Building a stronger working class

During this season, we celebrate compassion and togetherness. From nature and the work of the current and previous generations, we have built a wealthy society that can provide a good living for all our people. Despite the values we share and the means we have, too many in our community are deprived of a fair share of our social product. I believe we must provide an equitable standard of living for our people, ensuring that those who can work will have a job and earn a decent wage.



Progress in wealth and income is driven by the hard work and innovation of the working class, yet too many are not seeing a fair share of the prosperity they create. To address this, I urge the Guam Legislature to raise the minimum wage to at least $13.60 per hour by 2028. This would restore the purchasing power that existed in 2015. An independent study under the Calvo administration demonstrated that previous increases raised household incomes without disrupting business activities, reducing employment levels, or significantly impacting the cost of living.



Job transitions are a nearly inevitable part of our economy. Roughly 1 in 10 Guam workers will face a period of joblessness each year, with almost all facing unemployment at some point in their lifetime. Whether it is a student launching a career, a parent returning to the workforce, or a worker displaced through no fault of their own, the gap between jobs shouldn’t lead to hardship. I believe a payroll tax-funded transitional job program would create a sturdy bridge to new opportunity for thousands of our workers. The program would mean these workers’ hours would add to our social product, while they seek a permanent job.



While those who can work should contribute, a good community meets the needs of its members. Through circumstances beyond our full control, many of us will find ourselves unable to work due to the arrival of new life, physical or cognitive disability, and all of us fortunate enough will age out of the ability to work. We must ensure that those unable to work have the resources and care to live independently. These community members deserve a fair share of our island’s prosperity, allowing them to stand with dignity. Creating a robust system of support is good planning, ensuring that every member of our community, including ourselves, is treated with the same respect and care should our income and savings be inadequate.



Toward these ends, I believe our community should:

·Develop a system for paid parental leave;

·Update the Workers’ Compensation Law; and

·Sustainably increase support for low-income disabled and elderly persons.



The strength of Guam is its sense of togetherness. By securing fair wages, transitional jobs, and support for those unable to work, we will make our working families and our community stronger. Solidarity!