Write to Congress! Hear What Some of the Guest Workers Wrote

The above is the text of a letter from a U.S. citizen child written
in December 2007

Posted by Wendy L. Doromal

January 3, 2008

The Congress convenes January 22, 2008, and I will be hand-delivering the letters we collected from the guest workers, their U.S. citizen children, and their supporters. There is still time for guest workers and their children to write letters to leaders that detail their experiences in the CNMI. Some guest workers have asked what they should include in their letters. Here are some suggestions of what to cover.

Relate your personal experiences in the CNMI including:
*Recruitment expenses and how you got the money to pay them;
*Why you selected the CNMI as the place to work abroad;
*How many years you have been working here;
*Work and life experiences;
*Contributions to community (volunteer work);
*Children's experiences including schooling, health care etc;
*What will happen to your family if you return to your homeland;
*Why you support status for long-term guest workers;
*Thank you to officials for their concern and support.

Letters can be emailed to Wendy L. Doromal at doromal@earthlink.net. They will be hand-delivered to the Senate and leaders in Washington, D.C. later this month.

Here are some more excerpts from the letters that were collected in December 2007

Governor Fitial describes the federalization bills in the U.S. Congress as "devastating" and so with most of the politicians here in the CNMI. Every time there is a threat to federalize the CNMI, the local government passes new labor and immigration laws that are onerous, and very anti-nonresident worker. This time Public Law 15-108 will take effect January 2008. This law was criticized by so many people including lawyers as being anti non-resident worker and anti-business, as well.

I have stayed in the CNMI for 10 whole years legally.

The Congress of the United States, we need your help! The Covenant says you can federalize the CNMI. Please help the long-time non-resident workers so that our status can be improved.
______________________________
I am an Indian contract worker. I came to Saipan in February 1995 as a security guard of Benavente Security Agency and the company did not pay me for 900 working hours. I submitted a case against my employer, but he declared bankruptcy so I cannot get any money. I am suffering until now. After that I got a job with another company, but then that company closed. I had a heart attack while working at that company and had treatment in the Philippines, open heart surgery. After that I came back to Saipan but my company never help me so I have no medicine, no food, no money, no sleep.
____________________________
I came to Saipan in 1997 and have been a total of 10 years in Saipan with my family. In 2006 I was elected President of the United Filipino Organization (UFO)an umbrella organization of 25 Filipino organizations. As a leader, our goal is to help and support the community, maintain the cleanliness and preserve the beautiful island of Saipan. We want to show to the people of Saipan that we (alien workers) are no a burden on this island and this is one way of saying thank you for giving us the opportunity to work and stay here.

We started our community services by picking up trash along the road and pathways, cleaning of drainage, cutting big trees that blocked bridges due to typhoons, cleaning of Lao-Lao Bay, planting baby coconuts along the beachside to prevent erosion, and recycling of plastic bottles and cans at the 2006 Micronesian Games. We also accomplished cleaning and painting of the Susupe basketball court for the Street Basketball Jam, cleaning and arranging the American Red Cross Warehouse, cleaning and repainting the Chamber's "Welcome and Adios" sign posted at airport road. We do fundraising to support and help the manamko", American Red Cross for tsunami victims in Indonesia, and for Karidat. We served as volunteers for the American Red Cross during typhoon Chaba. We always participate in the Mayor's projects like CNMI-RP Friendship Day, giving free food and drinks on Good Friday at Mt.Tapocao, DYS prevent child abuse, stop domestic and sexual violence, dance presentation for the Flame Tree Art Festival, and Liberation Day Celebration....

My husband came here in 1992, 15 years of stay and hardworking. We have one child born here in Saipan.

On behalf of the Filipino people and other foreign contract workers, we urge you to please listen and open your hearts and mind to our request to become one of your people and stay and work without fear. We want to stay and live here together with out families, especially with our children who are born here.
_________________________
Please include the issue of giving status to us contract workers. I am a mother of 2 U.S. citizen children, one 16 years and the other 13 years. My husband has been in the CNMI for 22 years as a construction worker. I have been here for 19 years as a houseworker. The new Public Law 15-108 passed by the CNMI legislature will separate us from our minor children who still need our support. Please have mercy on us struggling to survive during these times - we continue to be disenfranchised. Thank you.
________________________
I am a Filipino contract worker who has been here in Saipan and Rota doing roads, buildings, and other structures for 20 years. I started working here with a salary of $1.50 per hour and now already 20 years only $3.55 per hour. I am a skilled worker. The economy will become worse because of Public Law 15-108. I strongly oppose this law that is unfair to business and the workers. This is an abusive law.

Now that I am a worker in the garment factory, I'm surprised that we're not given notice that the factory will close. They padlock already the factory. So better federalize the CNMI.
______________________
I am a contract worker who has been in the CNMI for 14 years. I was a garment worker at Sako Corp. I filed a charge of discrimination and won the case but was not paid a single cent. I had to mortgage our house and lot in Philippines in order to pay for expenses for my family who are very poor. Please include status issue in your deliberations.

Make your voices heard! Send a letter to Congress.