Making it harder for US citizen workers

The recent takeover has affected how qualified and available U.S. workers compete for jobs. It has made it harder and placed them in a more disadvantaged position than they were in the past. While the takeover presents benefits, there are others that suffered as result. Yes, I am talking about the effects it has had on qualified and available U.S. workers to compete and fill jobs in which they are qualified. While it provides a positive effect on wages, the recruitment of primary preference workers has gone haywire, with many employers confused or have their own interpretation of what they believe the final rule requires.

Let’s look at the job advertisements. During local control, the O-NET was used to ensure that duties, responsibilities, education, training, abilities and knowledge of the job are fair and provide equitable and accessible competition for qualified U.S. citizens, CNMI permanent residents, U.S. permanent residents and others who are qualified. Now, employers are advertising requirements that are selective and make it even harder for U.S workers. Employers are inflating job qualifications. Front desk clerk requiring three-years’ experience, AA degree for a clerk, and other selective factors, just to mention a few.

How about the era of no job openings? I remember dealing with this many years ago. One of the biggest complaints U.S. workers had then was being told that there is no job opening when or during the advertisement period. This has come back and U.S. workers are starting to believe that there is nothing that they c[B][/B]an do about it.

These workers are left with no avenue for an appeal of their concerns and are considered before a work visa for a foreign national is considered. While people have the idea that they can report fraud to the FBI—perhaps this is what Mr. Gullick was referring to—they just don’t know where to go for assistance in situations mentioned above. The Labor ombudsman won’t do it, nor the U.S. Department of Labor. So where do they go at this level to be heard? U.S workers are screaming for help at this time. They are left further behind in the system.

I encourage all U.S. workers to call the CNMI Department of Labor if anyone of you believes that your primary preference has been violated. I am sure that they will be happy to assist and guide you appropriately.