Minimum Wage

June 30, 2008 The Saipan Tribune reports that the wage study bill for the CNMI and American Samoa is headed for a signature by President Bush. The Fitial Administration hails the proposed economic study viewing it as a way to stall future minimum wage increases: “The Governor believes that federal minimum wage policies should be objective and data-driven, not based on political ideology or partisan considerations. We support careful wage studies for both the CNMI and American Samoa, and we... Read Full Story

February 26, 2008 Posted by Wendy L. Doromal Bravo! The Marianas Variety reported that Senator Maria T. Pangelinan D-Saipan submitted written testimony to today's U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Hearing supporting the incremental minimum wage increases. She is quoted as saying, "...all workers deserve to be paid adequately." The story states: “I support the current law as enacted, mandating incremental increases in the minimum wage of the CNMI. I oppose any... Read Full Story

February 9, 2008 Chamberonomics XXXIII...who are the bad guys? We have now confirmed at least three groups are bent on keeping our third world wage structure and dooming a generation of local island youth to servitude and poverty - the Chamber, HANMI, and the Fitial administration. We have two groups that have not formally stated their position, the TaoTao Tano, and the 16th Legislature. The Saipan Chamber of Commerce opposes raising the minimum wage here. Voting in the chamber is a... Read Full Story

Written Testimony of Representative Tina Sablan 16th Commonwealth Legislature Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Submitted to the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources March 5, 2008 Dear Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, Thank you for the opportunity to submit this testimony on the impact of federally-mandated minimum wage increases on the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. I am a member of the House of Representatives in the 16th... Read Full Story

March 1, 2008 Submitted by Ron Hodges A conspiracy broke last week in the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands involving a Catholic sister being strong armed by business interests on Saipan. I am not sure if it was the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, HANMI, or the Fitial administration (all have been lobbying in D.C. recently). One accused conspirator was Sister Stella Mangona. Sister Stella would be the most credible person on Saipan to testify about anything. This extraordinary... Read Full Story