Minority bloc demands Towai’s reinstatement

The House minority bloc demanded yesterday the reinstatement of a Legislative Bureau employee who was terminated while doing military service in Iraq.

U.S. Army Reserve member Peter O. Towai was working as an administrative assistant at the Legislative Bureau when he was called to active duty in August 2004. He is due to come home in early 2006.

Towai’s employment contract with the Legislative Bureau expired on Sept. 30, 2005.

Four days before that, acting bureau director George N. Camacho issued a notice that Towai’s contract would not be renewed.

“This is in part to staff reassignments, budgetary constraints and operational needs. Therefore, your position has been deemed redundant,” Camacho said in a Sept. 26, 2005 letter to Towai.

The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act protects the employment rights of military servicemen. According to USERRA, individuals who voluntarily or involuntarily leave employment position to serve in the military have the right to be reemployed, provided that they have 5 years or less of cumulative service in the military while with a particular employer; they return to work or apply for reemployment immediately after their tour of duty ends; their employer receives advance written or verbal notice of their service; and they have not been separated from service with a disqualifying discharge or under other honorable conditions.

House minority spokesperson Ramon Tebuteb said yesterday that his group was appalled by the Legislative Bureau’s action.

“Although the Legislative Bureau is supposed to be neutral, we are demanding the House leadership to reinstate Peter Towai now. His job is protected by federal law,” Tebuteb said. “This news is heartbreaking, especially since we just buried two of our soldiers. The morale of our men in Iraq will surely be affected.”

On Nov. 10, 2005, Sen. Pete Reyes also wrote Camacho regarding the non-renewal of Towai’s contract.

“I must admit I am shocked and saddened regarding this unfortunate decision. I strongly urge you to reconsider the Legislative Bureau’s position,” Reyes said.

He said he would seek assistance from the U.S. Departments of Defense, Labor, and Justice, if necessary, to protest Towai’s termination. “Notwithstanding the legalities, common sense dictates that this is not how we show our appreciation to those who are called to active duty,” he said.