|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Top Stories |
|
|
|
|
First day of petition to repeal federal wage law
Wednesday,
July 1, 2009
A petition asking President Barack Obama to repeal the federal law setting local minimum wages and return the process of setting wage rates to Special Industry Committee will begin circulating today.
Spearheaded by the Chamber of Commerce, the petition will be distributed to businesses, churches, villages and government agencies.
The petition reads: signatories to this petition maintain that it is inappropriate and unrealistic to apply UIS mainland wage standards to American Samoa’s small, isolated economy and petition the President of the United States to take action to reverse the increases mandated by the PL 10-28 leaving only the initial 50- cent per hour increase and reinstate the Special Industry Committee process for determining minimum wages in the territory.
According to the petition, "passage of the wage law prompted immediate public outcry with predictions of the total collapse of the local economic. It was feared that the tuna canneries, the basis of the economy would leave or downsize, thus leaving other businesses and government unable to maintain their present employment levels. These predictions have now come to pass. One cannery is in the process of leaving this fall and the second has already downsized by about 20%.
"This single industry meltdown has caused havoc with the business community and many businesses are facing possible downsizing or closure. The government is facing severe financial shortfall as tax revenues decrease and it is now predicted that as many as 7,5000 people will lose their jobs this year."
Chamber of Commerce President David Robinson is appealing to the public to please sign the petition in order to save the territory from economic collapse. He said, "we want to collect as many signatures as possible and have the document ready for Governor Togiola to personally present to President Obama in the first week of August."
He said the Department of Commerce, Office of Samoan Affairs and church organizations will help members of the chamber collect signatures.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Advertise! |
|
|
|
Advertise! |
|
|
|
(c) 2006 - South Seas Broadcasting, Inc. - All rights reserved.
Contact Us
|
|
 Wireless Access
 RSS Feeds
|
|
|
