A troubling tale

I am taking the initiative to write this letter because I am troubled by the experiences of a dear friend, a contract worker, who lives on Saipan. During nearly two decades of life on Saipan, my friend, a bright, soft-spoken, mild-mannered, humble Filipino woman, has been treated like a second-class citizen in various ways and on an ongoing basis. I should mention that my friend doesn’t know I am writing this letter, has never written or planned to write such a letter as this. In other words, there is no mini-conspiracy going on here, only a troubled friend here in the States who on many occasions, has been angered by treatment that she describes in such a matter-of-fact manner.

And who am I to raise such concerns? I am a Midwesterner, born in Iowa, living in Wisconsin, a country boy and retired professor who cares about civil and human rights both generally and specifically. I’ve never set foot on Saipan soil. My information comes from the Saipan Tribune, the Marianas Variety, the Filipino friend mentioned above, and a small handful of other contract worker friends on Saipan.

Currently my friend does cleaning work for one family, and other odd jobs as she finds them. In her case, (and I would be curious to hear from other contract workers regarding these issues) the $5.05 minimum wage is a joke. My friend currently works about 20 hours per week for an hourly rate that works out to $3.15 per hour. When I’ve asked her about the process to protest such abuse, she tells me that it is a fruitless effort, since no aggressive action at all is taken. Not only that, people in the appropriate Labor office tend to be ill-tempered and bigoted. She casually states that often, she is expected to work extra hours with no extra pay, with no reason given. On none of her jobs has she been given either a morning or afternoon break. Over the years, most of her employers have been longstanding CMNI residents, though she has worked for a variety of folks, including Americans. Due to her experience with this and past employers, she fears retribution for speaking out, so she elects not to. This is not the American way. Oh, not Americans you say? Well that little federalization thing is a pesky little bugger isn’t it?

Generally her experience with employers goes like this: She works very hard, has attention to detail, is on time, and is very responsible. Often, the result is a demand on the part of her employer to do extra work for the same or less pay, which is the current situation. She gives an inch—they take a mile. She is routinely treated in a bigoted and racist fashion in the community generally, in government offices, and in the work place. She tolerates it, as I boil with frustration and anger.

I’ll sum up with a plea and a statement: First, my plea to contract workers. I know you are being abused in one form or another, and I urge you to let these abuses be known in the form of letters such as this one, and to your congressional representative. And to you CMNI residents who employ contract workers: here’s a news flash—contract workers are not inferior to you! They deserve fair treatment and their human and civil rights must be respected and protected. You are not superior beings! I’m amused at the notion that you think you are.