American Samoa’s labor problems

The reported beatings of foreign workers in Åmerican Samoa’s garment factory recently made headlines.

The governor of the territory denies the allegations. If anything, it’s too late to employ damage control once the cat is out of the bag, so to speak.

The Korean-owned factory employs over 200 foreign workers. The complaint of workers can’t be all wrong.

The dedicated Spy Squad the likes of Allen Stayman and David North are no longer with Interior. But someone has kept an eye on events unfolding in US territories.

Perhaps a trip to that South Pacific Islands by Congressman George Miller and cabal to probe the alleged beatings ought to shed some light on the authenticity of the allegations. It’s what I call “equal application” of laws regardless of the camaraderie he may have established with American Samoa’s non-voting delegate in Congress.

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How could anyone in his right mind beat up young women working for the garment factory in American Samoa?

Workers don’t simply concoct self-serving complaints about working conditions, food and lodging.

In the first place, there’s the right to assemble and seek justice from their employer in whatever legitimate grievances they may have to settle. It is a right on the flip side of the contractual agreement for employment.

This business of beating employees into submission isn’t going to work. American Samoa is a democratic territory. Who says that dealing with justice is an easy task. Aggrieved employees will keep at it–registering their complaints–for as long as the issue isn’t resolved by management.

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When revenue slides substantially while the need for more public funds spirals upwards, city hall muar buckle down so to reduce all unnecessary expenses.

Who says that a secretary to a department secretary or board members and commissions should be cruising around in Maximas and Camrys? Hello? Anybody home?

Need the CNMI fall flat on its face, financially, before realistic austerity measures are implemented Marianas-wide?

The fiesta or picnic attitude no longer can be blindly accommodated n perpetuity. Reason? The business sector is struggling hard in the sea of hardship trying to make ends meet.

Furthermore, umpteen number of jobless indigenous people have gone up against their pride to line up at the food stamps office. I wouldn’t be surprised if in a short while, most banks here won’t cash government checks, di ba?

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On the lighter side: I asked Duñg how has he been able to put on weighed. Said he: “Dieting, Chamorro style, sideways, braddah!”

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I met my old buddy unloading trash at Puerto Rico Dump. He looked at me, flashed a huge smile, then remarked:

“Eh, JR, this place is even taller than the buildings around it, yeah? It even blocks that once grand view of Managaha Island”.

“Yeah, braddah, it’s that perfect prescription in what we know of as ‘progress'”. We both had a good laugh as flies bump into our faces as to force a quick exit.

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Maria was miffed as she reads the story on rape cases parading into Superior Court. “Gee, is there a medicine to reduce these guys’ juvenile sexual drive?” I wasn’t about to volunteer and answer either. She lets it rip without commas and periods. Seesuss!

Strictly a personal view. John S. DelRosario Jr. is publisher of Saipan Tribune.