Minimum-Wage Hike May Reach to Samoa

Washington Post ^ | 1/13/07 | Jonathan Weisman

[conservative in nyc]

For what it's worth, here's a little more information on Pelosi's backtracking than was mentioned in the thread currently in breaking news.

[Peach]

"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," Pelosi announced yesterday.

Isn't this just parsing? Samoa will have to comply with US law and US law already exempts Samoa. So what's changing?

[conservative in nyc]

I thought that too. But the next sentence says that "the committee would be asked to work toward having all territories use the same wage standard" - which seems to indicate that Pelosi will ask that America Samoa's minimum wage be raised to be equal to the rest of the country.

[Peach]

Oh, you're right. Maybe the Committee will work toward that but in what timeframe, I wonder.

[Gunslingr3]

[mosesdapoet]

The Washington Post source for their rewritten and heavily edited revelation was the Saipan Tribune which questioned the pass given to the brand Star Kissed Tuna who's headquarters is located in San Francisco Pelosi's district. The Saipan Trib did not attribute Jack Abranoff the convicted lobbiest but a local Dem Rep as the local source. The Saipan Tribune article also stated that the hourly rate was $3.57 not $5.50. I have the original Saipan article linked into the head of my encap story in my website http://www.theusmat.com/

[KingKenrod]

The point has been made - Democrats are hypocrites and the minimum wage DOES cause people to lose their jobs and businesses to offshore employees. It's crystal clear.

I hope American Samoa continues to be exempt. We don't WANT American Samoa to be forced to pay workers a minimum of $7.15 and hour. That's more than double what they get paid now and Delmonte will almost certainly move those jobs to Asia.

[Experiment 6-2-6]

This will devastate the economy of American Samoa. Since Samoa is only 85 miles to the West, American Samoa has imported in laborers to do all the work. The canneries employ a large percentage of Samoans, and most American Samoans are employed by the Government (the largest employer). If cheap labor will no longer be available to American Samoa, this island chain will become an indian reservation, pure and simple..

[airborne]

Starkist, Pelosi and all the Dems who are getting contributions on the backs of Samoan workers are deeply saddened.

[Iconoclast2]

And then they'll hate the Republicans for doing it. This is really childish, stupid and counterproductive behavior for Republican politicians. They ought to be defending a State's rights position on this one.

[linn37]

America Somoa is not a state? If they want to hate,let em hate on Del Monte. I bet Del Monte has made billions off cheap labor.

[coconutt2000]

Ack... Cost of living here is really low, which fits the minimum wage here fine.

Once the wages are changed, the economy here is going to crash - and the 50 states are going to have to deal with a mass exodus of Samoans from Samoa. Many of whom will become welfare recipients as soon as they step off the plane.

If wage rates are increased, there will be no incentive for investment in American Samoa. The canneries will leave, no new investment will come to Samoa, and private, non-government jobs will dry up as businesses close up.

[upchuck]

Sounds like maybe it's time to stock up on tuna.

Then when the price goes up 50% I sell my stash on E-bay :)

[Experiment 6-2-6]

Once the wages are changed, the economy here is going to crash - and the 50 states are going to have to deal with a mass exodus of Samoans from Samoa. Many of whom will become welfare recipients as soon as they step off the plane.

Nope. Just Hawaii..

[Experiment 6-2-6]

Well, on second thought, maybe California too..

[VeniVidiVici]

For years, Republicans -- with the help of convicted lobbyist Jack A. Abramoff -- have fended off efforts to bring the islands under federal labor laws.

So-called journalists. You gotta love the hate.

Sounds to me that given the economy of the islands the Republicans and that Evil Jack Abramoff were right to fend off the minimum wage.

Curses on the Demonrats for destroying the economies there!

[conservative in nyc]

KingKenrod said it best - raising the minimum wage is usually a terrible idea. Doubling the minimum wage in American Samoa would be a disaster that would show precisely why raising the minimum wage is usually a terrible idea. And this whole issue shows the Democrats hypocrisy in harming the CNMI while exempting American Samoa.

[ChurtleDawg]

that is why we need high tariffs and tax penalties for companies who offshore jobs

I don't want to be paid less than minimum wage and I don't want to compete with third world workers who have a cost of living a fraction of what i do

[Sunsong]

*may* seems to be the operative word here. We need to keep a watchful eye on this!

[Sunsong]

If wage rates are increased, there will be no incentive for investment in American Samoa. The canneries will leave, no new investment will come to Samoa, and private, non-government jobs will dry up as businesses close up.

Talk to Pelosi and the dems - they're the ones who want to force a minimum wage hike down business' throat.