Flashback – June 2006-June 2008

June 9, 2006

‘No room for displaced govt workers’

Rather than realize some savings, the government’s planned termination of employees may prove more costly as it would result in increased unemployment, less purchases, and less revenues for the public sector. To begin with, the business sector has no capacity to accommodate displaced government employees at this time, said Saipan Chamber of Commerce president Charles V. Cepeda in an interview yesterday. “We are not prepared to accommodate these government workers,” said Cepeda. “To do that is tantamount to sending the nonresident workers home. But we can’t just get rid of nonresident workers. We have contract agreements and to do otherwise would mean lawsuits,” said Cepeda. This developed as the Executive Branch is poised to hand down termination letters to excepted government employees today as a cost-cutting measure.

Biz sector says no to Miller bill

Leaders of the local business community have expressed strong opposition to the new minimum wage and immigration takeover bill that California Democrat Rep. George Miller introduced in Congress, describing the measure as “highly politically charged” and exaggerated. Charles V. Cepeda, president of Saipan Chamber of Commerce, said that any push for a minimum wage increase at this time “is detrimental to the economy.” Lynn Knight, chair of the Hotel Association of Northern Mariana Islands, said Miller’s bill causes “uncertainty and a political distraction we don’t need right now.” “I have not seen the bill, but based on media reports, what the congressman said is largely old, sensationalized issues rehashed. Once again, I’m sad to see the CNMI become a scapegoat in American politics,” said Knight.

June  9, 2007

More cuts eyed in workers’ benefits

The Department of Labor is also considering a policy that will allow employers to reduce the workers’ benefits on transportation, power, gas, and water. Assistant attorney general Dorothy Hill, who serves as Labor counsel, said other workers’ benefits that may be deducted include the value of transportation to and from work, electricity, gas, and water furnished to the employee for personal use. Hill made the recommendations to Attorney General Matthew Gregory and Labor Secretary Gil M. San Nicolas due to the impending wage hike.

Chamber fears filing of more frivolous cases

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce believes that foreign workers are filing frivolous complaints against their employers to keep their status in the CNMI and possibly qualify for federalization. This even as the business group expressed exasperation with the federal government over “green card” talks for guest workers. “Continued talk from federal officials with respect to ‘green cards’ for nonresident workers is creating an untenable situation. Workers are filing frivolous labor claims in the hopes that they will be able to outrun the clock and be here when any such program is put in place,” said Chamber president Juan T. Guerrero in his remarks during a meeting with Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne this week on Saipan.

June 9, 2008

‘CUC just doing full cost recovery’

Commonwealth Utilities Corp. executive director Antonio Muna said that, except for the Fitial administration, no other administration had the courage to actually implement 100 percent cost recovery for utilities. Referring to the newly increased electric rates, Muna said the Fitial administration is focused on fully resolving CUC’s problems and is the first one to go with full cost recovery.

Increased demand for US passports seen

The Honolulu Passport Agency has urged U.S. nationals and citizens hoping to travel abroad next year to apply for passports now. Nancy K. Finn, regional director of the Passport Agency, said the amount of time required to obtain a passport is expected to increase significantly. The U.S. Department of State expects to issue over 21 million passports in 2008 and 30 million in 2009. “We want to encourage U.S. nationals and citizens to apply for their passports now, rather than waiting until they have an emergency, or until next spring when we expect that we will again be extremely busy,” Finn said.