SAYING that some employers have threatened to terminate them if they push ahead with their planned general strike, a coalition of guest workers is now planning instead a “unity march” with local businessmen and young professionals, including Rep.-elect Tina Sablan.
Coalition organizer Boni Sagana said a group of local residents have met with them to share their concerns about the newly enacted Public Law 15-108, the CNMI’s latest labor “reform” law.
Some businessmen say they will suffer when the law takes effect next year.
Sagana said their group and the local employers came up with the idea of holding a peaceful “unity march” to express opposition to the labor law.
He said guest workers and local residents want to “join hands” while marching from Kilili Beach all the way to American Memorial Park.
They still have no definite date but it is likely to be held next month, Sagana said.
He said they had wanted to organize a one-day stoppage of work but some employers have warned them about possible “consequences.”
Ronnie Doca, another coalition leader and president of the Filipino Contract Workers Association, said in a separate interview that many guest workers worry about losing their jobs if they join a general strike.
He said some employers have threatened to terminate guest workers if they join a general strike.
Doca said they have no choice but to consider this “concern.”
According to Doca, Taotao Tano CNMI Inc. is now communicating with them to discuss a joint effort against the re-imposition of high power rates.
Taotao Tano members, Doca said, have been showing up at guest workers’ gatherings lately.
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