Democrats and Big Tuna Update

Via email:

As the Washington Times reports today, the Senate has taken up a minimum wage package that, like the House bill, exempts American Samoa from the increase. It's Representative in Congress, has argued strenuously against applying the wage, stating that it would devastate the local economy.

If this is the case for American Samoa , could it not also be the case in hundreds of diverse local economies across the country?

According to Rep. Faleomavaega, a "decrease in production or departure of one or both of the two canneries in American Samoa could devastate the local economy, resulting in massive layoffs and insurmountable financial difficulties...The truth is the global tuna industry is so competitive that it is no longer possible for the federal government to demand mainland minimum-wage rates for American Samoa without causing the collapse of our economy and making us welfare wards of the federal government."

It also appears as though Rep. Faleomavaega's position on the issue has changed of late. A fish-flop? In his own words:

"I have never understood why a corporation that pays fish cleaners in Puerto Rico $7.00 per hour seems to think when it gets down here that a Samoan is only worth $3 per hour. I do not subscribe to pseudo economics that say this is the way it must be. I rather subscribe to the gospel that a Samoan is entitled to the same pay from the same corporation if he does the same work as any man or woman born in any other part of America ."

"...what has American Samoa gotten out of its 45 year relationship with the tuna industry?"

"I ask again, should the wages of any fish cleaner in the world be suppressed to pay for corporate competition? Should wages be suppressed to pay the former CEO of Heinz $65 million a year? Should wages be suppressed by a company that generates $9.4 billion in annual sales? It is naïve to assume that a company that generates $9.4 billion in sales is operating so close to the edge that it cannot afford to raise the wages of workers in American Samoa."

No Minimum Wage Increase, but give us a vote.

Democrats already hold a 233-202 majority in the House of Representatives, and of the five Delegates and Non-Members serving in the House, four are Democrats. More than a decade ago, numerous editorials around the country opposed this Democrat rule change. Should Delegates from territories that are exempt from U.S. laws really have the privilege of imposing new laws to the rest of us?

It would appear odd that Speaker Pelosi and Reps. Miller and Faleomavaega would exempt American Samoa from their minimum wage package for all States and the Northern Mariana islands, especially given its low wages and cases of human rights abuses:

Recent case of abuse and forced labor in American Samoa:

Just weeks ago, on December 28th, 2006: The 9th Circuit confirmed that extortion and civil rights violations were, in fact, taking place in American Samoa. [Link]

On a garment sweatshop in American Samoa:

"Once the workers sign up, recruiters place them in various sites. The workers exported to American Samoa , which is a U.S. territory, lived and worked at Daewoosa. The net pay usually averaged out to $1.17 per hour if they were paid at all, Le said. The workers who rioted told Le they had not been paid for three months."

Human Rights Study on American Samoa Labor Conditions:

"A Christian missionary witnessed the abuse at Daewoosa first-hand: "Upon arriving at Daewoosa, we observed three or four girls sitting immediately inside the security gate. The Korean guards began kicking and hitting the girls. About five minutes later, approximately thirty Vietnamese girls came to the gate crying and begging for help. Many of the young women were scratched, bruised, and bloody. When I asked what was going on, the guards started hitting the girls again."

Still Working on it?

Speaker Pelosi, earlier this month: "I have asked the education and labor committee as they go forward with the legislation to make sure that all of the territories have to comply with U.S. law on the minimum wage."

Something still smells fishy in Washington DC...