems feel heat on wage bill, but GOP gripes are misleading
By Susan Crabtree

Efforts to bring the U.S. territory in the Northern Mariana islands under federal minimum wage law is creating political headaches for House Democrats because the U.S. has long held American Samoa to a different wage standard.

House Republicans are making plenty of political hay over the disparity between the two territories’ wage policies, lambasting Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Education and Labor Chairman George Miller (D-Calif.) for "exempting" American Samoa from their minimum wage bill and claiming that they’re being motivated by the fact that Del Monte’s headquarters are located in Pelosi’s district. Del Monte owns StarKist Tuna, which owns one of two packing plants in Samoa that together employ a large portion of the islands workers.

But the disparity between American Samoa and the Northern Mariana islands’ wage policies is nothing new, and the Democrats’ minimum wage bill does not mention American Samoa in any way.

While the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) has been exempt from any federal minimum wage standards – an exemption that former Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) and disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff worked for years to protect – Samoa has operated under federal minimum wage laws for years.

Samoa, however, has a federal wage review board in place that allows it to evaluate the effect incremental increases in its minimum wages would have on the territory’s economy. This wage review board, made up of representatives in Samoa’s business and public sector who are appointed by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor, has set Samoa’s wages and has managed to keep them well below the mainland U.S. minimum wage.

http://hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/011107/wagebill.html

[WatchWhatISay]

3. Why does this report continue referring to it as the House Education and Workforce Committee?

The Dems have gotten rid of that Orwellian name and returned it to its previous name "Committee on Education and Labor"



http://edworkforce.house.gov/

[brentspeak]

4. Next step: prohibit Saipan-manufactured stuff from having the "Made in the USA" tag

[w4rma]

5. That is huge news. Very very good! (nt)

[anotherdrew]

6. sounds good but are these places going to pay the higher wage or just fire everyone? n/t

[tbyg52]

8. If they fired everyone,

the new people would still have to be paid at least minimum wage. Unless they just cease business there and move elsewhere, which is the trend nowadays any time workers are required to be treated as other than cogs in the machine....

[SoCalDem]

9. Those companies will just relocate to Myanmar or some other

shit hole where they can pay less.. the th epress will play up the fact the "democrats put a whole island out of work".

[Judi Lynn]

10. Wonderful, wonderful news. Until now, it appeared the right-wing thugs had it all under control.

We've read about this for years, and years. Tom DeLay made trip after trip there.

I hope Rep. Doolittle's career can be adversely marked by his association with this fiendish bit of greed gone wild. From the article:

Blocking efforts to raise the minimum wage and tighten immigration restrictions in the islands was a priority of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, who once called the Northern Marianas a "perfect petri dish of capitalism."

Doolittle, a lieutenant of DeLay, helped Abramoff renew a $100,000-a-month lobbying contract, then met regularly with his lobbying team to find ways to block changes and steer more money to the islands.

Some of the activities Abramoff was involved in were elements in criminal plea agreements by him and some of his associates. The criminal investigation is still under way, and Doolittle has spent more than $100,000 of campaign money on lawyers to, as he puts it, "clear my name."
Asked whether the overwhelming vote - 82 Republicans joined the 233 House Democrats to pass the bill by a 315-116 margin - could be laid to the controversy over Abramoff, Doolittle replied, "It certainly didn't help."
(snip/...)

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/16456707.htm



DeLay, and Doolittle.