Preps for class suit vs bond underway

More than 50 people participated in the meeting held last Sept. 13 at the American Memorial Park in relation to the planned class action lawsuit to pursue collection of unpaid administrative orders.

Saturday’s meeting was a follow up to a previous one where it was decided that a lawsuit is the best course of action for alien workers who have been awarded damages for unpaid wages but have yet to collect these monies.

There were Filipinos, Bangladeshis and Chinese in attendance at the meeting. Lawyer Robert Myers Jr. and United Workers Movement, NMI represented by Irene Tantiado, Rabby Syed and Ronnie Doca organized the meeting.

The highlights of the discussion were:

a) Reiteration of cutoff for submission of copies of administrative orders, which is Sept. 30.

b) Interested parties should sign a lawyer/client agreement and pay their share of the filing fee and documentation of $12. Copies of the agreement were distributed during the meeting. Copies of the agreement in English and Chinese versions are also available at the front desk of Summer Holiday Hotel in Garapan or from Irene. Official receipts are issued for the $12 payment.

c) Off-island or those leaving the island can still join but are required to provide a notarized power of attorney.

d) To make sure that the unpaid administrative orders are issued within six years.

e) United Workers Movement will write a letter to the CNMI Department of Labor under the Freedom of Information Act to secure copies of surety bonds for people joining the class suit. Because of this, we are requesting interested parties to sign and submit copies of their administrative orders as early as possible.

f) Workers owed damages or unpaid wages may join regardless of whether the employer still exists or not. For those whose employers are already gone, they should be covered by the surety bond.

“This is the first time that a class action will be filed to pursue unpaid wages. We are asking everyone who are holding an unpaid administrative order to join,” said Tantiado.

Workers who are awarded damages for unpaid wages are supposed to collect these from their employers or the bonding companies. However, the Labor Department has refused to enforce its administrative orders, saying that workers should pursue these claims in small claims court.

For questions, email Tantiado at irenebdi@yahoo.com or text at 2857717. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]