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ECONOMICS

We need to build an economy that works for all of our families, not just a priveleged few.

MORE $ FOR WORKERS GROWS THE ECONOMY

Economists tell us that every dollar that we give to a worker circulates in our economy 10 times. Whereas every dollar that a corporation makes leaves our economy almost instantly. This is why we need to have good living wage, middle class jobs. The Poverty line on Guam is approx. $12.50 per hour so when the majority of the 11,660 public servants and 37,330 private sector workers that make an average of $11.16 per hour, earn below the poverty line we must use public moneys to subsidize their income. This means that public dollars are going to subsidize business profits instead of going towards education, healthcare and public safety.

TOURISM NEEDS TO BENEFIT THE PEOPLE OF GUAM, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND

Cities all across the nation have passed living wage laws that say if a business is receiving a tax break then they must pay their employees a living wage ($12.50+ per hour). This ensures that the business will be an economic benefit to the community instead of a burden. The majority of the Corporations that own hotels on Guam do not pay their fair share of taxes, due to having Qualifying Certificates and pay their 4,580 employees an average of $7.53 per hour and only give them 37 hours of work a week. This means that not only are these multimillion dollar corporations (most of which are foreign owned) not paying their fair share for the public services that keep their customers safe, happy and entertained, but they are also taking money out of the general fund by paying their employees so little.