Do CNMI legislators support unions?

The NMI Professional Firefighters Union is going door to door at the CNMI legislature asking lawmakers a critical question. 

Ed Delacruz is the union’s Vice President.

“Do you support organized labor in the CNMI, also known as unions, as well as the rights of all public sector employees to collectively bargain,” said Delacruz. 

Paul Sasamoto is the union’s President.

“We have about half of the legislature already that has agreed to support us in the labor management and collective bargaining,” said Sasamoto. 

So far 10 out of 29 lawmakers indicated that they support organized labor and the rights of all public sector employees to collectively bargain. The union said it will continue to knock on legislators' doors.

“So knowing that our elected leaders up there support this right to be able to organize should show that people do not have to be scared to be able to organize out here in the CNMI,” added Delacruz. 

Meanwhile, the union is also working on getting former or current firefighters who may be sick due to firefighting foam, or AFFF, used on the job the help they need.  

“We do not understand how many people have been affected…We have one so far right now and it could be growing…even our current firefighters could be exhibiting symptoms from this and they are going to need help immediately,” said Delacruz. 

The union urges anyone who has been exposed and has symptoms or has been diagnosed with cancer to call them at (670) 287-0891. There’s an ongoing lawsuit against the manufacturer with more than 10,000 claims already.

“We already know that our management at CPA is doing everything in their power…to phase out this foam and get the new foam that they are currently manufacturing to replace this one right now,” he said.