Kwaj workers strike sparks action

Marshallese USAG-KA Marine Department workers met last weekend to discuss their strategy and strike plan.

HILARY HOSIA

A rare and coordinated strike by over 50 Marshallese workers at the US Army Garrison-Kwajalein Atoll last Friday and Saturday disrupted ferry service for missile range employees and has led to dismissal of two American supervisors by civilian contractor at the missile range.

On Saturday, 54 Marine Department employees signed a petition to the V2X LOGCAP V contractor and the US Army command calling for immediate termination of two American supervisors for alleged violations of human rights, racial discrimination and discontinuing of meals given to crews assigned to work outside of the base.

The petition also called for adjustments in local workers compensation based on skills and experience in comparison to hired expatriates.

The development Friday and Saturday led to all three Kwajalein Nitijela Members and Kwajalein Mayor Hirata Kabua’s involvement in meeting with the disgruntled workers as well as the Army command and the VX2 contractor officials. Following meetings Saturday, the workers said they’d give the contractor one week to resolve the problems and returned to work the next day.

The Army command, in reply to an inquiry from the Journal, stated Wednesday morning it “actively engaged with V2X” and the contractor was “working closely with the affected employees…to resolve these issues quickly and effectively.”

But Mayor Hirata was much blunter in his assessment of the result of the two-day walkout and petition. “I am happy to announce to all workers on the Kwajalein base that two mean bosses that brought grievances to you guys have been terminated,” the mayor wrote in a social media post Tuesday night. He confirmed to the Journal Wednesday that he had spoken to the head of V2X.

Kwajalein Parliament Member Kilinwojke Kabua said he had warned the government since his first day as a Kwajalein elected member in January. Kili said the incident at Marine Department is one of many pending complaints that have fallen on deaf ears throughout the years. Kili said he supports the boycott but is more concerned for the base to improve its overall treatment of the local workforce.

The petition signed by the 54 Marine Department workers said their strike was motivated “after years of egregious treatment by supervisors in the company with no resolution.”

“We cannot afford to wait for the next scheduled meeting with the big bosses to address our issues, which are happening daily,” Kili said. Kili and other Kwajalein leaders were disheartened by the news of the strike. Kwajalein representative and Finance Minister David Paul hopped on the next flight Saturday morning to Kwajalein to deescalate the situation through meetings with both Kwajalein workers and the USAG-KA command. Kwajalein Nitijela Member Kitlang Kabua was on site and has held meetings with the workforce in the days following the strike.

The leadership and the workforce told the Journal they understand the importance of the coming missile test mission, which is scheduled for next week, which requires all hands on deck.

Kili said he understands the rights given to the US through the Military Use and Operating Rights Agreement (MUORA) and Land Use Agreement (LUA) lease. But he said that does not give the US and its contractors the power to violate the human rights of the Marshallese workforce.

Minister David told the Journal that he told Kwajalein command and contractor officials that “we need to understand that things that are happening are not isolated incidents. It is a culmination of things to get to this point of a walk-out.”

He described Marshallese as patient and forgiving. “But if you push them to the limit, they will push back,” he said. “The RMI leadership and the mayor support the workers 100 percent.”

Paul said he urged everyone to listen to each other.

The bigger picture need, he said, is for the Army to engage an Ombudsman to field complaints and resolve worker and contractor issues. Decades ago, there was an Ombudsman at Kwajalein. Several years ago, Kwajalein leaders began pressing the USAG-KA command to reengage on the need for an Ombudsman to help improve worker-contractor relations. He said it was finally endorsed by the last commander shortly before he left after his two-year command stint, and the matter had languished last year and earlier this year.

Paul said re-establishing the Ombudsman position is essential to good relations with the large Marshallese workforce. The Army is now in agreement on this.

“USAG-KA has been working closely with the (government of the) RMI to draft an agreement outlining the roles and responsibilities of this position,” said the USAG-KA command to the Journal Wednesday this week. “Both parties have agreed to proceed with establishing the Ombudsman at USAG-KA as outlined in the agreement, and we are currently awaiting final signatures to implement the plan.”

— Additional reporting by Giff Johnson.

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